Obituary of Dr. Michael Paul Cancro

Dr. Michael Paul Cancro (1949-2025)

Michael Cancro, 75, of Media, Pennsylvania, passed away on the morning of February 7, 2025. He was born in Washington, DC, on October 28, 1949, to Ciro Cancro and Florence (Meekma) Cancro.

After completing his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Maryland, Mike joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 as a postdoctoral fellow, and was recruited as a tenure-track faculty member in 1978. Over his 49 years at Penn, he had a profound impact on the community there and the scientific world more broadly; as a recognized expert in B cell biology, he and his lab made several groundbreaking discoveries in the field. 

In addition to being a brilliant and prolific researcher, Mike was also a gifted and dedicated educator and mentor who loved sharing the power of science. He took this work seriously and strove to cultivate rigor, while his wry humor brought levity to both the lab and the lecture hall. His intellectual curiosity and passion were infectious. He received numerous distinguished teaching and mentoring awards throughout his career and inspired a new generation of researchers, with many of his trainees going on to become leaders in the B cell field themselves. 

Although his great love was science, Mike was also a connoisseur of art, music, and literature; an erudite historian; a skilled craftsman and talented musician; an avid gardener; an advocate for social justice; and a lover of good food, wine, and travel. He was a deeply devoted and caring husband and father, and is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jamie (Robinson) Cancro; daughters Robin Cancro-Morrone (husband Jason Morrone) and Polly Cancro (husband Dan Boscov-Ellen); and sister Theresa Cancro (husband Dominic Chan). 

A memorial service will be held in his honor on April 5 at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County (UUCDC). For further details and to share memories and offer condolences, please visit www.online-tribute.com/MichaelPCancro. 

In honor of Mike, and in lieu of flowers, we invite you to contribute to a science, education, or public health charity of your choice, or to one of the following suggested organizations:

The Distance Learning Center

Union of Concerned Scientists 

Doctors Without Borders