Obituary of Concepcion "Connie" Kane

Press Release World Class Biochemist Connie Kane Dies at 102 Renowned biochemist Concepcion “Connie” Kane died on January 20, 2023 at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. She was 102. Mrs. Kane was a major contributor to early biomedical research on cancer, the building blocks of today’s cancer treatments. Mrs. Kane was born in the Philippines on December 8, 1920, where she completed undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Pharmacy. After immigrating to the US, she earned Masters’ degree in Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. Mrs. Kane won a fellowship in Biochemistry for Johns Hopkins University while working as a registered pharmacist at Squibb’s Laboratory in Manila. She moved to the US and joined Hopkins in 1960 researching pharmaceuticals to improve public healthcare in Asia, and many of the supplements are still used today. Her longevity may be ascribed to self-advice, she took her own medicines and lived beyond a century. Kane joined Sloan Kettering in the mid-60’s and lead a team pursuing ground-breaking bio-chemical research. She discovered “ribosomes,” molecular organs that contain ribonucleic acid (RNA) and can bind to a messenger RNA to make new proteins. The work was fundamental to advancements in cancer breakthroughs and the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Ms. Kane directed a lab at Sloan Kettering for a decade, authoring over 50 scientific papers on ribosomes and RNA. Kane won a second fellowship in biochemistry at Columbia University where she also completed a Master’s Degree in Public Health in the late 1970’s. She conducted research in bone diseases at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital with endocrinologist Dr. Sami Hashim in research funded by the Arthritis Foundation. Mrs. Kane married New York accountant Thomas F. Kane on August 19, 1967 in a high society wedding at the New York Hilton Hotel with over 300 guests, including many medical and academic luminaries. They remained married for 55 years. Upon retirement from medical research in the late 1970’s, the tall and lithe Kane became fashion icon on the philanthropic circuit in Palm Beach and New York City. Private shoppers from Saks and Bergdorf Goodman secured her front row seats in New York’s Runway shows. One nonprofit auctioned off hundreds of her hats, many custom-made by famed hat designer Eric Javits. Kane dazzled with both intellect and stye. Kane lived in Forest Hills, NY. Family members include husband Tom Kane and niece’s family Susan Kalla, Martin Hyman, Spencer Hyman. Her grandnieces and grandnephews include: Patricia Bulahan; Ben and Grace Pacis; Gerry Pacis; and Jun and Carilu Tirso. Great grandniece and great grandnephews include: Patrick, Andrew, and Brian Bulahan; Claudine and Axel Pacis; Carlo and Jerome Tirso.