Paul E. Goss, MD, PhD, age 70, of Hopkinton and formerly of Wellesley, MA passed away peacefully at home on December 19, 2025, with his wife at his side surrounded by love after a long struggle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
Paul was born in Klerksdorp, South Africa and grew up in Johannesburg, attending Parktown Boys’ High School and University of Witwatersrand where he earned his medical degree in 1978, subsequently moving to London and earning a PhD in cancer research from the University of London in 1986. He established a distinguished career as an oncologist, clinician and researcher in London, Toronto, and Boston specializing in breast cancer, treating thousands of patients in his clinical practices and designing and leading international trials across more than 55 countries. Paul’s research has significantly advanced the understanding of hormone-responsive breast cancers through landmark clinical trials and shaped evidence-based guidelines for breast cancer management worldwide, driven by his committed and compassionate care of his patients. He was also a global cancer control expert having led multi-national teams of researchers in examining the state of cancer control in over half the world’s population. Paul believed always that access to cancer care shouldn’t be denied to anyone and shaped both by his early life in South Africa practicing under the apartheid system and by his international speaking tours, particularly in low-middle income countries, where he saw first-hand the obstacles and discrimination facing poorer patients in obtaining the health care they desperately needed, he founded the Global Cancer Institute to advance global health initiatives and bring that access to cancer care to those underserved communities and the hope of reducing mortality rates. In that pledge, Paul taught and mentored so many talented young doctors and researchers over his career who inspired him to share his time and vision with them and who carry on his mission today. His professional legacy will live on in their values and their work.
Paul previously served as a Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada and mostly recently as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Disease Program at Dana-Farber/HCC and Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program and the Avon Breast Cancer Center of Excellence at Massachusetts General Hospital. Paul was a member of many professional societies including The Royal College of Physicians (UK), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and has over 250 publications in leading journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Paul loved art and music, Springboks Rugby and Roger Federer, astronomy and wonder, laughing at wicked jokes, meandering drives in the beauty of nature and long conversations – and most of all his children who he was so proud of, Caroline and Edward. Paul was endlessly kind and curious and cheeky and will be cherished and loved forever.
Paul is survived by his adoring wife Diana Crockett, his beloved children Caroline Deliakis and her husband, Michael, of London, England and Edward Goss of Westport, Connecticut, his mother Diane Cutler of Toronto, Canada, his brother Glenwood Goss and his wife, Johanne, of Ottawa, Canada, his sister Kathleen Perchtold of Gloucester, England, his brother Donovan Goss and his wife, Kelly, of Toronto, Canada and many loved nieces and nephews, in-laws and extended family, colleagues and friends who will miss him deeply. Paul was predeceased by his father Dillon Goss of South Africa.
Private arrangements have been entrusted to Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. A celebration of life to honor Paul will be planned. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Global Cancer Institute. Grateful appreciation to the staff of Brookhaven Hospice who helped care for Paul in his last year. Rest peacefully now my love.
