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Two people, a woman and a man smiling for the camera in a vintage photograph. Both are in white shirts and have short light brown hair. The man is sitting and wearing glasses as the woman is standing on his left with her arms around him.

Cancer Care and Community Commitment Result in Planned Gift to Arnold Palmer Pavilion

By: Mark Nootbaar

Since 1889, Bortz Hardware has been a fixture of Greensburg’s downtown—taking care of residents’ needs, from repairing leaky pipes to supporting local fundraisers. Simply put, it is part of the community fabric.

Similarly, since 2003, the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Arnold Palmer Pavilion has been an essential part of the community—offering care and compassion to cancer patients and their families.

Now, those two pillars of the community are forever linked through the generosity of Clara Fabian Gauthier.

“I was in town a while back and decided I needed to pay back Greensburg for all it did for my family,” said Clara. “A friend of mine had gotten treatment at the Arnold Palmer Pavilion and said it was wonderful, and it made sense to me to support that community asset.”

Clara grew up in the hardware store on Pennsylvania Avenue owned and run by her father. She watched locals share their stories while picking up what they needed for their projects. She also heard her father express his gratitude for the community that frequented his store and supported his family.

Sadly, Clara has nearly as deep a connection to cancer, having lost her father, mother, sister, and husband to one form or another of the disease.

Clara’s family sold the store in 1972, shortly after her father’s death. Clara taught in the Norwin School District for 20 years before moving to Alpharetta, Georgia, with her husband.

“I have not lived in Greensburg for several years, but I still owe a lot to the community,” said Clara. “This is my way to pay back the community, honor the family name, and help other people that have the same relationship with cancer that I have.”

The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Arnold Palmer Pavilion offers medical and radiation oncology services with local physicians who provide state-of-the-art care so patients can receive treatment without leaving their community.

“UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s focus is to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to our patients close to home. We are so very grateful to Mrs. Gauthier for her thoughtfulness and generosity in wanting to make a difference in the community that had such an impact on her family,” Maureen Hatch, vice president, Operations, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, said. “Those in the area who visit the Arnold Palmer Pavilion will benefit greatly from the enhanced patient care her gift will one day provide.”