Professor Richard Scolyer, a world-renowned melanoma researcher and former Australian of the Year, died on June 8, 2026 [1, 2].
Scolyer was a leading figure in cancer research whose work significantly impacted the treatment of melanoma. His death marks the loss of a scientist who bridged the gap between high-level academic achievement and public service in Australia.
Following his death, an open letter written by Scolyer was published to the public. In the letter, he expressed a desire for the text to serve as his final farewell [3]. He wrote that he wanted to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who “gave it a crack” [1, 4].
Scolyer was 59 years old [2]. He had been battling a glioblastoma brain tumour [5], which some reports described as inoperable [2]. He was diagnosed with the cancer in 2023 [5], resulting in a three-year battle with the disease [6].
Throughout the letter, Scolyer focused on themes of humility, love, and compassion. He said the intention of the letter was to share his final thoughts and inspire others to live with similar values [1, 2].
As a former Australian of the Year, Scolyer's influence extended beyond the laboratory. His public profile allowed him to advocate for science and health awareness on a national scale. The open letter serves as a final reflection on a life spent both in the pursuit of medical breakthroughs and in the embrace of a modest, national identity [1, 3].
“I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who ‘gave it a crack’.”
The death of Richard Scolyer represents a significant loss to the global oncology community, particularly in the field of melanoma. By choosing to release a personal open letter, Scolyer shifted the narrative from his professional accolades to a message of human vulnerability and national identity, emphasizing the personal toll of the very diseases he spent his career fighting.
