Rachel Schanberg

DURHAM- Rachel Weinbaum Schanberg, 80, founder and director emeritus of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program, died peacefully at home in Durham on Jan. 5 after a long illness.  Her perseverance, passion and compassion were a beacon for family, friends, colleagues and the thousands for whom her groundbreaking efforts provided profound guidance and comfort.

Rachel established the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program in memory of her daughter, Linda Schanberg Clark, who lost her life to Hodgkin’s disease at the age of 26. Throughout her eight years of treatment, Linda never lost her ability to smile and it was with that legacy of hope that Rachel started the program in 1987, fulfilling Linda’s wish for a much-needed program to serve cancer patients and their loved ones. Rachel always believed that quality comprehensive cancer care involves attending to issues beyond the scope of traditional models of medicine. She believed in treating the whole person, not solely the cancer. Due to this vision and Rachel’s dedication, support that focuses on the psychological and social aspects of cancer is an integral part of cancer care at Duke.

Rachel was a talented counselor and administrator, but even more she was an inspiring creative and effective leader. People were drawn to Rachel and the program, and wanted to get involved in her mission to provide support services to patients and their families coping with cancer. What began as a clinic service offered by Rachel and 18 volunteers grew to become a leading, comprehensive psychosocial oncology program (serving as a model for many others nationally and internationally) that each year serves thousands of families facing cancer. Based on Rachel’s vision, The Duke Cancer Patient Support Program offers services that result in patients and families who feel not only cared for, but cared about.

A graduate of Clark University in Worcester, Mass., where she met her beloved husband Saul, the New York City native lived in Durham since 1967.  While raising her two daughters, she returned to school, earning a Master’s degree in counseling from Duke’s School of Education.  She worked for many years as a counselor at Carrboro Elementary School where she demonstrated her leadership qualities and innovation.  Her family and friends have indelible memories of a vibrant, exuberant person who treasured spending time with them, often entertaining in her home in Durham and at the family beach house. She enjoyed travel and loved the arts.

She lost Saul, a renowned Duke neuroscientist, to cancer in 2009 after 53 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter Dr. Laura Schanberg and son in law Dr. Lawrence Eimers; beloved grandchildren Colin and Katie (Sam Berger); great-granddaughter Lilian; brother Samuel Weinbaum (Alice); son-in-law Dr. Alan Clark (Karen); sister-in-law Betty Schanberg Dyer; and loving nephews and nieces, as well as many cousins and cherished friends.

The family invites you to a memorial service celebrating Rachel’s life at 1:00 January 21^st at Judea Reform Synagogue with burial of her remains immediately following.

In support of Rachel’s vision of cancer care, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to The Duke Cancer Patient Support Program Endowment Fund, a permanent endowment at Duke University which Rachel and Saul Schanberg supported personally.  Online contributions may be made by visiting https://www.gifts.duke.edu/cancersupport and searching “DCPSP Endowment,” or checks can be mailed to Sara Wajda, DCI Development, 710 W. Main Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701.