CPMC Foundation Chuck Williams

Chuck Williams (1915 – 2015)

Chuck Williams learned to cook from his grandmother, saw the value of becoming friends with his customers while working on a date farm as a teenager, and was inspired to open the nation’s first French cookware store after visiting the kitchen shops of Paris. So at the age of 40, with an unbeatable recipe of quality, kindness and customer service, he created one of the nation’s most iconic retail businesses: Williams-Sonoma.

He clearly loved what he did and he saw that same trait in the people who cared for him when he was treated for cancer at CPMC in 1990. After that, Mr. Williams went on to live another vibrant 25 years. In appreciation, he made one of the largest gifts in CPMC history, bringing his total philanthropic investment in CPMC cancer services to more than $12 million.

“My experience with cancer inspired me to make this gift,” Mr. Williams once said.

“I know how important it is to have the best possible care available when you need it. I consider it a privilege to be able to help this hospital that has helped me so much.”

“Chuck was a visionary philanthropic partner,” says Warren Browner, M.D., MPH and retired CEO of CPMC. “His foresight will enable extraordinary advances in cancer research and treatment at CPMC that will help many people in our community for years to come."