AARON REUBEN RAUSEN, MD, 80, of New York City and Westport , died July 7, of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Rausen, known as "Paca" to his grandchildren, was born in Jersey City , NJ , June 29, 1930 , the son of David and Ruth Rausen. He grew up in New York City . He attended Stuyvesant High School in New York City , Dartmouth College from 1947-1950 and left prior to graduation to attend State University of New York on a full tuition scholarship where he received an MD degree in 1954. Dartmouth awarded Dr. Rausen the Spirit of '51 award and an honorary degree. Dr Rausen dedicated his professional life to finding the causes of, treating, and curing cancer, leukemia, AIDS and blood disorders in children. In 1990, he was named The Founding Director of The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for cancer and Blood Disorders at New York University Medical Center . His passion, dedication, curiosity and unwavering conviction that giving up is not an option greatly contributed in the reversing of the 80%-20% death to cure ration among childhood blood disorders within his lifetime. He continued to research, teach and treat patients until his death. Among Dr. Rausen's extensive board memberships, he served as a director of the American Cancer Society , The National Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Children's Oncology Society of New York, The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and The Ronald Mc. Donald House. Paca was truly a renaissance man. A voracious reader, a formidable squash opponent who loved music and a loyal friend and mentor, he enhanced our lives and the world. He met his wife, Emalou Watkins, a well-known fashion designer, in August of 1966 at a dinner party, which was hosted by his former girlfriend whose intention was to introduce them. They were married in April of 1968. Aaron was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved his family with all his heart. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, his children, David of Fort Collins, Colo., Susan of Darien and New York City and Elisabeth of Quincy, Mass.; and grandchildren, Alfred (Freddy), Katherine (Kricket), and Annabelle. Dr. Rausen's younger brother, Milton, died of Polio in 1943. Among Dr. Rausen's extensive board memberships, he served as a director of the American Cancer Society , The National Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Children's Oncology Society of New York, The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and The Ronald Mc. Donald House. Paca was truly a renaissance man. A voracious reader, a formidable squash opponent who loved music and a loyal friend and mentor, he enhanced our lives and the world. A private burial service will be held at New Montifiore Cemetary on Long Island . Shiva will be conducted at 17 Nolen Lane , Darien , CT 06820 , 347-835-7074 at sundown on July 14 1nd 15. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday July 19 at The Yale Club of New York City. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in the form of donations to the Aaron R Rausen Endowed Chair of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology @ NYU School of medicine and its associated research fund. Contact: Colby Collier. VP of Development NYU Langone Medical Center , 1 Park Ave. NY , NY 10016 .

Published in StamfordAdvocate on July 9, 2010