Linda Weisbeck, Roswell Park’s first successful bone marrow transplant for leukemia in 1978, died Wednesday, October 6 at Elderwood of Lakeside at Brockport at age 74. Although Roswell has had many successful transplants in later years, Linda was the first to survive acute myeloid leukemia with a bone marrow transplant in the 1970s under Dr. Donald Higby.
Linda was a registered nurse and worked at Roswell Park Memorial Institute for five years. She resigned to go back to college to complete her Bachelor Degree in nursing when she became ill at 28. She was transferred to Roswell for treatment and was put into a remission, which lasted two years. When she could not be put back in remission Linda asked her doctor to try a bone marrow transplant knowing the odds were against her survival. She hoped that if she did not survive something could be learned to help future patients.
Linda made good use of the 44 years of life after the transplant. She went back to school and finished her bachelor degree in Nursing at University of Brockport. She continued on to complete a Masters Degree in Nursing and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling at University of Buffalo.
She was a Major in the United States Army Reserves 365th Evac. Hospital Niagara Falls, N.Y. from 1975-1984.
She worked in various hospitals in and around Rochester: Genesee Hospital as a Patient-Family Advocate, (Nurse Clinician), and Primary Nurse Therapist; Rochester Psychiatric Center Class Facilitator for Men’s Domestic Non-Violence Workshop and Community Mental Health Nurse; Unity Health Primary Care Program Primary Nurse Therapist; Webster Comfort Care Home Primary Therapist and Journey Home Comfort Care Nurse.
Linda is the daughter of the late Leonard and Elizabeth (Betty) Weisbeck and sister to Lee (Vikki), Jean, Robert (Lisa), Greg, Lori (Dale) Gramza, Chris (Janet) and Susanne (Michael) Galbraith.
She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Ron Carroll, stepchildren Ronald D, Beth (Michael) Smith, grandchildren Kayla and Jordan Smith, Tyler and Alyssa Carroll and Dougal, their sheltie. She also has 11 nieces and nephews and 7 great nieces and nephews.
Linda loved traveling, making quilts and jewelry, sewing, collecting antiques, garage sales, thrift shops, and camping with husband, Ron’s kids, her parents and her Shelties.
A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on Saturday, October 30 at the Whistle Stop on Railroad St. Alden, from 1 to 3pm. Family, relatives, friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.
Donations in her memory can be made to Journey Home, 994 Long Pond Rd., Rochester, NY 14612 or Elderwood of Lakeside at Brockport, 170 West Ave., Brockport, NY 14420 Activity Fund.