Peter DeFeo spent many long days at Brigham and Women’s Hospital when his wife, Dara Frigoletto, was hospitalized for most of the last two years of her life. “The nursing team went the extra mile and treated us like family,” Peter says. “It was comforting for Dara and also for me, knowing when I wasn’t there, great people were taking care of her and her well-being.”

He adds, “The chaplains also played an essential role in Dara’s care team. I will always be grateful for their tremendous support during such a difficult time.”

As Dara contended with the challenges of cancer, the couple talked about what legacy she wanted to leave for causes close to her heart. After she passed away in 2023, Peter’s gift to the Brigham launched the Dara Frigoletto Nursing Awards, committing $10,000 scholarships to five nurses each year to defray the cost of an advanced nursing degree.

Building relationships — building careers

Nurses have been selected for the award from units across the hospital, and it has been especially meaningful to Peter that three nurses from his wife’s care team were chosen for a scholarship.

One of these nurses, Serena McConkey, BSN, RN, GERO-BC, started a master’s degree in nursing focused on gerontology last year. “Dara inspired every nurse who met her, and I’m forever grateful to have made a difference in her journey,” McConkey reflects. “She was resilient and fearless, created genuine relationships with staff members, asked us stories about our personal lives, and shared many stories of her own.”

She adds, “Dara and Peter made a point to show us appreciation every shift for our patience, compassion, and individualized care to Dara.”

Peter was inspired to establish the awards when he asked nurses what kind of philanthropic support would be most meaningful. “I found out 40% of nurses at Mass General Brigham pursue post-graduate education and the institution provides some resources, but donors could help fill a large gap toward tuition,” Peter explains.

McConkey says, “It’s humbling Dara’s family recognizes nurses this way. For me, this scholarship relieved the financial burden and helped build confidence to believe going back to school was realistic and achievable.”

Seeing the whole person

Kenny Yan, RN, DNP, a 2025 recipient along with McConkey, says, “This scholarship award helped pay my tuition and empowered me as a minority student to keep going during uncertain times. Initially, I had doubts about continuing my education due to concerns about financial aid, but the scholarship committee and hospital community supported me. I was especially grateful to complete my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with resources from the award.”

Yan was one of several awardees to share gratitude at the second annual luncheon honoring the Dara Frigoletto Nursing Awards, along with nurse leader, Julia Mason, DNP, MBA, RN, CENP, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services.

“Each application and letter of support reflected themes of empathy, advocacy, leadership, trust, and commitment to lifelong learning — traits and qualities that make an outstanding nurse,” she explained at the event.

Mason, who also holds the Beth V. Martignetti Endowed Chair in Nursing, continued, “Our nurses never lose sight that patients are so many things in this world — mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, children, colleagues, and friends. To see each patient as a whole person — not just a diagnosis — is critical to their well-being. Dara touched many people’s hearts when she was in our care, and we’re so honored her legacy found a home here.”

Honoring spiritual care services

Sheila Cavanaugh, MBA, MDiv, BCC, director of Spiritual Care Services, also spoke at the event, giving a blessing to celebrate Dara, the nursing scholars, and chaplain residents. Following the event, she recalls, “Dara and I spent hours together, she in bed and me by her side. She appreciated meditation, prayer, spending time in silence, and speaking of her love of the sea. Dara was a beautiful person both inside and out, with a legacy of volunteerism for children’s health and environmental causes.”

Grateful for the chaplaincy’s care, Peter gave to create a fund in Dara’s name for Spiritual Care Services, a division of the Department of Nursing and Patient Care Services. This support enabled Cavanaugh to add a fifth resident to her team for the 2025-2026 educational year.

“We rely heavily on residents to extend our reach across the hospital,” Cavanaugh says. “They’re at the bedside during some of the most vulnerable moments in patients’ lives. Quite simply, we could not offer the breadth and depth of care we now provide without Peter’s support. His gift reflects a commitment to compassionate care and we’re immensely grateful.”

Through the Clinical Pastoral Education program, residents complete 300 hours of classroom education and 600 hours of intensive clinical work over 10 months, accompanying patients and families through serious illness and providing a range of spiritual and religious support.

The resident currently sponsored by Peter is the Reverend Godfrey Kyeyune, a priest with the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, who serves on the Brigham’s oncology, thoracic, medicine, and intensive care units. “Because of this support, I am able to offer the calm and solace patients and families so deeply need,” he says. “This gift is not only a financial one; it is a bridge that allows me to support emotionally and spiritually those who feel most alone and in need.”

Inspiration to push forward

For Peter, witnessing the dedication of nurses and chaplains firsthand made a profound impression.

“They’re there for you,” he says. “When they walk into the room, the outside world is behind them and they bring 100% focus. Being able to flip that switch is an incredible skill.”

As he reads scholarship application essays and observes the selection process for the nursing awards, Peter notes the committee narrows in on 11 or 12 applicants for consideration. “I wish we had 11 or 12 scholarships to give out, but we need to pick five. Their applications show nurses learn a lot from patients. When you spend so much time caring for a person, it has an impact on you. They grieve when there’s loss. I hope these awards show all nurses what they do matters and that people see them, especially on tough days.”

He adds, “I hope by getting the word out that others will look for ways to help nurses and chaplains. They deserve added resources and recognition.”

Yan underscores the importance of this honor. “When patient families recognize and want to help us grow, it validates our profession and inspires us to keep pushing ourselves forward,” he says. “I truly hope more donors will be inspired to contribute because donations like this make a significant impact for us as individuals and for the healthcare system as a whole.”

“A ripple in the pond”

Since his wife passed away, Peter has kept in touch with her primary nurses, Nejla Williams, BSN, RN, Nurse in Charge on that unit, and Kathleen “Kat” Colarossi, BSN, RN, who were both part of the inaugural class of Dara Frigoletto Nursing Award winners. “They were among the nurses that were closest to Dara and me,” Peter says. “Especially as Dara’s condition was deteriorating and we knew she had weeks and then days left, it became that much more special to have support from nurses, chaplains, and the entire care team.”

Through his continued generosity, he wants nurses and chaplains to know patients and families care about them and recognize their hard work.

Peter says, “My hope is these gifts have a ripple in the pond effect, knowing nurses and resident chaplains will expand their skillset and opportunities to touch more lives — from patients to family members to colleagues.”

For more information or to support our nursing and chaplaincy programs, contact Madeline Burns at mkburns@mgb.org or 617 643 9418.