The New Canaan Men’s Club recently presented Ralph Hills with its 2025 Distinguished Service Award, an annual recognition of members who have provided exceptional, long-term service to the club, New Canaan and the global community.
The honor reflects its members’ commitment to serving the town and the larger community by donating their time and talents to support numerous public and civic organizations.
“Ralph is an inspiration and a great selection this year,” Men’s Club President Peter Herring said at the club’s annual luncheon at the Country Club of New Canaan. “He represents the other 360 club members who so often contribute their time, experience and support for our club and New Canaan.”
In his time in the Men’s Club, Ralph has served as a member of the club’s board, a committee chair and assistant treasurer for 10 years. In New Canaan, Ralph is a 3-year board member of Staying Put in New Canaan, and The Schoolhouse Apartments.
In 2015, Hills transformed a leukemia diagnosis into dedicating his life toward a 10-year opportunity to help others. Rather than choose to have chemotherapy with an expected one-year life expectancy, he elected a revolutionary process being developed in a two-year Leukemia clinical trial.
Hills expressed his gratitude to his wife, Dorcas, who turned all her attention to helping Ralph through the medical crisis, giving up all her own activities for 18 months and providing 100% of the physical and emotional support he needed during the critical months following his diagnosis and into remission.
Since then, Ralph has become an advocate for leukemia patients, makes presentations about his experience combatting the disease and working to improve the patient experience in clinical trials.
Ralph is now the Patient Chair of Know-AML.com, a London-based organization that supports doctors and patients worldwide. He also serves as a member of a worldwide patient advocacy organization, the Acute Leukemia Advocates Network in Geneva, connecting patient advocates from countries around the world.
Ralph and Dorcas have lived in New Canaan for over 40 years. Their children and grandchildren are also residents.
