Suffolk County on Long Island is the home to nearly 1.5 million people – a larger population than some states. Earlier this year, Bill Lindsay, Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County State Legislature announced he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Presiding Officer Lindsay and the legislature recognized Mesothelioma Awareness Day this year by issuing an official proclamation. They also presented special Lifesaver Proclamations to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation; to the executive director of the Meso Foundation, Mary Hesdorffer, Nurse Practitioner; Dr. Lee Krug; Dr. Harvey Pass; and Dr. Ken Rosenzweig for their work in mesothelioma research and treatment. The proclamations were presented at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s conference on September 28, 2012 in New York City.
Like all mesothelioma warriors, Presiding Officer Lindsay was shocked when he received his diagnosis. His wife, Pat Lindsay, says that they “were so happy to have found the Meso Foundation so quickly,” and that Mary Hesdorffer, Nurse Practitioner quickly led them to experts in the field. “Bill had started chemo within two weeks of his diagnosis,” she continued. He has since had an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), four terms of chemotherapy and radiation.
Presiding Officer Lindsay started as an electrician right out of high school, worked his way through college and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations. He spent his career working with the building trades, as a business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25. After he retired, he decided to pursue a career in public service, and began to serve in the Suffolk County Legislature in 2001, and was elected Presiding Officer in 2006. He has since served in this role and plans to continue during his treatment for mesothelioma.
