The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is Saddened by the Passing of Sandra Day O’Connor

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) was saddened to hear of the passing of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who had served as Honorary Chair of the ADDF Board of Governors since 2011 and was a staunch and valued advocate for the ADDF’s mission to accelerate the development of drugs to treat, prevent, and cure Alzheimer’s.

As the first women to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and an accomplished lawyer, politician and writer, Justice O’Connor led a distinguished career. Known for her pragmatism and meticulously researched opinions while serving on the Supreme Court, she became a decisive swing vote on important issues, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Following her husband, John Jay O'Connor’s, diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease in the late 1990s, Justice O’Connor and her sons dedicated themselves to raising awareness for the need to advance research focused on the disease. After being diagnosed with dementia herself in 2018, Justice O’Connor courageously released a public letter touching on her struggle with the disease, helping to bring further attention and awareness to the critical necessity of developing treatments. The family was honored with the ADDF’s Great Ladies Award in 2021 in recognition of their efforts.

ADDF Co-Founders Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald S. Lauder have made it their mission to seek out the brightest and most dedicated minds from all walks of life and fields of expertise to advance the ADDF’s critical work, and Justice O’Connor exemplified these values. The ADDF is honored to have counted her among our valued network of partners and friends.