One year after the death of former Windsor Symphony Orchestra music director Robert Franz, his wish to thank the healthcare workers who cared for him during his battle with cancer has been fulfilled. The Windsor Symphony Orchestra presented complimentary ticket vouchers to approximately 200 staff members in Windsor Regional Hospital’s Cancer Program on Wednesday, marking the first anniversary of Franz’s death. Franz died Sept. 2, 2025, at the age of 57 following a battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. WSO executive director Patti Lauzon said the gesture was an idea Franz repeatedly discussed during the final months of his life. “He also talked about how important it was for him to let health-care workers know how much that meant to him,” Lauzon said. “So today we’re here to gift tickets to the upcoming season to Cancer Program staff.” The tickets are for the WSO’s 2026-27 season at the Capitol Theatre. Lauzon said Franz had spoken about the idea numerous times. “‘We need to go and do that. It’s really important to me,’” she recalled him saying. “So, we couldn’t think of a better way to recognize him on the anniversary of his passing.” Franz’s spouse, Brandon Atkins, said returning to the Cancer Centre was particularly meaningful. “It’s impactful to know that this centre provided him care and compassion that we couldn’t have received in other places,” Atkins said. Franz received two rounds of cancer treatment, and Atkins said he was deeply appreciative of the care and support he received in Windsor. “He felt like he got the quality care and compassion that were just excellent and above and beyond,” Atkins said. For Atkins, the event also marked the realization of a goal Franz did not live to see completed. “It’s just a realization of a goal that he had and he didn’t get to see in fruition,” Atkins explained. “It’s a beautiful gift that the WSO did on his behalf, knowing it was part of his dying wish that individuals here would be able to get a small thank you and gesture for the work that they had done in caring for him at the end of his life.” Atkins described Franz as someone who brought joy to those around him and used music as a way to connect with others. “Robert had a gregarious laugh. He was an infectious human being that brought joy to other people,” Atkins said. “His particular venue of compassion and joy was bringing music to people.” Franz’s influence will also continue to be felt in upcoming WSO performances. Atkins said Franz completed the programming for both the previous season and the current one before his death. “People coming to the symphony will still get a piece of Robert in the music that we share,” Atkins said. Lauzon said sharing music without barriers was central to Franz’s philosophy. “Robert was all about giving back,” she said. “He was a volunteer here at the Cancer Centre. He believed in sharing music with people in a barrier-free way.” Windsor Regional Hospital interim vice-president of the Cancer Centre and chief nursing executive Nicole Krywionek said the gift is a meaningful recognition of staff who support patients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. “These people come in every day, and they help people through the most difficult times in their lives,” Krywionek said. She said the opportunity to step away from work and enjoy live music could offer healthcare workers a chance to recharge. “Sometimes taking your mind off things helps bring you back to work more restful and more joyful in the work that you do,” she said. The Cancer Program serves more than 90,000 patient visits annually, providing a range of services to patients and their families. According to the WSO, the ticket gift is a way to ensure Franz’s appreciation and love of music continues to reach the community he embraced. “He really grew to love this community in a way that was just infectious to other people,” Atkins said. “He wanted to give back every way that he could.” Atkins added that the gesture may be small, but Franz’s musical legacy in Windsor will endure. “I think the gift that he gave us of music for years and years will be remembered for what he did and his legacy here.” https://www.windsorsymphony.com/
