The life and legacy of Dr. Joseph Fraumeni, Jr. have been honored in many incredible ways since his passing on June 22. Read the beautifully crafted tribute by Stephen J. Chanock, MD, director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute, which serves as both an awe-inspiring professional chronicle and a moving personal testimonial.
Our LFSA family is overwhelmingly grateful for Dr. Fraumeni’s leadership, involvement and kindness. A lesser-known and more personal aspect of his remarkable journey was making sure the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association succeeded. Not only was he instrumental in our creation 15 years ago, he was a tremendous supporter of the organization. He also brought us the incredible Holly Fraumeni, whose countless contributions and endless commitment have help shaped our path forward.
Affectionately known as Uncle Skippy, Dr. Fraumeni wasn’t just a name on our Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. He would come to us with ideas and continued to mentor us throughout our first 15 years. Uncle Skippy was active with LFSA up until last year, taking phone calls, challenging our thinking and talking behind-the-scenes about big ideas and important considerations. He most recently joined us at the REACH22 International LFSA Symposium in Bethesda in 2022, captivating a crowd in the very lecture hall named for him at the NCI.
His loss will be felt by many for a long time, but the impact he has made endures eternally.
