Remembering Rockell N. Hankin, Longtime Chairman of The Kavli Foundation Board

The Kavli Foundation is sad to announce that Mr. Hankin, our board chair has passed away. He was a friend of Fred Kavli’s, a champion of The Kavli Prize and a strong supporter of basic science research.

The Kavli Foundation celebrates the life of Chairman Rock N. Hankin, longtime board chair, personal friend of our founder, Fred Kavli, and a driving force behind all our initiatives. Mr. Hankin passed away peacefully on August 28th surrounded by his wife and children.

Mr. Hankin was a member of the board since the foundation’s inception and was active up until his passing – a mark of his dedication and drive. He was a passionate believer in Fred’s mission to elevate and support basic science research in nanoscience, neuroscience and astrophysics. Over the many years, our board and staff came to rely on his steady leadership and personal warmth. He was instrumental in each phase of the foundation’s development over more than 20 years. From its inception, where he worked as one of a small group of original creators of the foundation alongside our founder Fred Kavli, to the endowment of institutes at leading institutions of higher education around the world to the creation and growth of The Kavli Prize. He has held the board chairmanship since the passing of our founder Fred in 2013.

“We are devastated by the loss of our board chair, Rock Hankin. His leadership, dedication and care for those around him were legendary among members of the board and those who knew him well,” said Cynthia Friend, President of The Kavli Foundation. “At the time of his passing, the 2026 Kavli Prize week was just about to begin. This global honor would not have existed in the form it is now without Rock’s leadership, creativity and commitment. As Rock was committed to sustaining the legacy of our founder, Fred Kavli, we are also proud to honor Rock’s life and legacy today and into the future.”

Mr. Hankin was driven and had great success in all areas of his life. From his days as one of the youngest partners and later as managing partner in the Warner Center, Los Angeles office of Price Waterhouse, to his extensive board service with Kavlico and many other organizations, to his support for The Kavli Foundation and The Kavli Prize.

Rock loved adventure and physical activities. Among his favorite were racquetball, which he played throughout his life and aviation. He was a certified pilot and particularly enjoyed flying and taking his family on adventures in his single engine planes.

Of all his varied endeavors, Mr. Hankin felt that the opportunity to support basic science research through his service to The Kavli Foundation was the most profound. He believed that science had the opportunity to change the world for the benefit of all humanity and actively sought to marshal greater support for basic science research throughout his career. He was instrumental in the creation of The Kavli Prize, a globally renowned scientific honor that is a partnership between The Kavli Foundation, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

Mr. Hankin led a long and successful career, including extensive board service as an expert in finance and corporate governance. He was chair of the board of Semtech Corporation. Prior to that, chair of the board of House of Fabrics before it merged with FabriCenters of America. He served on numerous boards of both public and private companies in a variety of sectors throughout his career, including DDL Electronics, Inc. (NYSE); SPARTA, Inc. (before it was acquired by Cobham); Nichols Institute (ASE; before it merged with Corning); Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ); Techniclone (NASDAQ); Alpha Microsystems (NASDAQ); Hoya Corporation USA and Hoya Photonics; UVDI; Concentric Energy Corp.; and SBA Materials in which he was a principal investor; Advanced Bionics Corporation; Kavlico Corporation; La Victoria Foods, Inc.; Orthomedics; and VTEK. In his capacity as a board member, Mr. Hankin chaired and served on all board committees and was designated a financial expert.

He also taught courses in entrepreneurship and corporate governance at UNC Charlotte, USC School of Law and other academic institutions.

Rock was also a devoted family man. He cared deeply for his wife, Lisa, and he was incredibly proud of their two children, Kathyrine Sonya and Rocky, both of whom are pursuing graduate degrees. He is also survived by his brother Theodore Hankin.