As friends and colleagues have learned of Rob's passing, many have sent in comments and photos to express appreciation for a dear colleague and friend. If you would like to add to this collection, please send an email to pxd193@case.edu.
Last year's team retreat for Jessica's lab ended up on a farm in Amish country. Naturally, there were barn cats, and of course, Rob was all over them and their kittens.
Rob was one of those steadfast guys; he was the big brother I needed as I was getting through my dissertation. He helped with the design of my research and the data analysis, but he was also the guy I could go to when I had something great to share – or when life wasn’t going my way. I always felt heard when I met with him. I would walk out of his office feeling that you could solve whatever the problem was and keep going.
And in meetings, he always knew when we needed a cat doodle to lighten things up. He was the glue for the team. He also knew where the best food was – and when to crash all the fancy receptions. That’s important when you’re a grad student.
When I “matched” for my residency in Portland, he assured me that a Wisconsin native would do just fine in the Pacific Northwest. He had studied and lived in Seattle and so that also became something we shared as colleagues and friends.
He and his wife Katheryne came to my wedding, which happened in the midst of a hurricane. We were at a beach and the wedding party and guests got drenched. But Rob was unflappable. He was someone who taught me to make the best of what you’re dealt.
I could always count on him – professionally and personally. This is hard. You don’t think that some people will be gone – and then you wish you had shared with them how important they were to you. It gets harder as you get older to make life-long friends like Rob. I will miss him.
Laura Kopplin, MD, PhD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Health
I had the honor of working with Dr. Igo originally via the International AMD Genomics Consortium and then was able to join him on the Haines Lab team. He was someone who was a mentor and teacher to me, as well as a role model of being both a phenomenal human being and a fantastic scientist. Dr. Igo had the unique capability of making anyone comfortable to ask any question or inquiry, no matter who it came from -- student, colleague, etc, and no matter how basic the inquiry. He treated everyone he met with kindness. His humor, sarcasm, and a fantastic view of the universe was unmatched. I will always be grateful for the time he took to teach, discuss, and converse with me. I don't think the world will be the same without him.
Michelle Grunin, PhD
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Prof. Jonathan Haines' Research Group
Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
