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Local Attorney Inspires Community While Facing Leukemia

Charles DeAngelo

Local attorney Charles DeAngelo is continuing to make a difference in the community despite being in the midst of a fight with leukemia.

After receiving two different chemotherapy treatments, DeAngelo publicly released a statement last week detailing his current battle with cancer.

“There are no words to describe how much I appreciate the thoughts and prayers and numerous cards I have received from friends, colleagues, and clients in our community,” he said, “As you know, I have been diagnosed with leukemia and I have spent a total of 60 inpatient days at Roswell Park hospital.”

DeAngelo explained the professional level of care he has received at Roswell has been “unbelievable.” He announced that despite two unsuccessful chemotherapy treatments, he will continue to “aggressively” follow the hospital’s treatment plan. DeAngelo said that he and his family are hoping the treatment will result in a remission and “perhaps a cure.”

After completing chemotherapy, DeAngelo explained he participated in CAR-T cell therapy, a process that required his “T cells” (white blood cells be removed), transferred to a clinic in California and reproduced as new white blood cells that could fight the cancerous blast cells.

“As of the last bone biopsy report, the CAR-T cell therapy is working,” he said. “My new T cells have started to fight back, and both my red and white cell counts are increasing.”

While the treatment appears to be working, DeAngelo said the therapy is a process that will take time but will hopefully allow the healthy cells to multiply and “take over” the cancerous cells. The medical experts working with DeAngelo will continue to observe the effectiveness of the treatment and make adjustments as needed.

“There’s no specific date certain for the end of that process,” he said.

DeAngelo also explained that if the current treatment does not result in a full remission, there is a potential opportunity for a bone marrow transplant.

Throughout his treatment, DeAngelo has continued to work as an attorney, even during his inpatient time at Roswell. As he moves forward with more treatment, he explained that his “full intention is to continue to work.”

“With the unflinching support of my family, especially Debbie’s day-to-day management of my condition, my children’s and grandchildren’s love and support, the strength and loyalty of my partners and the staff at Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, and most importantly your prayers and thoughts of support as personal friends and colleagues, I think I can get through this,” he said.

‘ALWAYS ADVOCATING’

The support DeAngelo and his family have received during this time is no surprise due to his active involvement in the area. Throughout his life, DeAngelo has made a lasting impact on the Jamestown community.

Jeff Kroon, executive director of the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club, shared that he has had the opportunity to work closely with DeAngelo supporting local children. The Boys and Girls Club is something DeAngelo has heavily invested in as part of his charitable endeavors.

“He’s basically been involved with the club his entire life,” Kroon said. “He grew up just down the street and spent a great deal of time here as a young person himself.”

Kroon explained DeAngelo is “always advocating” for the Boys and Girls Club, especially for the children served by the organization, whom Kroon described as some of the neediest children in the local community. As a member of the Boys and Girls Club board of directors, Kroon said DeAngelo is actively involved with fundraising, special events and committee work.

“Pretty much anything you ask Chuck to do, if it’s something he should do, he will do it,” Kroon said. “He has a tremendous personality, and he’s an outgoing person that can just take a positive turn on anything and everything that’s going on.”

Kroon said it is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with DeAngelo, especially with his energetic and positive attitude. With his endless positivity and determination to finish anything he starts, Kroon believes DeAngelo will beat leukemia and will continue to make a significant impact on the community.

“I think it’s evident for sure that if anybody can beat a debilitating illness like that, it’s Chuck DeAngelo for sure,” he said. “He’s not fighting this thing on a selfish basis. Of course, you want to survive you want to do well, you want to be healthy and spend time with your family and friends and whatever. But I don’t think he looks at it that way. He just wants to do whatever he can.”

‘WE GO WAY BACK’

Mike Goldman, a fellow Bar Association member, said he first connected with DeAngelo by working with him on political campaigns. Since that time, he has been involved with DeAngelo in the legal realm of litigation.

“We go way back,” Goldman said. “We have a good working relationship and we have referred clients back and forth. He’s a great guy. I’ve served on served on some Bar committees with him.”

Goldman explained his closest connection with DeAngelo came as a result of both of their daughters attending school together. As a result of their friendship, Goldman said he has watched DeAngelo succeed as a “great lawyer” and a “great person.”

Like Kroon, Goldman pointed out that DeAngelo has been very active in the community, especially through charitable endeavors. He said one of the most memorable ways DeAngelo has impacted the community is by hosting golf tournament fundraisers to support local youth.

In response to DeAngelo’s announcement that he will continue to work as he fights leukemia, Goldman said it is not surprising and is “almost expected” because of his reputation.

“Number one, he’s a fighter,” Goldman said. “He is not one that’s going to let some disease get him down, so that doesn’t surprise me at all.”

‘Top-Notch Human Being’

Former Mayor Sam Teresi said he has always had a strong friendship with DeAngelo since childhood. Teresi said they were able to maintain a close friendship throughout his 20 years as mayor, despite having professional disagreements since DeAngelo represented the police and fire unions.

“We were on the opposite sides of the negotiation table for a good two decades during my tenure as mayor,” he said. “We were able to maintain our good personal friendship and relationship even when we may have been at odds from time to time on negotiating contracts or solving grievances or disputes.”

Teresi said that when he first campaigned for mayor, they both promised to never allow professional disagreements to affect their friendship. Over 20 years later, their friendship is still intact, something Teresi credits to DeAngelo’s ability to “separate business from personal relationships.”

While Teresi said DeAngelo had the opportunity to work anywhere in the country as a result of his education, background, motivation and work-ethic, he explained DeAngelo has an “undying commitment” to the Jamestown community.

“Chuck is a top-notch human being,” Teresi said. “Chuck is there at the drop of the hat for any cause that benefits the Jamestown community. He is Jamestown and Chautauqua County through and through.”

Teresi said DeAngelo has demonstrated his commitment to the community by supporting various programs and activities that benefit local youth. While DeAngelo has a reputation of being an incredible attorney, Teresi said his devotion to the region goes far beyond his law practice.

“The one thing that I respect the most of him and admire the most for him is that other than his family, the Jamestown community probably comes first in anything in his book,” he said.

As DeAngelo continues to persevere through his fight against leukemia, Teresi expressed his confidence that he will be able to win the fight and continue to make an impact in the community.

“As I’ve told a couple of people, leukemia does not know the fight that it’s in for right now,” he said. “It has no idea who it’s chosen to pick upon at this point in time, because Chuck is going to be the ultimate fighter in this and my money’s on him.”

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