This is the most difficult part of this site, but one that needs to be here.  Ralph lived a happy and healthy life but was unfortunate to have been struck with melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. We first learned of his skin cancer January 1, 1983--the day after learning I was pregnant with Lucy. We were in Florida on vacation. A dermatologist confirmed this suspicious mole needed to be removed NOW, TODAY.  That, obviously caused alarm. Upon returning home to Massachusetts, the doctors at MGH confirmed it was melanoma, but were very reassuring that it  was surface level and had not metastasized. They were wrong, but for 5 years--until January 1988, Ralph appeared healthy and illness free.  He had two surgeries in 1988, and again we thought the illness was behind us as Ralph was able to return to work quickly and we resumed our usual life.  However, in 1992 and then the year of his death, 1993, there were many surgeries and treatments in which ultimately the cancer won out. Ralph died in 1993 at the age of 43.

I am saddened when I hear of young women attending tanning salons or spending significant time in the sun because if it's one thing we know it's that there is a relationship between exposure to sun and melanoma. Too many people think skin cancer is not deadly. Most forms aren't; melanoma most definitely is.  There are many worthy resources out there supporting the  research and treatment of skin cancer. One source I support is the Melanoma Education Fund at :  www.shincheck.org.  They provide education which hopefully will prevent unnecessary deaths related to this troubling disease. Check them out.