Page 3 - Schizophrenia Research | University of Rochester Medical Center

Crawford-Delehanty Cheryl “Cherry” Chase,
Research Fund age 19

The Crawford-Delehanty Research Fund— Judy Chase (Dollinger)
created by combining funds from two
families with a desire to help individuals with Chase Research Fund
schizophrenia—enables URMC’s Department
of Psychiatry to enhance its research to Judy Chase (Dollinger) has had a good life. Unfortunately, the life of
discover promising new treatments for her sister, Cheryl (“Cherry”) Elizabeth Chase, was much different.
schizophrenia. Cherry was born on April 17, 1952. She was always a bit challenged as
a child, struggling in school and on a social level. Judy’s parents were
John and Winifred Delehanty’s daughter, at a loss as to what to do. Cherry was diagnosed with schizophrenia
Kay, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her late teens and her life consisted of living in institutions and a
as a teenager. They were very active with series of group homes. Powerful medications kept her in a zombie-like
the Committee to Aid Research to End state if they worked. When the medications did not work, her behavior
Schizophrenia (CARES), a Rochester- was very erratic and unruly. Later in Cherry’s life her physical health
area organization that raised money for became very poor; severe bouts of pneumonia persisted, requiring
schizophrenia research and education for more lengthy hospital stays. Eventually, Cherry lived in a nursing home
than 25 years. When CARES disbanded, the where she once again contracted pneumonia. She passed away on
Delehantys wanted to establish an endowment August 24, 2011 at age 59.
fund at URMC to support Dr. J. Steven
Lamberti’s work in schizophrenia research. Judy established a trust in Cherry’s memory—the Cheryl “Cherry”
Thanks to a grassroots fundraising effort, the Elizabeth Chase Schizophrenia Research Fund in the Department
fund was established in 2014. of Psychiatry at URMC—so her life would not be in vain. “It is my
sincere hope that the research being done today leads to a cure for
Elizabeth Crawford, from New Hampshire, those being challenged by this terrible disease,” said Judy.
made an estate gift in honor of her daughter,
Merle, who was severely afflicted with
schizophrenia. Mrs. Crawford connected
with URMC’s Department of Psychiatry
because of its longstanding commitment and
dedication to understanding a person’s needs
in the context of the biopsychosocial model—a
term developed here at the School of Medicine
and Dentistry and now widely used around
the world. The model considers biological,
psychological, and social factors and their
complex interaction in understanding health,
illness, and health care delivery.