Dedication

This Summit was dedicated to the legacy of Nancy Marie Caliman, who succumbed to multiple myeloma in 2005.

Ms. Caliman served as Executive Secretary of the NCI Director's Consumer Liaison Group from 2003 to 2005. She ensured that all functions of the DCLG operated smoothly. As the DCLG Executive Secretary, Ms. Caliman worked behind the scenes to support and coordinate important activities and make sure that the voice of the advocacy community was heard at NCI. An advocate herself, she was particularly well-suited to the task. Ms. Caliman worked tirelessly with great grace and determination on behalf of the DCLG and other consumer advocates; her efforts led to many rich results.

Under her leadership, the DCLG launched the first-ever survey of the advocacy community by the DCLG and NCI to identify areas for focus. Then she helped the DCLG begin to address these areas, working as a liaison inside and outside the agency. Ms. Caliman faced the challenges of this position, ensuring that all government regulations were followed while meeting the needs of a diverse advocacy community. Ms. Caliman administered the selection of the current DCLG members and also found time to mentor junior staff.

Ms. Caliman was born on January 23, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan. She was nine months old when the Caliman family moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, and then on to Washington, D.C., in 1964. Ms. Caliman attended Paul Junior High and Calvin Coolidge Senior High. In 1969, her son, David Martin Caliman, was born.

Ms. Caliman received her bachelor of science in chemistry from Howard University in 1974 and pursued graduate studies at Catholic and George Washington Universities. She served as public affairs director for two local radio stations, executive director for Prince Georges Community TV, and regional outreach director for WETA, the region's public television station. For nine years, Ms. Caliman served as project director for the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged. She will be remembered there for her work to eliminate resource disparities and to increase personal advocacy among older African Americans. Ms. Caliman also served as the president of the D.C. Chapter of the American Lung Association.

When she wasn't working or caring for her family, including four granddaughters, Ms. Caliman was an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church. In addition to her role on the Deacon Board, Ms. Caliman served as superintendent of the church school. She was an avid tennis player with both the Washington Area Tennis League and the Shiloh Tennis League.

Ms. Caliman's professionalism and serenity served her well when she was diagnosed with advanced multiple myeloma in 2004. She continued to work until three weeks before her death, never once complaining.

The following remarks from her colleagues and coworkers demonstrate that Ms. Caliman's cancer diagnosis only served to temper her strong spirit and to bring forth her natural grace in all situations. It is in the spirit of Ms. Caliman's memory that we work to offer you the first Summit for the cancer advocacy community at the National Cancer Institute.

"…Nancy left us on Friday evening after a long, courageous battle with cancer. I will never forget my interactions with her over the last few years, and I will surely miss her sense of pride, dignity, and the professionalism that guided her in all that she accomplished. She will live on as an inspiration to me for years to come. Her ability to maintain such pride and enthusiasm for her work while battling such adversity is commendable and should be a model for others."

"I remember her gentleness and hard work with a sense of dedication and focus."

"People like Nancy remind us all of the importance of the work that we support at NCI."

"Nancy was a wonderful and steady advocate on behalf of all survivors and will be dearly missed."

"This is truly a deep loss for all of us. We enjoyed working with her and will miss her kind spirit and radiant smile."

"What a dear woman she was, quiet and professional, yet completely compassionate and very much aware of the point of view of others and the necessity to make things happen without stress."

"She was quite the 'soldier.' Nancy was always 'on duty'...we must continue to push forward with 'all deliberate speed' as we remember Nancy, her elegance, and our other cancer constituents and their families."

"From the first day when Nancy joined the DCLG several years ago, she was an amazing resource—-totally dedicated with such high integrity."

"I had the pleasure of working with Nancy as a member of the DCLG. Nancy was always helpful and insightful, but very soft-spoken and humble. She was a sweet, caring human being and one of the bright spots in my experience with the National Cancer Institute…. Nancy approached myeloma as she had everything else—calmly, with humor and dignity, and with a clear sense of confidence and determination. She was a special lady!"

"She was a real asset to OLA, and I know her presence will be missed… I was always impressed by her quiet strength, dignity, and diplomatic way of expressing her opinion."

"She truly was one of those people that exhibited grace and excellence in every action."

"Nancy's kind and gentle spirit will stay with me forever. I feel so blessed to have known her."

"She was diligent, she took pride, she was respectful, she was gentle."

"Her dignity, grace, total professionalism, and integrity were clear and constant through every encounter. I will miss her, but her loving, gentle spirit will continue to serve as inspiration to all of us."

"Nancy was a professional's professional—with outstanding analytical and interpersonal skills and equanimity. I and her former colleagues remember her as a gentle giant, someone who had a passion for excellence and making sure that consumer advocates' voices are heard."