Robert Lee Jenkins

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May, he faced the battle head on. As Robert did most of his life, he made a decision and saw it through to the end, realizing that treatment would mean spending the time he had left away from his family. Ultimately, he succumbed to the disease, but on his own terms and surrounded by those who loved him most.

Robert was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 5, 1950, and spent most of his childhood years in Pasadena and Glen Burnie. The son of Ethel and Norman (deceased), he grew up with one sibling, his older sister Joyce. In his youth and young adult life, Robert enjoyed playing baseball, a passion he carried through college. He was also an avid musician, playing the trumpet in multiple bands throughout the region and sharing the stage with some very incredible talent. Later in life, he spent countless hours learning to play the guitar. Robert attended multiple universities to complete varying degrees of his education. He attended University of Baltimore and UMBC for his Bachelor’s, Loyola for his Master’s, Oklahoma University for his PhD, and finally Oklahoma State University where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship. He then spent his entire professional career at George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates in the department of Psychology, where he retired in 2015. Robert enjoyed spending time with his family, watching the Washington Capitals play hockey, cleaning his cars, collecting knives, and spending Wednesday evenings with his wife at the gun range.

Robert is survived by his wife, Lois, two sons Matthew and Jay, two grandsons Barrett and Connor, his daughter-in-law Kaitlin, and sister Joyce Robbins. He is further survived by cousins, nephews, and other relatives. Robert will be remembered by family and friends as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, whose strength and kindness could breach even the toughest of times.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Summit School, 664 East Central Avenue, Edgewater, Maryland 21037 (410) 798-0005 or The Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, Maryland 21122 (410) 837-3385.