One of Ottavio Belvedere's last wishes was that his family would continue
the fight to find a cure for mesothelioma. Ottavio's wife Noella and
her three children held a special fundraising event for the Pacific Heart,
Lung & Blood Institute on Monday, November 5, to support its research
activities. "We were moved by the outpouring of love for Ottavio,"
said PHLBI executive director Jessica Like. "Both of the Belvedere's
restaurants in Camarillo were standing room only. Word of Ottavio's
illness and his passing compelled hundreds and hundreds of friends to
show up and support mesothelioma research."
Diagnosed with mesothelioma in April, 2006, Ottavio underwent pleurectomy
/ decortication surgery with Dr. Robert Cameron, director of the mesothelioma
program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in May, 2006. The
extra time as a result of the surgery gave Ottavio close to one and one-half
years of time with his loved ones. The Belvedere family has asked that
donations to the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute be made in
lieu of flowers.