Raymond Ruddon, M.D., Ph.D., the fifth director of the Eppley Institute and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (formerly the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center), passed away on April 26 in Michigan.
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Dr. Ruddon |
“Dr. Ruddon’s vision for the future of the Eppley Institute and Cancer Center led to the recruitment of several long-time faculty members who have had extremely successful careers and contributed significantly to the field of cancer research,” said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Eppley Institute and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “He also served on several university-wide committees and was a valued asset to the university system.”
“Dr. Ray Ruddon recruited great cancer researchers to the Eppley Institute,” said Oksana Lockridge, Ph.D., professor in the Eppley Institute. “Thirty years ago he could see that Tony Hollingsworth and Robert Lewis would be stars. Both scientists have been honored with the Scientist Laureate award by UNMC.”
Dr. Ruddon earned a B.S. degree in chemistry, summa cum laude, from the University of Detroit. He had a Ph.D. in pharmacology and a M.D. from the University of Michigan. He authored more than 100 scientific papers and five books. One of these, “Cancer Biology,” now in its fourth edition, is a widely used text in the field of oncology. He was also co-editor of the classic textbook in pharmacology, “Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics.” After leaving the Eppley Institute, Dr. Ruddon was named a corporate vice president for science and technology at Johnson & Johnson.
A memorial reception for Dr. Ruddon will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 3-5 p.m. in the Hussey Room at the Michigan League, 911 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Dr. Ruddon was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lynne, in 2017. He is survived by three daughters and five grandchildren.
Sorry to hear of Dr. Ruddon's passing. He was a great leader and no doubt took UNMC's cancer programs to a new level. My condolences to his family.
When we visited in 1990, Sally and I were smitten by Ray and Lynne, their abject grace, and their unconditional hospitality. It would have been foolish to reject the welcoming, supportive, and professional environment Ray offered and, in fact, provided. Ray was an exemplary leader. Sally and I are saddened by his death, but heartened by the certainty that the profound effect he had on our lives was was repeated to great affect many times on others. I wish everyone could have known him. – Rob Lewis
Ray was an incredible individual. I was drawn in by his genial gravity early in my career and benefited greatly from that relationship. I will always remember him fondly and most importantly for his humanity.
Dr. Ruddon was a gracious man – with that I truly agree.
I met him at UNO where we both swam laps.
He learned I worked in the lab and hired me part time to do some research.
I actually didn't realize he was the director right away – he was very humble
and said he did research.
Dr. Ruddon was one of the people I interviewed with when I joined UNMC back in 1989. He was amazing and so down to earth. He will be missed.