In Memory of Kevin McCormack 

CIRM lost its voice this weekend.   

Sunday evening, our beloved Director of Patient Advocacy and frequent face and voice of the Institute, Kevin McCormack, passed away unexpectedly, leaving an unfillable void in our hearts.  

As our chief chronicler of CIRM milestones and celebrator of patients, Kevin brought his unique brand of grace, style and humor to all he did and to all he touched. Whether in person or in prose, Kevin’s twinkle in his eye and wry sense of humor shone through always, infusing all of our work with enthusiasm as well as the reminder that we’re all in this together. 

Our dear friend embodied the spirit and mission of CIRM, working every day to make patients seen and their stories heard, to give the advocate community a platform and a voice to amplify our shared passion for medical breakthroughs. He helped bring hope for a better future for all. 

Kevin made a career of bringing awareness to the public about medical advancement and patient experiences, serving as KRON-TV’s Health/Medical producer for 18 years. He leveraged that experience as a media relations manager for Kaiser and California Pacific Medical Center, where he honed his skills in medical journalism, helping the public understand how research breakthroughs might be translated to patient impact. 

Our good fortune came in 2012 when Kevin joined us as Senior Director of Public Communications and Patient Advocate Outreach. Earlier this year, Kevin assumed the role of Director of Patient Advocacy, where he remained committed to raising awareness about CIRM’s impact and putting patient voices at the forefront. 

And he did so with indefatigable optimism and cheer, for both patients and his friends at CIRM. 

As you’ll see from memories of Kevin shared below, he was not only extraordinarily talented at his work, he was one of those prized colleagues who also made work a joy. His warmth, sincerity and sense of humor were a tonic during long days and constant deadlines.

Kevin made us feel special, individually and collectively. He made his world, our world, a better place to be. 

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Remembering Kevin McCormack

One of my many fond memories of Kevin was the “Elevator Pitch” initiative.  In his kind and effective way, he got “buy in” from scientists that it was important to communicate their work in an understandable and engaging fashion…He turned a “critique” into action and fun!

— Maria T. Millan, M.D., President and CEO, CIRM

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Kevin was truly a gentleman: a gentle man with much integrity. He and his voice will be missed.

— Jenifer Raub, President, Summit for Stem Cell Foundation, Patient Advocate

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His beer of choice at San Diego airport: Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale.

— Geoff Lomax, Senior Officer, Therapeutics Development

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Kevin took a chance on me when I applied to CIRM in 2015. I was a postdoc with a passion for science communications but without much experience. Kevin saw something in me and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work on his communications team and at CIRM for three wonderful years. I learned so much from him and was always inspired by his selflessness and commitment to helping patients and to CIRM’s mission. Our days were filled with laughter and jokes but at the end of the day Kevin was always someone who you could count on to come through. He always went that extra mile whether it was remembering a story you told him years back, developing you a personalized travel itinerary for your honeymoon trip, or reaching out to you during the pandemic just to see how you were doing. I know he has touched so many lives and he will be missed so dearly. But I’m thankful that his legacy lives on through his family, friends and the amazing work he has done in his 10-year career at CIRM. RIP.

— Karen Ring, Fmr. CIRM Associate Director Of Communications

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Kevin was universally loved for his kindness and wit. Simply put, he is irreplaceable. I will greatly miss him.

— Kelly Shepard, Associate Director, Scientific Programs

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Kevin’s kindness, witty sense of humor and enthusiasm will be sorely missed at CIRM. Before the pandemic, in the office, I could always count on walking over to Kevin’s space to chat about the latest news, to have a good laugh and to have my day become a thousand times brighter for it.

Externally he was a tireless advocate for CIRM’s mission and within the team he was an equally tireless advocate for the patients and the citizens of California. In many of my professional interactions with him he helped me broaden my perspective and sharpen my messaging to be more universally effective.

— Shyam Patel, Senior Director of Business Development and Alliance Management

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Kevin always brought levity, compassion, and good cheer to every conversation and interaction we had. His kind jokes and colorful suits will be sorely missed. My whole family is gutted that he is gone, suddenly and entirely unbelievably.

— Doug Kearney, Associate Director, Grants Management 

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We all knew and loved Kevin’s humor. I especially liked the self-deprecating kind. One evening, in 2013 or so, Kevin and I were scheduled for a science café public lecture on ‘the remarkable powers of stem cells’ in a Fremont public library. For some reason, Shirley was with us. As Kevin was driving us on a dark highway from San Francisco to Fremont that evening, in anticipation of the upcoming event he at some point declared ‘I know how to show my wife a good time’. Very hard to imagine CIRM without Kevin.

— Uta Grieshammer, Senior Science Officer, Scientific Programs

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Kevin and I used to exchange poems once in a while. Here is one poem from a Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish that I handed to him many years ago when we were in King Street office in San Francisco, that he liked:

Remainder of Life  

 If I were told: 
By evening you will die, 
so what will you do until then? 
I would look at my wristwatch, 
I’d drink a glass of juice, 
bite an apple, 
contemplate at length an ant that has found its food, 
then look at my wristwatch. 
There’d be time left to shave my beard 
and dive in a bath, obsess: 
“There must be an adornment for writing, 
so let it be a blue garment.” 
I’d sit until noon alive at my desk 
but wouldn’t see the trace of color in the words, 
white, white, white . . . 
I’d prepare my last lunch, 
pour wine in two glasses: one for me 
and one for the one who will come without appointment, 
then I’d take a nap between two dreams. 
But my snoring would wake me . . . 
so I’d look at my wristwatch: 
and there’d be time left for reading. 
I’d read a chapter in Dante and half of a mu’allaqah 
and see how my life goes from me 
to the others, but I wouldn’t ask who 
would fill what’s missing in it. 
That’s it, then? 
That’s it, that’s it. 
Then what? 
Then I’d comb my hair and throw away the poem . . . 
this poem, in the trash, 
and put on the latest fashion in Italian shirts, 
parade myself in an entourage of Spanish violins, 
and walk to the grave!

— Sohel Talib, Director, Therapeutics Development

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Kevin was the embodiment of CIRM. He was the heart and soul of our organization and made an impact on all of us. He was compassionate, sincere, funny and a champion for patients and the community and will be sorely missed.

I have been reading old emails to smile as he always had something cheeky to say. This one was to all employees about a blog post last month and I just keep thinking it was an honor to know him and work with him.

‘Where I come from Thanksgiving was called Thursday, so it’s not a tradition I grew up with. But I have to say it’s now my favorite holiday. It’s simple, fun, not packed with the need to exchange gifts or forced jollity, and definitely not fueled by ridiculous amounts of alcohol (you know who you are St. Patrick’s/Cinco de Mayo). And it’s a chance to give thanks for the many blessings we have, among them is you, my colleagues. It’s a pleasure and an honour to work with so many fine, kind, committed individuals. I wish you all the most lovely of Thanksgivings.”

— Jennifer Lewis, Senior Director, Grants Management & IT

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Usually, when you say, “How are you doing?” to a friend or colleague, the typical response is “I’m good.” But not Kevin. He always replied with “Grand!” or “Fabulous!” It was almost like a ritual or mantra as we greeted each other every morning at the CIRM office. And it sums up what I so appreciated about Kevin: his unbounding optimism, his friendliness, and his ability to find humor even in challenging situations. Kevin, I can’t believe you’re gone and I will miss your sparkling spirit. May your memory be a blessing and an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know you.

— Todd Dubnicoff, Fmr. CIRM Multimedia Editor/Science Writer

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Kevin McCormack was a friend, a patient advocate, and a warrior for stem cell research. Every time we needed him he was there, always with the right words, the right tone, and with his heart in the right place.

To know Kevin was to be his friend and love him as much. He always was there for us when we needed him and it was our honor to say we were always there for him because he is a true friend and he will be missed.

— Roman Reed, Founder, The Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act

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To me, Kevin was the face of CIRM. In fact, appropriately, his face is on the first video of CIRM’s YouTube channel. He was full of life, positivity and humor.

When I did my interview for CIRM, Kevin was on the zoom call at the center of the Hollywood squares and every time I looked at him, I felt a sense of comfort. He had a smile on his face the entire time. So when I was asked a tough question, my first reaction was always to look at Kevin’s face just to calm down. He was a joy and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to know him.

I’m certainly going to miss receiving those weekly emails that start with: “Hello, lovely people”. Kevin, may you rest in peace.

— Mitra Hooshmand, Senior Science Officer, Special Projects

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I had the privilege of working closely with Kevin on the communications team at CIRM. Whether speaking with patient advocates or writing for The Stem Cellar, he always did so with a bright smile and passion for his work. I’ll never forget his impeccable fashion, quick-witted sense of humor, and, above all, his incredible kindness.

— Yimy Villa, Fmr. CIRM Marketing Communications Manager

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Kevin was simply a good human with a good soul people liked to be around. He was very good at focusing on what needed to get done even when others around him were dabbling in politics. He got things done because he was so good at so many aspects of our work together in communication and outreach. When I Left CIRM, he was what I missed the most.

— Don Gibbons, CIRM 2008-2016

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I don’t know what to say other than I miss him. I miss his great smile. His daily greetings full of warmth and happiness.  I miss his lovely hats. His beautiful suits. His empathy and understanding. His unflappable demeanor. We’ve all suffered a great loss in our lives and this outpouring of emotion and love is a testament to what an amazing human he was.

— Maria Bonneville, Vice President of Public Outreach & Board Governance

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Kevin once wrote, “At CIRM we are funding research to understand how to harness the power of stem cells to repair the damage caused by disease, to restore function to a heart damaged by a heart attack, or a brain injured by a stroke.” His passing leaves us heartbroken in a way that cannot be mended by stem cells or any other medicine, but we can keep his legacy alive by carrying forward his commitment to patient advocacy and the promise of regenerative medicine.

He made a difference in his self-described role as “the official translator of the agency” as he turned complex concepts about equally complex science into everyday language that anyone could understand. As a friend, colleague, empath, translator, advocate, intrepid traveler, dog-lover, tie-wearer, slayer-of-deadlines, and humorist, Kevin left an indelible mark on many. His spirit, his words, and his compassion will never be forgotten.

— Christina Divigard, Valvespring

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I only worked briefly with Kevin this past summer, but looked forward to many future engagements together with the Valvespring team. His wit and his facility with words made everything he wrote a pleasure to read, and also laugh-out-loud funny. He could find the humor in anything, and embraced as kin those who laughed along with him. Even last summer he was looking forward to visiting New York, and I’m so glad he had the chance to visit the Big Apple, and likely a pub or two, once again. Godspeed to Kevin — a memorable soul who shared his gifts with such generous camaraderie and fellowship.

— Susan Millerick, Valvespring

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Working with Kevin was like putting the exclamation point at the end of a sentence. Much much more than a subject matter expert in regenerative medicine, he infused it with his wisdom, attention to detail and compassion – for those he worked with, and all those he hoped his efforts would help. A true gentleman, and profound loss to us all.

— Bob Demetrius, Valvespring

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I remember Kevin being part of my interview panel when I was being interviewed. He instantly gave me a warm and welcoming feeling which made it easier for me to feel at ease. When I finally met him in person, he walked in with such style and confidence. I loved it. He was always willing to lend me a helping hand. You can tell that he truly cares about the impact of the work we support. It showed in the relationships he’s built with our patient advocates. He truly cares for people of this world. I am thankful for the short time I’ve known him since I have only been here for a little over a year. But no matter how short it has been, it has been well worth it and I have been honored to call him a colleague but most importantly a friend. I have so much love and respect for the fantastic Kevin McCormack.

— Marianne Dequina-Villablanca, Associate Director of Board Relations

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Some of our Favorite Irish Chum’s fabulous vocabulary of expressions honoring him: Chum, Excellent, Lovely people (recycled from Katie Sharify’s), Cheeky, “Barzelona” (to me in passing), Fabulous, Folks want to talk to you ladies!, ‘Be well, my friend’, Cheers.

— Rosa Canet-Aviles, Vice President of Scientific Programs 

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I remember interviewing Kevin for the job ten years ago and being drawn immediately to his infectious enthusiasm, sunny attitude and sincere interest in CIRM’s mission and programs. Throughout his time with us, he brought all of those qualities and so much more to the office every single day. He was a true professional who unfailingly did an amazing job bringing CIRM to life for the outside world and who was genuinely esteemed by all whom he came in contact with. Kevin was the rare personality that brought a smile to your face on every occasion and encounter. Very few people can do that.

— Jonathan Thomas, Chairman, Independent Citizens Oversight Committee

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As a new CIRM employee, I was very recently reading Kevin’s blog posts and watching his YouTube videos as I prepared for interviews. In this way, Kevin was my first glimpse into the culture of CIRM. His love for science and commitment to patients are embodied across the agency, and Kevin’s work was an important part of my hope to join the CIRM team. I dearly wish that I had more time to know and work with him. Thank you, Kevin, for the impact you’ve made on me and the impacts you will continue to make through the stories and memories that you leave behind.

— Elizabeth Noblin, Senior Science Officer, Portfolio Development and Review

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Kevin McCormack was a colleague who was one-in-a-million. He was an Irishman with a not-so-thick-anymore accent, a great sense-of-humor, and a dedication to his work. He was always a dapper dresser, complete with a tie, coat and a carefully folded handkerchief poking from his breast pocket – but he was the opposite of a stuffed shirt. He was incredibly down-to-earth, with an optimistic and friendly personality, always willing to help anyone with whatever needed to be done.

Kevin came to CIRM from a career in journalism, not in science or medicine, but he was perfect for his roles in communication and patient advocacy. He quickly learned about the science of stem cells and regenerative medicine, and how new medicines are developed, and then figured out how to translate it all back into language that the general public could understand – and in a most engaging way, e.g. his “Stem Cells In Your Face” postings on YouTube. He was also an incredible resource for connecting CIRM to patient communities, and bringing their voices to our advisory panels, conferences and blogs.

In a job where we get many emails, it was always a pleasure to get one from Kevin – at a minimum, it would be friendly and positive, but usually it was funny as well. He always emailed the CIRM staff when he had posted a new blog – this one from a few weeks ago captures much about him:

“Hello Lovely People,

Where I come from Thanksgiving was called Thursday, so it’s not a tradition I grew up with. But I have to say it’s now my favorite holiday. It’s simple, fun, not packed with the need to exchange gifts or forced jollity, and definitely not fueled by ridiculous amounts of alcohol (you know who you are St. Patrick’s/Cinco de Mayo). And it’s a chance to give thanks for the many blessings we have, among them is you, my colleagues. It’s a pleasure and an honour to work with so many fine, kind, committed individuals. I wish you all the most lovely of Thanksgivings.”

Kevin, the pleasure and honour was most certainly ours. We were lucky to know you, and we will miss you tremendously.

— Lisa Kadyk, Associate Director, Therapeutics Development

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I had the privilege of crossing paths with Kevin on numerous occasions. He always had a spark about him! I was new to the stem cell world and he had a way of making my butterflies relax. I will always remember his true genuine dedication to the field of stem cells and all the progress that was made because of Kevin. His mark in this world will never be forgotten.

— Rich Lajara, ICOC Board member

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This feels like a death in the stem cell family. I usually came away from talking to Kevin feeling better than before the conversation. He had a positive, uplifting effect on people. I appreciated his bluntness, which was usually coupled with that unique sense of humor of his.

I’ll miss being able to just talk to him about anything. Maybe get his thoughts on dilemmas in the stem cell field or what the best IPA in Portland might be, which was the last thing that he and I discussed recently. I was at a conference there and he told me to get outside and go have a beer. Cheers to Kevin. Many great memories.

— Dr. Paul Knoepfler, Professor, UC Davis

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Long before CIRM, Kevin was a valued member of the KRON TV news team in San Francisco. He was always the one who kept us calm in the face of pressing news deadlines. We could count on his consummate professionalism, his sense of humor and that lovely Irish brogue! Working with him at CIRM simply reminded me of what journalism has lost but CIRM had gained.

— Ysabel Duron, Board Member, Chair, Communications Subcommittee

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Kevin was such a gentleman. He was always very helpful to me, and with a smile on his face.

— Dr. Joseph Wu, Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute

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I feel a sense of loss when I think of Kevin but, immediately after, I know he is and will be present in my memories forever. He was and will always be such a wonderful, kind and sensitive human being. We never met personally -I’ve done many translations for CIRM and sent them by email- but we connected in a profound way because both of us cared very much for the evolution of humanity and the importance of science.

He valued my good intentions and dedication to help CIRM. I always thanked him for that and will always cherish that he knew I resonated with his noble cause.

My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

May the spirit of Kevin remain in our hearts and may he inspire us to be more sensitive and kinder towards humanity, and believe -perhaps sometimes like a Quixote- that the impossible quest of a better world… if we dream, may become possible.

And Kevin, may your new journey be full of light and peace.

— Marcela Grad, CIRM Translator

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Dear Kevin,

You were a wonderful, kind, warm colleague whom I considered a friend. You always responded quickly and said “yes” with a smile. Your memory will always be for a blessing. When it’s 10am on Thursdays I will think of you.

Cheers,
— Jacqueline Hantgan, Senior Advisor, Community Outreach and Engagement

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Kevin was someone I could always turn to for guidance, support, and reassurance that things would be okay. I will forever remember him as a friend and mentor. I miss him.

— Esteban Cortez, Director of Marketing & Communications

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I met Kevin for the first time in late 2012 when I was in a dark phase in my life. I had just become paralyzed from a spinal cord injury a year earlier and was having a very hard time adjusting. Kevin was the one who got me interested in patient advocacy. His enthusiasm, optimism, and passion were so contagious that he always somehow managed to fool me into believing that I too was articulate and smart enough to give public presentations and interviews like he did.

I admired Kevin so much. I wanted to emulate him as much as I could. When Kevin complimented my writing, it felt like I had just won an Oscar. I still had so many questions to ask him. I still had so much to learn from him. Our time was cut too short.

I feel like I’ve experienced so many major life moments with Kevin over the last 10 years. Kevin was the first one to volunteer to help me when I was applying to transfer from USC to Stanford. After getting rejected, he wrote me a lengthy email reassuring me that everything happens for a reason. I had to go back and re-read it. He was right. Not getting into Stanford that year was for the best thing that happened to me.

At every milestone, Kevin was there cheering me on. Graduating from university, moving to Paris and then London. Getting married. House hunting. Everything I did, Kevin was a part of it. He heard about it first and he was always so ecstatic for me. For years I’d tell him, “Kevin one day I’m moving back to the Bay Area so I can work for you.” I wouldn’t be at CIRM if it wasn’t for Kevin. So many things in my life have happened because of the direction and guidance he gave me early on in my injury.

Kevin, you were a legend. An extraordinary writer, human being, and friend. I will miss your sense of humor. I will miss your kind words. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for giving me purpose. I’m so lucky to have met you in this lifetime and to have called you, my friend.

— Katie Sharify, Communications Team Coordinator

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If you would like to share any words, memories or photos to pass on to Kevin’s family, please send them to Katie Sharify at ksharify@cirm.ca.gov.

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