Local entertainer is voice in fight against cancer
By MARIE STEMPINSKI
Article published on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007  |
PINELLAS COUNTY - Ovarian cancer is called the silent killer. Last year the disease was diagnosed in 23,000 women, 17,000 died. That’s why Patricia Nevins sings.
Local beach residents and visitors remember Patricia Nevins. She was a mainstay at the Tradewinds and The Colony. Her smooth, perfectly pitched renditions of old standards like “Chances Are” and “It’s Not For Me to Say,” sung to the accompaniment of piano man Gene Ciprano, brought a bit of Broadway and Hollywood to St. Pete Beach.
Friday, March 2, Patricia will be belting out those tunes again, this time at the Palladium in St. Petersburg at 7:30 p.m. The concert, featuring the arrangements of Grammy, Emmy and Tony award winner Lanny Meyers, will be a fundraiser. “A Night for Romance” feature songs to break the silence about the silent killer-ovarian cancer.
Nevins is internationally known. Her audiences include rulers and celebrities around the world. She even performed for the Pope. During the ’70s and ’80s she owned and ran the Riverside Theatre and Workshop on Broadway.
“We were an equity library musical theater,” she said. “Everyone who was anyone on Broadway at the time came to our theater to practice their craft.”
Her background also includes the movies.
“For a time I was exclusively under contract to Paramount Pictures,” she said, commenting about her training as a producer and director.
“I worked with Capolla, and Spielberg,” she said.
All that changed In November of 2005.
“I had just been around the world singing. I had an offer to go to China and I was excited about an upcoming Las Vegas Gospel Music tour. A recent physical checkup showed that I was in good health. But, suddenly, I looked nine months pregnant. I couldn’t touch my toes.”
Patricia went back to her nurse practitioner. There were tests and there were theories.
“Finally, my sister, an OBGYN nurse practitioner in New York, put me in touch with Dr. James LaPalla at the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation here in St. Petersburg. That saved my life,” Nevins said.
Doctors determined Nevins had advanced ovarian cancer. She is presently undergoing chemotherapy based on her DNA.
“This is an alternative treatment and it shows promise. We’re trying to get the word out about early detection and about the new treatments that are available,” said Nevins.
And get the word out she has. President Bush signed a proclamation naming October 2006 Ovarian Cancer Month. Her Web site www.oveariancancersilentkiller.com is dedicated to hope and gives the latest information about the disease and available treatments. Nevins has produced a CD and a PSA that runs nationwide on Bright House Networks, Knology and PAX/ION TV.
“There’s also a documentary being produced featuring families of ovarian cancer patients telling their stories,” she said.
A portion of the sponsorship proceeds for “A Night for Romance” will go toward supporting ovarian cancer research. VIP sponsors pay $100 or more and receive Patricia’s new CD and special seating. There also will be a silent auction featuring a string of 38 inch pearls donated by Iradesse in the International Mall in Tampa.
People interested in sponsoring the event can call Nevins directly at 374-6586. For regular seating, priced between $15 and $35, contact the Palladium box office at 822-3590.
“I really feel the Lord spared my life and sent me on this path to be the spokesperson. I sing and speak to break the silence about the silent killer,” she said, smiling.
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Article published on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007
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