St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, part of the Hartford HealthCare system, said Tuesday it has received a $15 million gift that will help expand and modernize cancer care in the region.
Hartford HealthCare said the gift from the estate of Neil Mellen, who founded Town Fair Tire in 1967 and died in 2024, is among the largest single gifts in its history and will support renovations to St. Vincent’s oncology unit.
The renovations will include new treatment spaces, upgraded technology and enhancements designed to improve patient comfort.
Hospital officials said the gift reflects Mellen’s long-standing commitment to improving the patient and family experience and ensuring care is delivered with dignity and compassion.
Hospital officials described the renovation project as a key step in positioning St. Vincent’s as a regional destination for advanced cancer care.
The $15 million donation builds on more than 15 years of philanthropy from Mellen, whose previous gifts have helped shape care delivery at St. Vincent’s.
In 2009, he committed $500,000 to establish the Nancy Ann Mellen Infusion Center, which serves thousands of patients each year. In 2022, he donated $250,000 to support the hospital’s intensive care unit and subsequently donated $4.25 million to enhance critical care and emergency services.
