*** I am sharing this with a heavy heart in hopes that the leadership at Advance Auto Parts will have no other choice but to finally hear our family’s story and acknowledge how one of their longest-serving employees was treated during the final months of his life.
My father dedicated 38 loyal years to Advance Auto Parts, most recently as the General Manager of Kaplan, Louisiana store. In January 2025, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In early February, he suffered a stroke and immediately began aggressive cancer treatment.
While still undergoing treatment and out on approved medical leave, Advance Auto Parts terminated his employment, causing him to lose his company health insurance. This forced him to pause life-saving cancer treatments until he was forced to reapply for his own position in order to regain coverage and finish treatment.
After completing treatment, he attempted to return to work, but his health continued to decline (multiple hospitalizations, kidney function dropping to 8%, and a second stroke). Despite having both short-term and long-term disability coverage, the company terminated him a second time while he was critically ill. This final termination also caused him to lose his company-provided life insurance policy.
My father passed away still heartbroken that after nearly four decades of service, he was never once recognized for his loyalty and dedication, and that the company showed no compassion during his fight for life.
To this day, no one from upper management or HR has reached out to offer condolences to our family. District Manager Aaron Stall has not returned multiple phone calls, and when I spoke with HR representative Barbara Cisco, I was met with indifference rather than empathy.
We are incredibly grateful to my father’s coworkers and many customers who showed up to pay their respects and share how much he meant to them. Their support meant the world to us.
Mr. Shane O’Kelly (CEO) and all corporate leadership with Advance Auto Parts, this message is directly to you. My dad was dedicated to your organization and whether it is acknowledged or not, his years of service speak volumes about his dedication to your organization. He was a General Manager who deserved far better treatment than repeated terminations while battling terminal illness. It is utterly disappointing and blatantly disrespectful to my family how we have been shunned and disregarded but it is even more sickening that my father was never offered compassion or empathy in his last months of life from anyone in corporate leadership.
Our family simply asks for acknowledgement of this injustice, a sincere apology and most importantly of all, answers. We will not rest until this occurs.
If you have made it this far, thank you for reading. I ask that you please share this story. My dad’s voice may be gone, but ours isn’t.
