George Denman (“Denny”) Hammond, M.D. passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 97 on August 31, 2020.
Denny founded and was President and CEO of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer (then known as the National Childhood Cancer Foundation), and continued in that position for many years. Denny devoted his life’s efforts to the development of integrated multidisciplinary treatment of childhood cancers, and was an internationally known pioneer in that field. He also served as Group Chairman of the Children’s Cancer Study Group, and held important leadership positions in the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute.
Additionally, Denny served as Head of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and had a distinguished career on the faculty of the University of Southern California School of Medicine, rising to Associate Vice President for Health Affairs. He was instrumental in the development and funding of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, serving as its Founding Director.
Denny was greatly loved by his 3 surviving children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren, who already miss his ready smile, sense of humor, and Southern gentlemanly manner. If you'd like to make a donation to CureSearch in Denny's beloved memory and to help carry on his life's work, please click below.