Construction chief’s ties to CHOC run deep as son beats cancer – CHOC

From his eighth-floor office on CHOC’s Orange campus, Craig Cherf has a commanding view of the Bill Holmes Tower.

“When I look at it,” Craig says, “I not only admire its beautiful exterior, but in my head, I see the concrete foundation and the steel beams underneath it.”

As a senior preconstruction director with the Newport Beach office of McCarthy Building Companies, Craig helped oversee construction when dirt was first turned on the project in fall 2009 through the tower’s opening in 2013.

Now, from a large monitor on his desk, Craig has a live-cam view of his second milestone project at CHOC: the Southwest Tower (SWT), the nine-story outpatient building set to open in late June 2025.

Craig’s connection to CHOC runs deeper than supporting its growth through signature construction projects.

Just months after work began on the Bill Holmes Tower, Craig and his wife, April, got devastating news.

Their only child, Jackson, who was 4, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a rapidly growing cancer that starts in the white blood cells in bone marrow.

Craig watched the Bill Holmes Tower rise as his son received treatment at the Hyundai Cancer Institute.

A building rises

While spending time in the hospital playroom, Craig would explain to his son and other patients the significance of the tower that was rising right outside the window — an experience that would connect Craig to his job in a way he could never have imagined.

“Being a part of CHOC is a highlight of my life and my family’s lives,” says Craig, reclining his 6-foot-4 frame before another busy day of meetings and site visits to check on the progress of the Southwest Tower, whose exterior will be completed this summer.

This Sunday, June 16, family once again will be center stage at the Cherf household as Craig, April and Jackson celebrate Father’s Day and Jackson’s recent graduation from Villa Park High School.

“It will always be part of my family.”

After his April 2010 cancer diagnosis, Jackson spent three years in and out of CHOC for treatments. He is now cancer free.

But those early days, weeks, and months after the diagnosis were challenging.

Tag-team effort

April, who was working in the marketing department at McCarthy when she met Craig in 2003, took a leave of absence and never returned to work.

Craig, who started as an estimator at McCarthy in 2001, also took time off for three weeks to be with Jackson at CHOC.

Craig and April would trade overnight shifts to comfort their son at bedside.

Jackson spent three weeks at CHOC for his initial treatment and was on medications and steroids when he went home.

The steroids caused weird cravings.

“Cheetos and milk were his food and drink of choice,” Craig says with a smile.

“He did great,” he adds. “He was resilient.”

Animal lover

Jackson does not remember much about his time at CHOC. One thing he does remember is pet therapy.

With dogs at home, too, and a love for all animals, Jackson is considering a career as a veterinarian. He starts at a community college in the fall with plans to transfer to a four-year university to earn a degree in animal sciences.

Recently, Jackson and his parents visited CHOC for a mini-reunion with members of the Outpatient Infusion Center (OPI). A few nurses recalled treating Jackson. The OPI will be relocating to the fourth floor of the Southwest Tower.

Jackson says he is looking forward to celebrating Father’s Day.

“He always has been there for me, no matter what,” Jackson says. “He’s always supported me when I was at CHOC and throughout my schooling.”

To celebrate Jackson’s high school graduation, the Cherf family will soon jet to Cabo San Lucas.

Ziplining and ATVs will be just part of the fun.

‘First-class organization’

Since 2015, Craig has been a member of the CHOC Corporate Partnerships Committee, a group of professionals from investment firms, banks, law firms and other businesses who meet monthly to try to attract new donors and introduce new programs.

“I think from the top down, from Kim (Cripe, CEO) to Kerri (Schiller, CFO) and others, the culture here is spectacular,” Craig says. “This is a first-class organization and facility, and I think it starts with Kim and her staff.”

Craig continues to work on a handful of other McCarthy projects as he oversees construction of the Southwest Tower.

He took on the additional role of project lead for the Southwest Tower to immerse himself in the operations side of construction, collaborating with partners CannonDesign, the architects, Jacobs, the construction manager, and a host of subcontractors.

The Southwest Tower is progressing well, Craig says, with 200 workers working on it.

Craig has worked on everything from airports to parking structures. But there is a certain type of construction project he prefers.

“I love working on children’s hospitals,” he says. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”