More than Two Decades of Honoring Mom

Stephanie and Pamela Loh

Sisters Stephanie and Pamela Loh of Westchester County, New York never imagined they would lose their beloved mother, Monica Chen Loh, at such an early age; they had envisioned many more years of milestones, memories, travels, and precious time together as a close-knit family.

Monica was vibrant, energetic, and full of life. She was a successful, career-driven investment executive who managed diverse portfolios and was the heart of her family—a true role model loved and respected by her daughters and her husband and the cherished middle child of her nine siblings. “Our mom was one of those rare people who lit up the room with her presence and her energy and touched the hearts of everyone she met,” Stephanie remembers. However, during the summer of 2000, Monica and her husband Arthur were vacationing in Europe when she had a sharp stomach pain one evening. At the time, Monica was just 68, had no family history of pancreatic cancer, and was otherwise very healthy; in fact, she had spent much of 2000 exploring the world and traveling to different countries with her husband, skiing, and experiencing the joys of life with her family.

At first, doctors thought Monica was suffering from pancreatitis. However, further testing revealed pancreatic cancer—an illness that both blindsided and devastated her family. “When our mom was diagnosed, we didn’t even know the term ‘pancreatic cancer.’ We didn’t really have time to react to our mom’s diagnosis because it was so shocking and quick,” Stephanie recalls. “In 2000, the only treatment options available to her were radiation and chemotherapy, and treatment was grueling, almost worse than the disease itself.” Arthur, Stephanie, and Pamela only had six months after diagnosis with Monica before her passing.

Prior to her passing, Monica discovered and contacted the Lustgarten Foundation, determined to find as much information and support as she could to combat her pancreatic cancer. “Our mom greatly benefited from the resources provided by the Lustgarten Foundation, and we knew we wanted to get involved with the Foundation as a way to honor her life and pay tribute to her memory,” Pamela shared. Stephanie and Pamela started participating in the annual Long Island Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research on July 28, 2002 and haven’t missed a year since! October 5, 2025 will mark the Loh sisters’ 23^rd year supporting the Long Island Walk and joining with the Lustgarten Foundation community to raise awareness and research funding for such a critical cause.

“We look forward to the Walk every year and being part of such a purposeful, mission-driven, growing community. We are in awe of how much the Walk has grown from a small community event to thousands of people comforting and uplifting each other. We’re incredibly grateful to have met so many Lustgarten staff members, families, and others affected by pancreatic cancer, and listening to both survivors and researchers speak at the Walk is truly inspiring,” Stephanie remarked. “These Walks are very special to us and represent a way for us to honor our mom each year,” Stephanie and Pamela shared.

In addition to attending the Long Island Walk since 2002, the Loh sisters have participated in the annual Westchester Walk near their home since its inception 16 years ago. Each year they also attend the 18 Hole Stroll for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Cromwell, CT and have taken part in past walks in locations including Boca Raton, FL and New Brunswick, NJ and events in New York City. Together, they have raised over $10,000 to advance Lustgarten’s research initiatives and have attended more than 50 Walks and many events over the past 23 years.

“Lustgarten is a unique organization and we love that it’s dedicated just to pancreatic cancer research and awareness. It’s really satisfying and exciting to see how the Foundation has evolved, and how much progress is being made to help more patients become survivors. We are dedicated to keeping up our involvement, as our mother would have wanted,” the Loh sisters shared. “It is so important for organizations like the Lustgarten Foundation to exist not only for the groundbreaking research they make possible, but also for the support they provide to families like ours when they need it most.”