During his 15-year tenure as Cancer Center director, Abeloff doubled the size of the center's faculty, increased research funding sixfold since 1992, and saw it consistently ranked among the nation's top three cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report surveys.

"Marty built an impressive and unparalleled team of cancer experts and a world-class reputation for the Kimmel Cancer Center," Miller added.

Under Abeloff's direction, the cancer complex at Johns Hopkins expanded to include nearly 1 million square feet of treatment and research space. Inside the Center's Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, Abeloff revealed his passion for the arts, where he established the Art of Healing program, which includes a performing arts series and a collection of more than 100 works of museum-quality art by Maryland and other nationally known artists for the enjoyment of patients, visitors and staff.

He also was instrumental in bringing the largest single gift to Johns Hopkins, the $150 million donation from philanthropist and fashion entrepreneur Sidney Kimmel, for whom the cancer center is now named.

Abeloff received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins in 1966. After residency and fellowship training in Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Tufts-New England Medical Center, he returned to Baltimore for an oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He joined the Hopkins oncology faculty in 1972, focusing on lung and breast cancer research, then heading the medical oncology department before directing the entire cancer center.

Abeloff served as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and chairman of the FDA Oncology Drug Advisory Committee. He also had been the chairperson of the Board of Scientific Counselors to the Intramural Division of Clinical Science at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a member of the NCI Executive Committee.

Martin David Abeloff was born in Shenandoah, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Diane, a medical illustrator; daughters Elisa Abeloff and her husband, George Landau, and Jennifer Abeloff and her husband, Howard Wasserman; three grandchildren; and his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Morrell Fox.

The Abeloff family has requested that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be sent to the Martin D. Abeloff, M.D., Scholars Program in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Suite 234,100 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21201.

Source-John Hopkins
LIN/J