Fall 2026
By Robbie Merritt
Photography by John Deputy
Larry Lucchino was known for many things in the world of baseball: serving as a top sports executive for more than four decades, being the man who “broke the curse” and led the Boston Red Sox to three World Series titles in nine years. In other words, Larry was a winner, but as his brother Frank Lucchino said, “He probably cared more about being a winner in non-sports areas than anything else.”
Likely it’s because Larry was a patient at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for the first time in 1985 and then again in 2019, and became a devoted member of the Dana-Farber and Jimmy Fund community. He was a Dana-Farber Trustee since 2001, a member of the Dana-Farber Society, Chairman of the Jimmy Fund for eight years until his passing in 2024, and a driving force behind two billion-dollar Institute fundraising campaigns.
It is fitting, then, that the Lucchino family has carried forward Larry’s devotion through continued philanthropic efforts, establishing a lasting presence at Dana-Farber. Last fall, on what would have been his 80th birthday, a ceremony was held to unveil the new Larry Lucchino Display, located at Dana-Farber’s Longwood Campus, featuring photos and memorabilia from his storied sports career.
“It helps to keep his memory alive,” said Jennifer Lucchino, Larry’s niece. “The fact that there’s now a permanent display honoring him and his contributions is very meaningful.”
The display is also interactive, allowing patients to sit on the bench with a statue of Wally the Green Monster, the beloved Red Sox mascot, while they examine the artifacts.
“I like that it’s not just two-dimensional, that you can actually experience it,” Jennifer said. “I’ve seen some photos from after it was installed showing patients and visitors sitting there and interacting with the exhibit.”
“And knowing these patients are where he was 30 or 40 years ago, I think Larry would be glad to have something that can calm and soothe what they’re going through,” said Frank.
In addition to the display, a recent $1 million gift from The Lucchino Family Foundation will bolster multiple myeloma research by supporting two fellows. The gift was made in Larry’s memory but prompted also by David Lucchino, Larry’s nephew who has received expert care for multiple myeloma by Ken Anderson, MD, and his team since 2013.
We know how important it is to treat the whole patient—the mind, the heart, the family.
David Lucchino, the Lucchino Family Foundation
“As a patient of Dana-Farber, and my sister having received consultative care for breast cancer there as well, we know how important it is to treat the whole patient—the mind, the heart, the family—and I think Dana-Farber does that as well as anybody in the world,” David said. “We’re proud to start honoring both Larry and the doctors and nurses of Dana-Farber in this way.”
The gift is a crucial step in growing the next cohort of oncologists, physicians, and discovery scientists, and the fellows will continue to drive the groundbreaking research and advancements Dana-Farber is known for.
“This is where the rubber hits the road,” David said. “The ability to support these fellows and help move ahead solutions for multiple myeloma is a real honor and will help patients for decades to come.”
Jennifer added, “To be able to support the research initiatives of the fellows and to hopefully pay back and pay forward the wonderful care that my brother and uncle have received is just personally significant to me and my whole family.”
“Somebody is going to find the cure for multiple myeloma,” Frank said, “and if these fellows do it, it’s great that we were able to help support them.”