Obituary of Keith Cranston Robbins

Keith Cranston Robbins, 79, of Reston VA, died peacefully in his home on Friday, August 11th, 2023 surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Keith was born February 3, 1944, and raised in Munster, Indiana.  He graduated from Indiana University in 1966, and went on to receive two advanced degrees.  His career focused on oncogene research, which led to a better understanding of cancer causation. 

In the words of his old pal and colleague Steve Tronick, “He started his brilliant scientific career as a laboratory technician at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and simultaneously earned his PhD, awarded by Georgetown George Washington University. His PhD research

focused on retroviruses that cause cancer in animals and they are highly relevant

models for understanding human cancers. Keith’s work at the NCI revealed a specific viral

cancer-causing protein with a counterpart in human platelets. Keith extended these studies at

the National Institute of Dental and Cranial Research (NIDCR) to include certain proteins made by human cells that when altered, transform normal cells into cancer cells. Keith’s career was further distinguished by his numerous and wide-ranging collaborations with leading cancer researchers worldwide and by his effective and collegial mentorship of scientists working in his laboratory; and more important, by his unselfishness, friendship, and last but not least, his much-appreciated sense of humor.

Keith made numerous and highly significant original contributions to cancer research during his distinguished career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland as a member of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, the at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), serving as and the Chief of its Molecular Genetics Section from 1985–1988. He was then offered the position of Chief, Molecular and Biology Section at the National Institute of Dental and Cranial Research (NIDCR) (1988–1996) and was appointed Chief of its Laboratory of Cellular Development and Oncology, a high honor awarded to NIH’s ‘best-of-the best’”.

Keith authored more than 125 peer reviewed publications and book chapters, including articles in the journals Nature, Science, and Cell.  He lectured at multiple symposiums and universities, including Duke University, University of North Carolina, Harvard University, and Cleveland Clinic.

Keith valued deep conversations and intellectual banter, and he was passionate about music and literature.  But he was perhaps most proud of the fifty-six year marriage he shared with his great love, Barbara Byrne Robbins, whom he met in his college days.  

Keith is survived by his wife and his daughters Christine (Ed Glidden), and Nancy, his grandchildren Alex, Anna, Eli, Wylie, Ransome, Aksel; and great-grandchildren Holly, Ailea and Jamie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollice Cranston and Edith Eileen Robbins, his daughter Elizabeth Robbins, and his grand-daughter Opal Spiral Meadows.  

A service will be held in his honor on Saturday August 19th at 5:00 pm at Brown’s Chapel. He will be greatly missed.  Donations in his memory can be sent to the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS) In Reston, VA.