Former Calif. Insurance Commissioner Gillespie Raises Nearly $500,000 for City of Hope

The City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles, Calif., honored Roxani M. Gillespie, a partner at the law firm Barger & Wolen, with its highest honor, the Spirit of Life Award, at a gala dinner on Oct. 28, 2000 at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey.

The crystal figurine was presented to Gillespie by Larry DeBoer and Don Schwegman, California Insurance Council board members. Proceeds from the event will establish an honorary research fellowship at City of Hope Center in Gillespie’s honor.

Gillespie has been a partner with Barger & Wolen since 1997. She is a member of the American, California and Massachusetts Bar Associstions and is a current board member of 21st Century Industries, the National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc., Insureon.com and EngineRoar.com.

Gillespie was appointed Chief Deputy Insurance Commisioner for the California Department of Insurance in 1983 and Insurance Commissioner in 1986. She also held the title of vice president of the San Jose Division for the Industrial Indemnity Company.

Since the inception of the California Insurance Council, its members have raised more than $8 million, furthering the treatment and research of cancer, HIV/AIDS and many other life-threatening diseases. The council’s support has been so strong that other insurance councils have been established in other areas, including Seattle and Chicago.