The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc. (TSF) is honored to announce the establishment of the Dr. John K. (Jack) Erban III Memorial Fund. This fund was created to honor Dr. Jack Erban, who passed away Sept 2, 2020 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. Beginning in June 2026, scholarships will be awarded in the name of Dr. Erban to local students pursuing education beyond high school.
A world-renowned clinician whose career as a hematologist/oncologist spanned more than three decades at Tufts Medical Center, Dr. Erban specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. He worked tirelessly to identify the root cause of cancer, saying he hoped to “put himself out of business.”
Dr. Erban had a deep appreciation of music and the arts, enjoying everything from Wakefield Repertory Theater productions to WHS Marching Band performances to Broadway shows. He believed deeply in supporting the arts within the Wakefield community.
The husband of lifelong Wakefield resident Lisa (Benoit) Erban, Dr. Erban made his home in Wakefield from 1987 until his passing. Although Jack did not grow up in Wakefield he embraced it as his hometown, and could often be seen rollerblading around Lake Quannapowitt. He was committed to supporting the schools and the various activities in which his children and fellow students took part. In his time away from the hospital, he could often be found helping with set construction, and could always be counted on to attend performances, even long after his own children stopped performing. He and his wife Lisa made many strong connections in the community through the various programs in which they were involved.
Contributions to the Dr. John K. (Jack) Erban III Memorial Fund are encouraged to help this fund grow and provide increased awards.