Charles “Randy” Lomax passed away at his home in Los Altos, California on July 28, 2016 from complications from melanoma. He was 68 years old.

Randy dedicated the last 17 years of his life to fighting melanoma. After his diagnosis in 1999, he learned everything he could about the disease by attending educational symposia sponsored by the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF). In 2002 he was invited to join the MRF Board of Directors and in 2003 he became the Board Chair, a volunteer position he held for 10 years. Under his leadership, the MRF hired its first staff person, grew the grant portfolio exponentially, moved offices to Washington, DC and became an international presence in melanoma patient advocacy.

In 2010, Randy and Dr. Keith Flaherty were instrumental in the creation of the MRF Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC), a national network of 18 centers of excellence in melanoma that collaborate to accelerate drug development of combination therapies.

He was laser-focused on research, and built strong ties to the community of basic scientists and research clinicians. He befriended Dr. Meenhard Herlyn of the Wistar Institute, one of the great leaders in melanoma basic science research. Meenhard shared with Randy a vision for creating an academic group focused solely on research and organized a meeting of scientists for this very purpose. The MRF was the sponsor of the first dinner, and went on to support this fledgling group as it sought to find its way. Today, the Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) is the international leader in the advancement of science related to melanoma.

Randy never lost sight of the needs of patients, and was always open to phone calls from people desperate to find a new treatment. He referred countless individuals to top melanoma doctors, knowing that this was their best chance of beating this cancer.

In honor of Randy’s tremendous commitment to the MRF and the melanoma community, the MRF has established the Randy Lomax Memorial Research Fund. Donations made to the fund are tax-deductible and will support cutting-edge research in the melanoma field. Randy’s legacy will continue through the good work that will come from these gifts and we are grateful to all of those who choose to honor Randy in this special way. To make a tax-deductible donation to the fund, click here.

To learn more about Randy's life or leave a personal message, click here.