Dr. Gerald J. Robbins passed away on May 16, 2015, at age 63 years. His friends and collaborators on the ASH Committee on Practice, Task Force on Practitioner Needs, Committee on Communications, and ASH Practice Partnership knew Gerald as a true advocate for patients with hematologic conditions, and his many years of unwavering service helped to enhance the health and well-being of many.
Gerald always had a distinctive presence at meetings. He was the well-dressed, good-looking guy with the big smile and calming voice. As a member of the Committee on Practice, Gerald’s perspective and experience were embedded at the epicenter of where so much of modern hematology practice occurs — in a vibrant, successful community-based practice caring for patients with both hematologic and oncologic disorders. Through his leadership, his practice in New Port Richey, Florida, helped numerous patients gain access to clinical trials. His vast experience as a clinician and active involvement in medical affairs at every level – local, state, national – made his counsel highly valued. He had been a driving force in the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) and was clearly a leader.
Gerald's dedication was truly inspiring. He was a kind, soft-spoken, engaged, and accomplished colleague and friend, devoted to his family, his patients, his community, and to the professional organizations with which he worked both in hematology and oncology. Despite his diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme and the debilitating side effects of therapy, he continued to serve on numerous committees and remained very involved. His commitment was recognized by the ASH Committee on Practice in 2013 with the presentation of a plaque acknowledging his lifetime contributions to hematology and, even more importantly, his being a friend, colleague, and mentor to so many of us.
Hematology has lost one of its most dedicated leaders all too prematurely. Those who knew him and worked with him have lost an irreplaceable friend.
