Dr. Roswell Park’s great grandson’s first Ride

Dr. Roswell Park’s legacy lives on not only within the walls of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, but also within his own family. The late medical pioneer’s great-grandson, Peter Koekkoek, returned to Buffalo in 2024 to attend his first Ride for Roswell.

“He was a real renaissance man, an inventor, surgeon, musician,” said Peter as he reflected on his great grandfather’s life. “I think he was most interested in treating the whole patient, and cancer is part of that.”

Today Dr. Roswell Park is remembered mostly as the founder of the world’s first cancer research institute, but his contributions to medicine extend much further.

Peter stated, “I was born into this, and I felt it was time to step up and do the Ride.”

Who was Dr. Roswell Park

Joining Ride for Roswell

Although Peter has spent much of his adult life in the Boston, Massachusetts area, he grew up in Western New York — very much aware of his family’s impact locally and worldwide.

He, too, knows the devastation of cancer.

Peter’s cousin, also named Roswell Park, endearingly called ‘Ros,’ had cancer four times and died from the disease in 2020.

“We were extremely close growing up and also as adults. He was the kind of guy I always wanted to be like,” said Peter. “He was the best. He was a heck of a dude. I miss him every day.”

Ros was a patient at Roswell Park, and when Peter decided to sign up for Ride for Roswell, he did so in honor of his late cousin.

“This was really my private memorial to him.”

Ros on his boat, Gryffon, in the summer of 2018.
Peter Koekkeok

The impact of the Ride

“It’s unbelievable,” Peter exclaimed while on campus for his first-ever Ride Weekend. He added, “One of the things that made me want to do this is pride. I’m proud of my heritage and I’m embracing my heritage by helping to fundraise for Roswell Park.”

The 2024 Ride for Roswell raised $5.9 million for cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park. The amount had Peter taken aback.

“It’s an amazing thing. That’s a major amount of stepping up from Buffalo.”

Celebrating Roswell Park’s mission to end cancer

Peter is a strong believer in the mission of Roswell Park, and he’s excited to play a role in accelerating that through the Ride. In 2025, he hopes to form a team with his adult children, bringing together the last blood relatives of Dr. Park for a cause that unites us all.

“Roswell Park just does such amazing work: helping people cure cancer.”

Where The Funds Go