Tributes
Wanda’s Garden
Wanda’s Garden – a beautiful landscaped area adjacent to the front circular entry way of the Cancer Center at Pacific Oncology was dedicated on Thursday, May 17, 2007 during the Opening Celebration of the new building. The garden is named for Wanda Denesi St. John and was developed through a special donation from her husband, Merle. She was a very special lady who passed away on January 3, 2006. It is with love and appreciation for the care and personal sacrifice given by the physicians and staff during her illness, that this garden was chosen to honor her love of gardening and flowers.
Wanda and Merle shared an amazing love and enthusiasm for life. Together they shared 57 years of marriage that was truly made in heaven. Their love story began when she met Merle on his tour of duty in Italy during World War II. Merle sent for Wanda to come to America. She traveled across the U.S. to Montana where they were married on January 12, 1948.
The garden is adorned with two bronze heron sculptures along with golden bamboo, sword fern, wild ginger, pieris “flame of the forest,” white and crimson azaleas, white camellia, viburniums, japonica, fragrant daphne, black mondo grass and rhododendrons.
Wanda’s Garden is truly a place where patients and family members, visiting the Cancer Center, can spend a few minutes and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness she would have wanted to share with others.
New Cancer Center
After much anticipation, the new Pacific Oncology Cancer Center is now open to the public.