Remembering Gordy Hauptman

From left, Charles Enke, M.D., Ralph Hauke, M.D., and Gordon Hauptman at a news conference in 2005 concerning a clinical trial for prostate cancer. Hauptman, a prominent Omaha attorney, died this week after a five-year battle with the disease.

I’m lucky. I probably have the best job in the world. I get to tell the UNMC story.

I get to run around the medical center and interact with our incredible health professionals and learn about some of their remarkable successes.

This week, I was saddened to hear that one of UNMC’s biggest champions, Gordon Hauptman, had passed away after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.

In more than 20 years of doing public relations at UNMC, I’ve been fortunate to interact with hundreds of patients. Gordy Hauptman had to be one of my all-time favorites.

Let me tell you a little about Gordy. In my mind, he epitomized the PR axiom of taking something negative and turning it into a positive.

Gordy was a prominent Omaha attorney. He was a partner in the Omaha law firm of Hauptman O’Brien Wolf & Lathrop, PC. You know this law firm. It’s the one that provides free cab rides on New Year’s Eve to discourage people from drinking and driving.

More about Gordy A funeral service for Gordy Hauptman, 61, will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, 3405 S. 118th St. Visitation will begin at 6:30 tonight at Mary Our Queen followed by a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Hauptman was preceded in death by an infant son, Joel. Survivors in his immediate family include: his parents, Robert and Wilma; his wife, Maureen; four sons, David (wife, Ally), Paul (wife, Kelli), Grant and Erik; a daughter, Mara Demory (husband, Tom Demory); four granddaughters (Ella and Anna Hauptman and Evelyn and Audra Demory); and two brothers, Wesley (wife, Sandra), and Steve (wife, Dee St. Cyr). Here are some comments made by people who were friends of Hauptman: “Gordy was a bigger than life individual. His personality, his warmth … he would just brighten up the place. He was very open about his health issues. He used to come into The Market Basket (restaurant) and pick up rolls for his office. He would tell guys to make sure they got their PSA exams. He has a great family and they all bring a lot to the community. He will truly be missed.” Ken Bird, executive director, Bright Futures Foundation, and former superintendent of Westside Schools where the Hauptman children attended “Gordy participated in several clinical trials. He was always open to explore new options. He was always optimistic — even when he got bad news. It was just the way he approached his disease. He would just say, ‘OK, what do we next?’ He understood the limitations we had. He was always in a good mood … always joking. He was even cracking jokes on his death bed. He was just a great guy.” Ralph Hauke, M.D., Hauptman’s oncologist at UNMC, who recently joined Nebraska Cancer Specialists but maintains a part-time UNMC appointment, so that he can continue to do research “He touched everyone’s life — from the secretary to the techs. Even when he transferred his care to Methodist Hospital (when Dr. Hauke moved there), I had tons of people asking me about Gordy. He was such a wonderful man. Even when he was seriously ill, he always kept his sense of humor. He brought in a poster board of all his family’s previous Christmas cards. They were a hoot. The whole family was involved. Each year, they would do something different with props and costumes, but every card was hilarious. He always tried to keep things fun. I have no doubt they’ve been preparing for him for days up in heaven.” Melody Karnes, case manager, oncology/hematology section, The Nebraska Medical Center “Gordy was quite a character. I remember we admitted him last year to help control his pain. He was very uncomfortable. He was lying on his side when I came into his room. He recognized my voice and rolled over and greeted me with this big smile and said, ‘How are you doing?’ He always maintained his sense of humor and looked on the positive side. He was a special guy — a great friend and patient.” Charles Enke, M.D., professor and chairman of the UNMC Radiation Oncology Department “My dad had a talent. He could speak to people at every level. It was an unbelievable gift. He was a real high energy guy. I used to have friends come over, and they would say, ‘Is your dad that way all the time?’ He was. He loved to meet new people and make new friends.” Dave Hauptman, oldest son of the Hauptman family “I got to practice with Gordy for more than 20 years. It didn’t matter what your station in life was, he treated everyone well. He was a true advocate for all his clients. He would always stop and take time to listen. He was a perfect example of the qualities that make someone a good lawyer. He set a tone in our office that made it a rare place to practice law. He was a terrific friend and I’ll always remember him for being such a kind-hearted person.” Steve Lathrop, Nebraska state senator and partner in the Omaha law firm of Hauptman O’Brien Wolf & Lathrop, PC

When Hauptman found out that he had prostate cancer in 2003, he originally went to a medical center in Chicago to undergo surgery to remove his prostate. During the surgery, the doctors determined that the cancer had spread into the lymph nodes and removing the prostate was not his best option and that his quality of life would be better if he kept his prostate.

Typically, patients with lymph node positive prostate cancer are given hormone therapy alone or a combination of hormone therapy and radiation. Hormone therapy is never curative, but can lead to temporary remission of the disease. On average, patients usually have remission for a couple years before the cancer cells become resistant to the hormone therapy. Once the cells become resistant, the patient usually only survives about 12 to 24 months.

Hauptman asked the Chicago physicians where he should go for future treatment and suggested that he would be willing to go anywhere, including the Mayo Clinic. After a day of looking into places for Hauptman to receive treatment, the Chicago physicians said the best place for him to go was UNMC/The Nebraska Medical Center. They referred him to Ralph Hauke, M.D., a UNMC oncologist, and Charles Enke, M.D., professor and chairman of the UNMC Radiation Oncology Department.

Hauptman met with the two UNMC physicians and wound up enrolling in a Phase I investigator-initiated clinical trial. The trial featured a unique protocol that called for 45 high-dose radiation treatments (five per week) combined with one chemotherapy treatment per week over a nine-week period. The idea behind the clinical trial was to determine just how much radiation and chemotherapy could be delivered without causing major side effects.

“At the time, nobody was giving radiation doses at this high of dose to involved lymph nodes and combining chemotherapy with the radiation was quite novel,” Dr. Enke said. “You increase the cancer control when you can deliver high doses of radiation, and the odds are usually further improved when you can add chemotherapy.”

Hauptman knew he had nothing to lose. He embraced the clinical trial and soon discovered what a jewel the medical center is. He completed the protocol and returned to work full time. The only side effects he experienced were fatigue and mild diarrhea.

He felt so good about his experience that he even agreed to tell his story at a news conference. His words were memorable.

“I thought I was living the good life, but this has given me a different outlook on everything,” he said. “It may be hard to believe, but this (prostate cancer) is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. It has truly re-lit my fire.”

He sung the medical center’s praises. “This place is unbelievable,” he said. “I’m a lawyer who has practiced for 30 years. I’ve been to the medical center a lot (in conducting legal business). I had a misconception that it was a typical city hospital where everyone is a number. I’ve been to every corner of the medical center, and I’ve not had one bad experience. I’ve not even had one questionable experience.”

Dr. Enke said people like Hauptman who enroll in clinical trials are special.

“I can’t thank people like Gordy enough,” he said. “There are no guarantees when you enter a clinical trial. We’re simply trying to explore new options and look for potentially better treatments. Typically, advances occur incrementally and don’t happen overnight. In my opinion, these people are heroes. They are truly making a difference for future generations.”

I asked Hauptman’s oldest son, Dave, to share his thoughts on what his father derived from being involved in the clinical trial. His response was quite telling.

“I’m not blowing smoke here,” he said. “We thought the med center was top notch, A+. We couldn’t say enough good things about the experience. We loved the physicians and nurses and the care they provided. We had a great time with those people.

“I’m not sure who does the hiring there, but they’re doing a great job. Every nurse had this outstanding personality. There is a fine line between compassion and personality, and they all have it. Dad would walk down the hall, and he’d always have the nurses saying ‘Gordy, Gordy, Gordy.’ My mom used to bring them cookies.”

Gordy’s experience with sharing his story at the news conference was equally positive, Dave Hauptman said.

“After the news conference, my dad started getting calls from random people. They would say, ‘You don’t know me, but I saw you on TV.’ He became friends with them. It’s the cancer fraternity — the fraternity you never want to join. It’s your last choice, but there’s a common bond.”

Thanks to the care Gordy received at The Nebraska Medical Center, Dave Hauptman said his father was able to see all four of his granddaughters born, witness one of his children graduating from high school and another graduating from college, and attend the wedding of one of his children.

Meanwhile, the beat goes on. It’s estimated that more than 30,000 American men will die from prostate cancer this year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer.

Clinical trials are ongoing at UNMC, Dr. Enke said. For more information, call 559-8649.

He’s always looking for a few good men … like Gordy Hauptman.