Chester “Chet” Romans is a medical minstrel.
On Wednesday mornings, the 78-year-old Oswego man gives two-hour guitar concerts in a waiting area at Rush Copley Cancer Center in Aurora, entertaining cancer patients, caregivers, and family members.
“I think it’s an important adjunct to what the Care Center does medically,” Romans says. “They are a great group of dedicated professionals. I’m happy they allow me to be a part of the work they do.”
He said he believes in paying it forward by helping other cancer patients on the journey. “Playing at Rush,” he said, “has been my way of continuing to pay back to all the great medical staff who helped me when I was in treatment. I like to think that my music helps those who are in treatment relax and feel a bit better about where they find themselves in their cancer journey.”
An Aurora native, Romans has lived in Oswego most of his life. A cancer survivor, he began playing at Rush about nine years ago. Earlier, he played at other medical venues, including Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora. He began playing there when he started his chemo regimen after being diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 1995.
His favorite song changes from day to day. “My musical taste is wide and varied,” he said. “I love classical as well as old jazz standards and have a wide repertoire, including Beatles’ songs. I’ll take a request if I know it.”
Romans retired in 1999 after 30 years in administrative positions in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Then he began a second career as a full-time musician, focusing on teaching privately and in group settings throughout the area.
Research from Mayo Clinic studies show that volunteering can lead to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially in people ages 65 and older.
—Al Benson