Terrence M. McCready

This has been a bad year for melanoma and teachers. Terrence McCready of Ohio is the third teacher to die from melanoma in as many months (1,2). He was diagnosed in August of 2003 and he died last week.

Terrence's family has been hit especially hard by melanoma. His father, Gerald, also died from melanoma earlier this year.

I think it's worth noting that Terrence had skin cancer removed in 1998 and had annual checkups since, and he still contracted a lethal melanoma.

Excerpts from his obituary in the Toledo Blade:

When his condition was diagnosed in August, 2003, he was working toward a master's degree in history at the University of Toledo, his wife, Jennifer, said. He'd planned to pursue a doctorate and a university-level teaching post.

Mr. McCready of West Toledo had skin cancer removed in 1998 and went in for annual checkups afterward. He taught history and government for several years...

"We've got two small children, so we lived our lives as though cancer wasn't an issue," his wife said. "We went to weddings and funerals and lived life. When you have children, you have to live for them. That was his inspiration."