Gary Egan shared 41 years of love and partnership with his late husband, Daniel Holterman, PhD. Together, they built a life filled with laughter, shared passions, and a commitment to making a difference in the world. Gary watched Dan face a 33-year battle with cancer with grace and determination, and Gary continues to honor Dan’s legacy through advocacy and philanthropy.
Dan dedicated his career to cancer research and was deeply involved in the multiple myeloma community as a founding board member and scientific advisor for the Arizona Myeloma Network. “He helped convene a high-level medical research conference annually for ten years,” Gary recalls. “The best specialists in the country leading the fight to cure multiple myeloma were invited.”
Inspired by Dan’s work and resilience, Gary has been supporting the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation® (MMRF®) by participating in the MMRF Scottsdale Walk/Run for the past two years, rallying friends and family to raise thousands of dollars in Dan’s memory. “The MMRF’s focus on research aligns perfectly with Daniel’s life’s work and reflects our desired philanthropic legacy,” Gary says.
Gary hopes his support of the MMRF will help contribute to the next generation of researchers through the MMRF Research Fellowship Program, giving them the chance to make contributions that will help others — just as Dan did throughout his career.
Gary sees participating in the MMRF Walk/Run as a way to honor Dan while helping families facing multiple myeloma today, and he is honored to be recognized as Scottsdale’s Spirit of Hope Honoree. Through his advocacy, fundraising, and planned giving, Gary continues to carry forward the values he shared with Dan: compassion, perseverance, and a determination to make a difference.
