From FBI to philanthropy

Bob Paquette’s career is one for the movies.

As an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he investigated high-profile murder cases and financial crimes, conducted undercover stings, and brought down several money-laundering drug cartels. He rappelled down the sides of buildings and chased armed fugitives.

But nothing prepared him for a serious and unexpected health concern.

Retirement halted

Paquette and his wife, Patricia, were just starting to enjoy retirement in Hilton Head, South Carolina, following long, rewarding careers.

After serving five years in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam, Paquette, now 78, worked for 23 years for the FBI in New York City and Connecticut. He was also the police chief in Danbury, Connecticut, before working as a senior advisor at a large community bank.

Patricia Paquette was a nurse for more than three decades. She worked in oncology for 26 of those years, including a stint in a bone marrow transplant unit at UCLA Medical Center.

The couple moved to Hilton Head in 2015 and were enjoying retirement until Christmas Eve morning in 2019 when the phone rang at 6 am. Paquette’s doctor told him to go to the hospital immediately. Results from routine blood work showed extremely low platelets and red and white blood cells. He had no symptoms and even played golf the day before.

After many tests and platelet and red blood cell transfusions, his counts continued to drop to dangerously low levels. His doctor suggested he see an expert for a rare blood disorder.

“I was on the verge of panic. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t control the situation,” Paquette said. “I knew I couldn’t continue to go to all these transfusions over and over again. I was spending three full days every week getting blood and platelet transfusions and there was no resolution of the issues or answers about what was my problem.”

In February 2020, after not finding luck at other locations, doing his own research and getting a recommendation from a longtime FBI friend, Bob found help three hours away at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“When I finally heard I’d be able to see someone able to evaluate and treat this, it was a tremendous relief,” he said.

Maxim Norkin, MD, PhD, hematologist-oncologist at Baptist MD Anderson, ordered additional testing, including a third bone marrow biopsy. The final diagnosis came back as severe aplastic anemia, a rare condition where the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells. Left untreated, it can be life-threatening.

‘Safe spot’

Paquette’s treatment started the next week, with about a week spent in the hospital at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville receiving an urgent immunosuppressive therapy. He also received platelet and blood transfusions over the next three months, and his numbers continued to stabilize.

Paquette remains on a medication to stimulate cells in the bone marrow to keep his platelet count and red and white blood cell numbers high. He and his wife travel to Baptist MD Anderson every three months for checkups.

The Paquettes have immense gratitude for the entire team at Baptist MD Anderson and the leaders who have become their friends, including Dr. Norkin; LeeAnn Mengel, BSN, MBA, vice president administrator of Baptist MD Anderson; and Joe B. Putnam, Jr., MD, FACS, medical director for Baptist MD Anderson.

“They were totally supportive, and their expertise was critical in identifying and treating my issue,” Paquette said.

Patricia Paquette also shared that they felt support from the entire team, including nurses, pharmacists, spiritual leaders and social workers.

“They were very reassuring and supportive, and continue to be,” she said. “Everybody was readily available if we needed anything and would stop by and see how we were doing.”

While the Paquettes shy away from the spotlight, they wanted to share their story to thank “the finest team of dedicated and talented professionals.”

They point to Baptist Health as having saved Bob’s life more than once. In addition to remaining a patient at Baptist MD Anderson, he received treatment for kidney failure in 2022 and had an urgent esophageal hiatal hernia repair surgery in 2024.

“That’s my safe spot,” he said of Baptist Health.

Giving back for future patients

To show their gratitude, the Paquettes endowed a generous gift of $1 million to help start the Cellular and Stem Cell Transplant Program at Baptist MD Anderson; Dr. Norkin is the medical director of the new program. The couple previously established the Hematological Cancer Medical Fund to support the malignant hematology team with a focus on bone marrow transplants, and the Robert L. Paquette, Jr., and Patricia A. Paquette Hematologic Malignancy Fund for research, training and patient education in blood and lymphatic cancers.

“We greatly appreciate the donations from the Paquettes, which are a tremendous help for the start of our program and operation,” Dr. Norkin said.

Patricia Paquette said she wanted a way to give back to Baptist Health and knew Dr. Norkin was planning to start a bone marrow transplant program. She understood the importance from her years working on a bone marrow transplant unit.

“A simple ‘thank you’ for saving his life didn’t seem enough. I decided what a great way to show thanks by starting a fund to help him with the endeavor,” she said. Her husband also wanted to express gratitude for what “the magnificent people [at Baptist] have done for me.”

“I’m just happy to do it and know they will put the money to a very good cause. It will benefit a lot of people and continue on for ages,” Bob Paquette said. “Many people will be successfully treated by these innovative therapies.”

He added, “Everybody at Baptist MD Anderson has a smile on their face. Everybody is helpful. From the first person you speak to when you walk through the doors and check in, to the people who take your blood, everybody is so nice. That’s very unique. They want to see you get better. They want to treat you, and they want you to walk out with a smile on your face.”

The generosity of people like the Paquettes ensures Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center and other Baptist Health facilities are able to continue providing innovative, high-level care to the people of Northeast Florida and far beyond. To learn about giving opportunities for Baptist Health and Baptist MD Anderson, click here.