Legacy

The lung cancer community is mourning the loss of Bonnie J. Addario, who passed away on August 25, 2025, at the age of 77. She leaves behind her beloved husband of over 40 years, Tony; her children Danielle, Jared, and Andrea; 9 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren—each of whom she nurtured with boundless joy, humor, and unconditional love.

She was a co-founder and leader of GO2 for Lung Cancer, founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF), and co-founder of the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALMCI).  

When diagnosis becomes purpose

In October 2003, Bonnie received a stage 3B (IIIB) lung cancer diagnosis, transforming her life forever. Facing grim odds, she did not retreat. Instead, she assembled a multidisciplinary medical team—a thoracic surgeon, oncologists, pulmonologists, radiation specialists—to carve out a survival plan.  

“If I am going to die from this disease, I don’t want it to be because I did nothing,” she later declared.

Her personal experience ignited a mission: to ensure others would not walk that path alone. With the same fierce compassion she carried into every part of her life, Bonnie founded ALCF in March 2006, proclaiming, “Enough is enough!”

Building on her vision for patient-centered care, Bonnie co-founded GO2 for Lung Cancer, which formed through the merger of ALCF and Lung Cancer Alliance. Through GO2, she worked to ensure that the voices of patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates were heard, while fostering collaboration with researchers, industry, and public health leaders. Her approach was guided by a “community-centric” philosophy to support the lung cancer community.  

From personal experience to patient advocacy

Bonnie’s story began well before her advocacy work. She was a gifted businesswoman who shattered barriers in industries historically dominated by men. As President of Olympian Oil and Commercial Fueling Network (CFN), she led with vision, grace, and tenacity, earning admiration for her leadership and innovation. The resilience and strategic thinking she honed in business would soon become invaluable in facing one of life’s greatest challenges.

For Bonnie, everything began and ended with patients. She knew lung cancer was not just a medical condition but a deeply human one, and she was determined to make sure no one ever felt alone. Her vision was both simple and revolutionary: put patients at the center of every decision, every discovery, and every conversation.

She built a roadmap where none existed, pioneering resources that empowered patients and families to navigate the unknown: a patient education handbook, a shared data registry, and one-on-one counseling to provide both information and direct support.

Perhaps nothing embodies her vision more than the Lung Cancer Living Room^®, the education and support series she launched in 2009. What began as a gathering in her own home has since grown into a global lifeline, reaching over a million people in 144 countries. In the Living Room, people diagnosed with lung cancer and families could engage face-to-face—or screen-to-screen—with leading experts, walk away with knowledge, and, more importantly, hope.

Bonnie’s unwavering belief in respect, clarity, and partnership transformed lung cancer care. She built spaces where people could find connection, courage, and the confidence to advocate for themselves. She reminded people that even in the most challenging moments, tomorrow could hold possibilities.

Research that listens: ALCMI

Realizing that patient empowerment needed to be paired with cutting-edge research, Bonnie co-founded the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) in 2008, an international research consortium committed to unlocking lung cancer’s genetic mysteries and advancing targeted treatments.

Breaking down traditional silos, ALCMI brought together more than 25 world-class research institutions into a single collaborative network—something that had never been done before in lung cancer research. The institute established one of the first global lung cancer biobanks, giving scientists and clinicians shared access to patient samples and data to speed discovery. Among its landmark initiatives is the INHERIT study, which identified the first-ever genetic marker linked to increased hereditary risk for lung cancer. Other ALCMI studies have shed light on unique genetic drivers of the disease, improved understanding of young lung cancer, and opened the door to new approaches in targeted therapy and clinical trial design.

By integrating patient perspectives with rigorous scientific investigation, ALCMI continues to accelerate discoveries, improve access to personalized therapies, and create a more precise understanding of the disease. Through this work, Bonnie ensured that research would not remain confined to the laboratory but would translate into tangible benefits for patients, bridging the gap between innovation and care.

Voices that matter: patient stories and youth advocacy

Bonnie believed deeply in the power of stories to drive change. She amplified the voices of people living with lung cancer, ensuring their experiences informed not only support services but also research, policy, and public awareness.

When Bonnie met 21-year-old athlete Jill Costello, she was profoundly moved. Jill’s courage and determination sparked Jill’s Legacy, a youth-focused advocacy group that reminded the world that lung cancer can—and does—impact anyone. This effort inspired a new generation to step forward, raise awareness, and push for progress.

Bonnie also championed groundbreaking research, most notably the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer (GoYLC) study, which identified a previously unknown and unique form of lung cancer in young adults. This was a discovery that had never been recognized before and opened an entirely new area of research. Its follow-up study, Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer (EoYLC), sought to understand why these otherwise healthy young adults develop the disease by examining environmental, behavioral, and genetic risk factors. This novel, groundbreaking work would not have happened without Bonnie’s vision and determination. Today, findings from these studies are shaping efforts to improve prevention, detection, and treatment—critical steps that will save lives and bring hope to future generations.

Honoring excellence: The Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award

Bonnie’s legacy is also carried forward through the Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award, established in 2008 to honor individuals whose work profoundly influenced lung cancer research, education, and patient advocacy.

Each recipient joins an esteemed group of pioneers whose contributions mirror Bonnie’s insistence on pushing boundaries, asking the hard questions, and never accepting the status quo. The Lectureship Award ensures that her spirit of courage, urgency, and hope continues to inspire the people who shape the future of lung cancer care.  

Championing precision care: biomarker testing

Bonnie was a founding voice in urging patients and the medical community to embrace comprehensive biomarker testing at diagnosis and progression. She emphasized that lung cancer is not one singular disease and when biomarkers are identified, doors open to targeted therapies.  

In November 2023, she received the prestigious Leadership in Personalized Medicine award from the Precision Medicine Coalition (PMC) for her outstanding impact on lung cancer. Reflecting on the award, Bonnie said:

“It has always been my number one priority to make sure that people with lung cancer feel represented in every conversation and every decision we’ve made at GO2 and certainly in our partnerships with industry and medical institutions. That’s always been a responsibility I’ve taken seriously, but it has also been such an honor to work with so many wonderful people with lung cancer and share their stories and their needs in a way that increases awareness, builds momentum, and improves their lives.” 

Final reflection: hope in action

Bonnie’s passing on August 25, 2025, marks the end of a chapter—but her story is far from over. Her legacy lives on in the empowered patients who advocate for themselves, the researchers who continue forging life-saving discoveries, and the countless communities that have found hope through her efforts. Bonnie has made an impact on everyone who has met her and received one of her trademark hugs.  

If you’ve been touched by her work, a support session, a resource, a reminder of your own strength—carry forward her spirit. Whether through volunteering, donating, advocating for the lung cancer community, or simply sharing her story, you can help ensure Bonnie’s greatest gift—hope—is never forgotten.

To honor Bonnie’s memory, GO2 for Lung Cancer has created the GO2 Bonnie J. Addario Legacy Award that recognizes individuals who embody Bonnie’s unwavering spirit, courageous leadership, and relentless determination to transform the landscape of lung cancer. The 2025 recipients of the award, the Young Lung Cancer Initiative Co-Founders Bianca Bye and Leah Phillips, were honored for empowering and connecting young adults affected by lung cancer.

As a tribute to Bonnie’s extraordinary life and legacy, a group of generous donors has come together to MATCH all gifts 100% through December 31. Your support of the Bonnie J. Addario Legacy Fund will help sustain the patient-centered programs, research, and care she built—and keep hope alive for every person facing lung cancer. Learn more and make a gift here.

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When Cliff Norton walks into a room, he brings hope through the door with him. Diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) lung cancer in July 2010, he was declared NED (no evidence of disease) in December 2012. More than a decade and many PET scans later, he’s still cancer-free.  His story brings hope to others diagnosed with the disease. “People who are newly diagnosed want to talk to, look in the eyes, touch, and hold hands with survivors,” said Norton. “It’s a critical element of having hope.”  He knows because he’s been there. Norton’s oncologist introduced him to GO2 for Lung Cancer about six months after his diagnosis. He quickly began to learn more about the disease—and the need for additional education, awareness, and advocacy. That led him to attend his first Lung Cancer Voices Summit. “I was battling lung cancer and I wanted to be with other people who were dealing with the same things I was,” he said. “We’re common souls.” That first summit hooked him in, and he’s been a lung cancer advocate ever since.  Today, Norton sits on the Voices Summit Planning & Advisory Committee. Comprised of people living with lung cancer and caregivers, the committee helps develop the event’s agenda to ensure it meets the needs of the lung cancer advocacy community. He’s also held sessions for first-time summit participants on what to expect.  

Four bullet points, five minutes

“Going up to Capitol Hill has an impact, especially when we use our time wisely,” said Norton. That’s another reason he encourages people to get involved and attend the Voices Summit. And, of course, he has advice for first-time advocates to maximize their impact. Call it the “four bullets, five minutes” rule. “If we ramble, we waste everyone’s time. So, I tell people to come with four bullets about your story, practice it, rehearse it, and compress it to five minutes,” he said. “Make it personal but be professional as well. That shows you value legislators’ time, and it gives everyone in the group an opportunity to tell their story.”  Finally, Norton points out that advocacy does make a difference. “We see impact from it,” he said. “We’re seeing research helping to increase survivorship. When I was diagnosed, they were looking for two genetic mutations in lung cancer; we’re looking for a dozen now. That’s the effect of research. And that’s the effect of going up to Capitol Hill, meeting with your elected officials, telling your story, and having an impact on them so that you encourage them to fund the legislation that's going to make a difference.”

My StoryMy name is Larry Gershon. I am 72 years old, live in Palo Alto, California, and have been married to my wife for 46 years. In addition to being a husband, father of two, and grandfather, I am also a veteran. I retired from the military in 1995 as a Navy Captain after serving as a Naval Flight Officer for most of my career. My flying experience was as a Tactical Coordinator on the P-3 Antisubmarine Warfare Aircraft.I was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma in January of 2013 and I have an EGFR mutation. My lung cancer diagnosis was accidental. I had a bad cold and I was experiencing asthma symptoms in early 2013. I went to my local medical facility urgent care office where I received antibiotics and a steroid inhaler. These medications resolved my cold and asthma symptoms over the next few days, but the doctor wanted me to have a chest X-ray before I left the office to make sure I didn’t have pneumonia. The good news was I didn’t have pneumonia. The bad news was the X-ray showed a small spot on my upper right lung. Over the next 3 weeks, I had a CT scan, followed by a PET scan, then a surgical biopsy, and finally a brain MRI. The final diagnosis on Valentine’s Day 2013 was stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. I had no symptoms that would lead anyone to believe I had lung cancer. I was a never smoker. I am one of many who prove that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.My Treatment JourneyOver the past seven plus years, I have had three different systemic treatment protocols. First was chemo, followed by two different targeted therapy drugs over the last five plus years. I have had a few complications and procedures during the seven years since I was diagnosed. I had cyberknife treatment on three different brain metastases in 2014. One of those metastases eventually had to be surgically removed 2016. Avascular necrosis, assumed to be caused by high doses of steroids I took during chemo treatment caused my right hip to deteriorate, requiring hip replacement surgery. Shortly after my lung cancer diagnosis, I was also diagnosed with type II diabetes. I have been able to control the diabetes with diet and exercise and have never needed to take medication or insulin.All three of my systemic treatments have brought with them a variety of side effects. While on my first targeted therapy medication in September of 2016, I developed a blood clot in my right calf. It was the most painful of my complications but was resolved with no further complications thanks to medication and aggressive treatment.Despite these complication and treatments, I am a very lucky person. I have been on my current targeted therapy medication for almost four years now and I have had clear scans for more than two years.Finding SupportI was extremely fortunate early in my life with lung cancer to find the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, which is now GO2 for Lung Cancer since merging with Lung Cancer Alliance in 2019. GO2 for Lung Cancer has provided me one-on-one support to help me know what questions to ask my oncologist each time my lung cancer has progressed. Through the Foundation's monthly Lung Cancer Living Room series, I have learned more about my lung cancer. I firmly believe the Living Room and the amazing people at GO2 for Lung Cancer have played a significant role in my ongoing successful treatment.I have learned to advocate for my own treatment and to continuously follow current developments for future treatments for my type of lung cancer. The next time my lung cancer progresses, I will be an active participant in the discussion with my oncologist to determine the best options for my next treatment plan. I have learned that educated, empowered, and proactive patients live longer. I have learned that a multidisciplinary medical team is vital to my continuing treatment plan.The knowledge I have gained from GO2 for Lung Cancer inspires me to encourage lung cancer patients and caregivers to learn about their specific types of lung cancer and take advantage of the services and support GO2 for Lung Cancer offers.My AdviceI have a loving family and a great group of friends. They all support me and make my life wonderful. My advice to other lung cancer survivors is to focus on today so you can enjoy the many wonders of the world around you. And to educate yourself about your lung cancer, so you can be an enthusiastic participant in your ongoing treatment plan.

I joined the Air Force just three days after graduating from high school in 1967. I spent four years in the Air Force, volunteered for a special unit called Safe Side, went to Vietnam, then was stationed in Florida and Louisiana before being discharged in 1971. Later, because of my service in Vietnam and being exposed to Agent Orange, I had heart problems and was placed on 100% disability.In late 2010, I had been losing weight though I felt fine. I noticed a lump on my neck, so I went to the VA and received antibiotics. I followed up with a cardiologist who did a CAT scan, which is how my cancers were discovered. When the CAT scan went over my neck, it not only picked up a lump on my neck, but also on the top lobe of my lung. They weren’t looking at my lungs but found the tumor by chance. Six weeks later, on my birthday (January 10, 2011), I was diagnosed with both stage III squamous cell neck cancer AND stage III squamous cell lung cancer.After many meetings and tests, my doctors decided the best course of action for my lung cancer treatment would be to remove my defibrillator and then remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by 37 rounds of radiation and 8 rounds of chemo. My lung collapsed twice, the radiation caused severe burns on my neck, I was hospitalized four times and after a while I was unable to swallow and was fed through a tube. But ever so slowly I began to feel better. After three months I had a CT scan; I was cancer free! Over the years I have had a couple of scares but fortunately, no recurrence.In a way, getting cancer was a blessing in disguise. Before, I had my own business and was concerned with material possessions – which I later realized don’t mean anything. Cancer ultimately made me closer to my wife and caregiver, the real unsung hero. It has opened up many doors and provided opportunity for me to connect with so many others in this community. I’ve made speeches, shared my story, volunteered at hospitals, and been on both ends of GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Phone Buddy Program. I think cancer has actually made me a better person.