A bequest rooted in gratitude and local bonds

As a Worcester County native, Justin Maykel, MD, often meets familiar faces through his medical practice—a unique privilege he never takes for granted. Among his patients, the late George (Geof) F. Booth II stands out as a remarkable, enduring presence in his life and career.

Before he passed away in 2023, Geof and his wife, Penny Booth, bequeathed generous funding that was used to establish the Geof and Penny Booth Colorectal Surgery Research Fellowship. The gift reflects the couple’s deep trust in Justin, who currently oversees the fellowship as the Joseph M. Streeter and Mary Streeter DeFeudis Chair in Surgery, professor of surgery and founding chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery at UMass Chan Medical School.

Longstanding connections cultivate a special patient-physician relationship  

Justin recalls first meeting Geof during a high school summer break while working alongside his father, a longtime general contractor for the Booth family. Justin was painting the home of Geof’s mother, Barbara A. Booth, who enjoyed the warm rapport that developed between her, Justin and rest of the painting crew.

What began as a local connection between two families would evolve into something far deeper. Twenty-five years later, Geof reappeared in Justin’s life—this time as a patient. Diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2014, Geof had personally requested a direct referral.

“That says a lot about who Geof was,” said Justin. “Some people would never consult a physician they know personally, but Geof embraced human connections. The nurses and staff always commented on how friendly and warm he was. He always had a great story and made everyone around him feel appreciated.”

Geof’s first surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center used cutting-edge laparoscopic technology being advanced in the Division of Colorectal Surgery. Penny recalls Geof saying that he “never had any pain from the operation.” The division’s ongoing, leading-edge treatment and care would eventually lead to Geof’s cancer entering complete remission within five years of diagnosis.

The duo’s relationship—as patient and physician, as well as friends and neighbors (Justin and his family eventually moved into the same neighborhood as the Booth family)—strengthened over time, illustrated by a 2014 incident that Justin and Penny call “Run from New York.”

“Geof and I were in New York City for the weekend when he began experiencing incredible pain, to the point where he was passing out regularly,” said Penny. “Rather than face the ER in an unfamiliar hospital, I brought him back to Worcester under Justin’s guidance. Justin met us at the ER at UMass Memorial Medical Center and saved Geof, yet again.”

Geof was facing a serious gastrointestinal disease in the midst of his chemotherapy treatment. Thanks to innovation in the division, driven by research, Justin was able to take an approach that significantly enhanced his experience and recovery.

Continuing the Booth family philanthropic legacy

Before he passed away, Geof informed Justin that he and Penny would be supporting colorectal surgery research at UMass Chan through a bequest. The generosity of Geof and Penny echoes the Booth family’s strong philanthropic legacy at the Medical School as well as organizations in and around Worcester, where Geof was born and raised before spending most of his career in New York City as a senior executive in the publishing industry.

The George F. Booth Endowed Chair in the Basic Sciences, currently held by Brian Lewis, PhD, was established in 1999 through a grant from the Robert W. Booth Fund in Memory of George F. Booth held at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation—Geof’s uncle and grandfather, respectively. The Penelope Booth Rockwell Chair in Biomedical Research—currently held by Guangping Gao, PhD—was established in 2009 through a bequest from and named in honor of Geof’s sister, a former trustee of the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research, which merged with UMass Chan in 1997.

The Geof and Penny Booth Colorectal Surgery Research Fellowship builds upon this impactful legacy, enabling the division to create a fellowship position for a general surgery resident interested in advancing the field of colorectal surgery through research. It complements the Mark Justin Kusek Fellowship in Colorectal Cancer Research, established in 2016 with support from Charles and Jane Kusek.

“Research is how we advance our field, innovate, track outcomes and, ultimately, provide better patient care,” said Justin. “The reality is that we’re very limited in our ability to apply for and earn the funding that allows this work to happen. That’s why generous donors like Geof and Penny are gamechangers.

“It also means a lot to have the Booth family name connected with the division. Geof and Penny didn’t ask for the fellowship to be named in their honor, instead it’s something that I wanted to do, with their approval.”

“I’m thrilled to know the bequest is helping to bring improved care to patients everywhere, and I know Geof would be, too,” said Penny.