William London

William Thomas London MD, known as Tom, died on Saturday June 3, 2017 after suffering a heart attack. Husband of Linda London (nee Greenman). Father of Barbara London Almario (Ramon), Katharine London (Toby Leith), Emily London (Jon Tokeshi), and Nancy London (John Petersen). Brother of Nancy London Laskin (Arthur) and the late Barbara London Lemann (Thomas B). Grandfather of Max and Maya Almario, Ben and Emily Rucker, Julia and Danny Tokeshi, and Lily and Luke Petersen. Dr. London was one of the pioneers in hepatitis B research, celebrated for making the association between a newly discovered viral antigen and hepatitis B. With colleagues, he connected chronic hepatitis B infection to liver cancer and conducted research that contributed to the development of the hepatitis B vaccine. He joined the research faculty at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1966, becoming a senior member in 1990. He founded the Liver Cancer Prevention Program at Fox Chase and directed it for two decades. Later he served for many years as vice chairman of the board of the Hepatitis B Foundation and its Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. In 2015, the Blumberg Institute endowed a distinguished professorship in his name. Dr. London received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oberlin College and a medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. From 1962 to 1966 he served in the Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health. He was an elected member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a founder of the American Society of Preventive Oncology, and an editor of several scientific journals. Modest and humble to a fault, and despite his extraordinary professional achievements, he never discussed his accomplishments. Tom had deep and wide interests outside of science which he characteristically pursued in a methodical and self-directed manner, independent of popular trends. He loved gardening and was famous in the neighborhood for having the earliest-blooming crocuses every year. He spent happy hours every winter ordering bulbs from Holland, and he was an extremely early adopter of organic gardening techniques. He read widely and had a passion for political science and the history of inquiry into the natural sciences. He taught several adult school classes at the Cheltenham Township Adult School (CTAS) on topics related to the historical implications of science and disease. Tom also served on the board of the CTAS for four decades, and served a term as president. He took his first yoga class there in the late 70’s, and made it part of his daily routine for the next four decades. He was a generous and active supporter of Oberlin College, and a proud graduate of Perth Amboy High School, which inducted him into its Hall of Fame. All his life he effusively promoted the many charms of his hometown, Perth Amboy, NJ. Tom London was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of sixty years, Linda. He was a loving father and grandfather to all, as well as an unwaveringly kind and supportive brother, uncle, friend, colleague, mentor to anyone fortunate enough to come into his orbit. Relatives and friends are invited to memorial services Thursday 2PM at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael Sacks, 6410 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19126. Immediately following services, the family will host a reception. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Hepatitis B Foundation, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, www.hepb.org, or to the Cheltenham Township Adult School, 500 Rices Mill Road, Wyncote, PA 19095, cheltenhamtownshipadultschool.org.