Lives Remembered, Progress Demanded: Honoring Those Lost in 2025 

This year, the cost of cancer was unmistakably clear. Behind every statistic is a life, and behind every loss is a story that sharpens our resolve to transform pancreatic cancer into a curable disease for patients and their families. We lost individuals whose lives shaped medicine, culture, and public understanding, losses that demand more than remembrance. They demand urgency, action, and measurable progress for those still waiting.

We honor the lives of four remarkable individuals whose passing in 2025 moved our community and reinforced why this work cannot slow. 

JUDGE FRANK CAPRIO, CHAMPION OF JUSTICE AND COMPASSION

Judge Frank Caprio, beloved for his decades of service on the Rhode Island bench, passed away from pancreatic cancer on August 20, 2025. He left behind a legacy defined by fairness, empathy, and unwavering commitment to the people he served. Known for his compassionate approach to justice, he inspired not only those who appeared in his courtroom but also communities across the nation who admired his humanity and integrity. 

Judge Caprio’s life reminds us that leadership, in any form, can be a force for good, creating systems of care, understanding, and accountability.  

DR. MICHAEL J. ZINNER, SURGEON, INNOVATOR, PANCREATIC CANCER ADVOCATE

Dr. Michael J. Zinner was a visionary leader and cherished friend – a pioneering pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgeon whose leadership advanced both clinical care and scientific discovery. As Founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of the Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Zinner reimagined what cancer treatment could be, combining surgical excellence with compassionate, patient-centered care.

After losing his beloved wife, Ronny, to pancreatic cancer, Dr. Zinner became a passionate advocate for research and better outcomes for patients and families. When pancreatic cancer came into his own life, he faced it with courage, grace, and humility, the same qualities that defined his decades of service and mentorship.

Dr. Zinner’s legacy includes not just breakthroughs in surgical practice, but also the countless clinicians and scientists he mentored, those who carry forward his commitment to excellence and hope.

D’ANGELO (MICHAEL EUGENE ARCHER), MUSIC PIONEER AND SOUL ICON

In October 2025, the world lost D’Angelo, a transformative voice in modern music whose artistry reached millions. Known for groundbreaking albums including Brown Sugar, Voodoo, and Black Messiah, D’Angelo helped define a generation of soul and R&B with depth, musicality, and soul. 

His music transcended genre and time, and his influence will live on through the artists he inspired and the fans who found comfort, rhythm, and truth in his songs. 

TATIANA SCHLOSSBERG, JOURNALIST, STORYTELLER, MOTHER

On December 30, 2025, Tatiana Schlossberg – American journalist, author and beloved daughter, wife and mother – passed away at the age of 35 after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Her family announced her death with the heartfelt words: “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.”  

Tatiana was an incisive and compassionate voice in journalism, telling stories that illuminated science, environment and the world around us. In November, she published a deeply personal essay in The New Yorker, sharing her leukemia diagnosis and reflecting on the challenges of facing a life-threatening illness while raising young children and advocating for truth in science and public health.  

Her honesty, insight, and courage resonated with many, especially those who know the toll that cancer and other serious diseases take on families. We grieve her loss, and we amplify her voice as one that reminded us why science, medical research, and community support are essential.  

CARRYING THEIR LEGACY FORWARD

In 2025, an estimated 67,440 Americans were diagnosed and nearly 52,000 were projected to die from pancreatic cancer – a disparity we refuse to accept. For more than 25 years, the Lustgarten Foundation has led bold, collaborative research to detect the disease earlier, develop better treatments, and move the field toward cures. Our work continues in labs, clinics, and communities, driven by the belief that loss should never be inevitable. 

We honor the legacies of Judge Frank, Dr. Zinner, D’Angelo, and Tatiana Schlossberg by turning remembrance into action – prioritizing science, standing up for research, and fueling the discoveries that will change what’s possible for patients and families. Together, we will make 2026 a transformative year, turning ideas into insights and hope into life-saving progress.