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.
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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