Brendan Leigh Horton

With great sorrow and mournful hearts, we announce the passing of Brendan Leigh Horton. He was only 36 years old.

Born in Panama City, FL on July 21, 1987, Brendan spent part of his childhood in Germany before moving to the Northeast in Old Town, Maine. He braved the grueling procedures and treatment regimens for leukemia for the first time at the very young age of 4 and again for the second time at his first relapse at the age of 14, which included his first stem cell transplant. Undeterred and driven by an unrelenting enthusiasm for life, he graduated from Old Town High School in 2005, graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2009 from Boston University with a B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, attained his PhD in Cancer Biology in 2017 from The University of Chicago, completed his postdoctoral research at MIT, and published numerous works on tumor immunology and immunotherapy, before receiving the devastating news in July of 2023 that his leukemia had returned for the third and final time. He received exceptional care from all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Brendan passed away in the arms of his loving wife, Dana Gilmore, with his parents, Robert and Karen (Knickerbocker) Horton, and brother, Reid Horton, by his side on March 10, 2024, due to complications from his second stem cell transplant. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Calvin and Barbara Knickerbocker; along with uncles, aunts, cousins, and countless friends, including his canine "daughter," Penny Lane.

In his life, Brendan was a passionate, tender, and lovestruck husband; a wonderfully devoted son; a caring and loving brother; and the kind of friend that comes around once in a lifetime. Brendan brought joy, laughter, and brightness to anyone that met him, and was an avid home brewer and skilled chef, which many of his family and friends had the privilege to enjoy. Avid explorer and connoisseur of breweries and restaurants everywhere he went, he leaves behind warm memories of fun conversations and smiles surrounded by plates and glasses of all shapes and sizes. He also had an artistic streak, taking photos of his immediate surroundings, giving us a glimpse of what the world looked like from his perspective. Brendan had a knack for knowing Penny's innermost thoughts and voicing them to those around him. He more recently took up ballroom dancing with his soulmate, Dana. We will always yearn for another cheer, laugh, and dance with him, but he has left an indelible mark on us all, and will be talked about and remembered often.

There were many who did not even know of his experience with leukemia, but this was not because Brendan thought of it as something to keep hidden, but rather, Brendan's quiet yet steadfast refusal to be defined or derailed by it. However, he contributed greatly to the knowledge and advancement of cancer and its treatment through his academic and professional career, and participation in clinical trials as a patient so others could benefit-a true testament to his selfless nature. Every aspect of Brendan exemplified love, sincerity, kindness, and warmth. He was a shining example of the kind of person we all aspire to be.

Words cannot begin to describe the sorrow left behind in our hearts with his absence, but we are all immensely richer from the beautiful memories we were fortunate enough to have with Brendan, which will be treasured forever.

There will be a celebration of life event later this year with details to be determined. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Brendan Horton to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via jimmyfund.org/gift.