Pat Gentile smiles now. Fifteen years ago, while in her late 50s and undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, she lost all her hair and began wearing a wig. It was itchy and uncomfortable, and after a while — when her hair had the look of a short crew cut — she decided to stop wearing it.
The first time she drove to work without the wig, Gentile felt exposed. As the dean of a local college and a frequent public speaker, she worried about how people would react. She didn’t want sympathy or “pity eyes”; she wanted to keep moving through her day.
On that morning she stopped at a convenience store for coffee and lunch. As she shopped, a woman she didn’t know came up to her and offered a simple compliment: not everyone could pull off that hairstyle, and she looked fabulous. Gentile was stunned, managed a quiet thank-you, and watched the woman walk away.
She sat in her car for a while afterward, letting the stranger’s words sink in. The comment made her feel seen and ordinary in a way her illness often disrupted, and it gave her the courage to go to work and begin the day.
That moment became a turning point. Gentile eventually donated the wig and completed chemotherapy. Since 2011 she’s had no evidence of cancer.
Thinking back, she credits that brief kindness with changing how she viewed others. The woman’s generosity of spirit left a lasting impression; Gentile still pictures her in her mind and says the interaction inspired her to be more attentive and compassionate toward people she meets.
My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to [email protected].