The Lustgarten Foundation seeks to advance the science related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.

This insidious disease to date still has a 95% mortality rate. Over 35,000 are diagnosed each year and most die of it within a short period of time. There is no cure, no preventative measures, little warning signs or treatment. Please support this outstanding foundation supported and promoted by many notable figures such as Former President Jimmy Carter whose family members also died of this devastating form of cancer.  

Cablevision executive Marc Lustgarten suffered and died from this horrific illness was our Director's mother Rose Keiser.  

Bethpage, NY, August 30, 1999 - Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan and President and CEO James Dolan today informed employees of the death of Marc A. Lustgarten, Cablevision vice chairman and chairman of Madison Square Garden.

Mr. Lustgarten, 52, died this morning at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City following a struggle with pancreatic cancer. He joined Cablevision in 1975 as assistant general counsel and held a variety of key positions with the company over nearly a quarter of a century.

In the 1970's and 1980's, Mr. Lustgarten was a guiding force in the creation of Cablevision's extensive programming operations as president and CEO of what is now known as Rainbow Media Holdings Inc. His contributions to Rainbow in the early years included oversight of the creation of American Movie Classics, Bravo, its regional sports networks and News 12 Long Island.

In 1991, Mr. Lustgarten became vice chairman of Cablevision and, most recently, took on the additional role of chairman of Madison Square Garden. As Cablevision grew into a more diverse enterprise, Mr. Lustgarten was at the center of its evolution. He spearheaded the acquisition team that guided Cablevision's purchases of equity interests in the Madison Square Garden properties, Radio City Entertainment, The WIZ and the Clearview Cinema Group.

He was instrumental in Cablevision's sports relationships from his earliest days with the company, negotiating countless television agreements between the company and sports teams, helping to found regional sports networks in New York, Boston, Cleveland and other cities. More recently, Mr. Lustgarten was instrumental in the formation of Cablevision's landmark partnership with Fox/Liberty Networks which resulted in the creation of FOX Sports Net.

Mr. Lustgarten also oversaw the company's relationships with television programming suppliers, its technological developments and applications and various new media enterprises.

Mr. Lustgarten was active in numerous civic and charitable endeavors and was honored at the Waldorf-Astoria as "Man of the Year" in 1998 by the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale.

Earlier this year, Mr. Lustgarten inspired the establishment of The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. He served on its board of directors.

Mr. Lustgarten was a graduate of Pace University, and held a doctor of laws degree from New York Law School and a master of laws degree from New York University Law School. He resided in New York City with his wife, Marcia, and leaves two children, Andrew and Jessica, his father, Irving, and two brothers.

See the Foundation's web-site at:   www.lustgarten.org