Robert Deaver Collins M.D.

Robert Deaver Collins M.D. obituary, Nashville, TN

Robert Collins Obituary

Robert Deaver Collins, M.D.

Nashville, TN

Robert Deaver Collins, M.D., Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Emeritus

Born October 28, 1928, in Davidson, Tennessee, Dr. Collins was the son of Winifred Poindexter and Claude Adolphus Collins.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Elizabeth Cate Collins; his children: Robert Deaver Collins, Jr. (Rebecca); Richard Roos-Collins (Margit); Elizabeth Landress Collins (Steven); and William Drew Collins, (Janet); his grandchildren: Deaver Hiatt Collins (Elizabeth); Caldwell Collins Israel (William); Emma Roos-Collins; Byron Roos-Collins; and Zachary Robert Wells Webster; his great-granddaughter, Redding Cate Israel; his brother, John Richard Collins (Susan); his brother-in-law, Thomas Randolph Cate (Deborah); and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Collins attended Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and received his B.A. and M. D. degrees from Vanderbilt University. He trained in Pathology under Dr. Ernest William Goodpasture, spent a year in Internal Medicine at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, and was a Fellow in Microbiology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Collins spent two sabbaticals at Cambridge University, England, both in research in the Department of Medicine.

During his fifty-six year career at Vanderbilt Medical School (1957-2013), Dr. Collins taught generations of medical students. The high standards to which he held both himself and his students shaped many of their careers. His excellence as a teacher, research scientist, and clinical pathologist was recognized through numerous awards both from medical school classes as well as from the School of Medicine faculty.

Special honors recognizing his contributions to Vanderbilt University and to the field of Pathology include: being named the Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor in 1996; the Grant Liddle Award for Excellence in Research; the Distinguished Pathologist Award for Career Achievement by the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association; the John L. Shapiro Chair in Pathology; the Jack Davies Award for Best Preclinical Lecturer, and The School of Medicine Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Robert D. Collins Award.

Dr. Collins established the Division of Hematopathology at Vanderbilt and trained fellows who are leaders in this field today. His 20-year collaboration with Dr. Robert J. Lukes resulted in the Lukes-Collins Classification of Lymphomas published in Tumors of the Hematopoietic System in 1992. In 2001, Dr. Collins and Dr. Steven Swerdlow served as authors and editors for the first textbook on pediatric hematopathology entitled Pediatric Hematopathology.

In 1999, Dr. Collins began a second career writing books, joining two younger colleagues in their research projects, and raising funds for endowed scholarships for Vanderbilt Medical School. The biography of his mentor, Ernest William Goodpasture, Scientist, Scholar, Gentleman, was published in 2002. His fourth book, Ahmic Lake Connections: The Founding Leadership of Vanderbilt University, was published in 2004. His membership in the Old Oak Club was a source of pleasure, sharing papers with men from other academic and professional fields.

Dr. Collins's love of nature and books guided his family life. He was always ready for an adventure with family, friends, and colleagues, spending many a weekend canoeing, hiking, and camping. The Collins home of 54 years was a special place for their growing family and grandchildren. This home, with its picnic tables under a massive oak tree, welcomed extended family and friends as well as medical students, faculty, and colleagues from afar.

A memorial service will be held at West End United Methodist Church on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Vanderbilt Medical School Endowed Scholarship Program, Alive Hospice, American Rivers, and West End United Methodist Church.

Published by The Tennessean from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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Roberto Miranda

March 4, 2019

I was given the opportunity to know Dr. Collins while a pathology resident at Vanderbilt in the mid-1980's. Having attended medical school at UAB before residency I had already heard "Dr. Collins stories" passed down from the hand-ful of his previous students which were UAB resident physicians at the time I knew them. It was clear before I ever knew the man that he was revered, loved, and greatly respected by all who had encountered him while in medical school at Vanderbilt. Today, 30 years after meeting Dr Collins, I am proud to say that I knew the man, the physician, who truly was a gentleman and a scholar and to this day he is still held in the highest regard, and was my most influential mentor. I will always consider Dr. Collins to be the "gold-standard" to which physicians should be held accountable.

Matt Karl M.D.

December 26, 2013

I recall fondly one late evening signing out cases with him at Vanderbilt hemepath as a resident. When I inquired of him how many cells does it take to make a diagnosis of cancer, he contemplated for a moment then quietly chuckled "Only one. But it has to be the right one". Another time we were looking at negative AFB and GMS stains for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time and I inquired how long should a pathologist examine a special stain and once again he quietly responded " Long enough that you are convinced they are negative". Lastly, I recall when I was interviewing for residency he asked me to describe some of my friends to him. I never really understood why until years later I learned that a good judge of one's character is the folks that one associates with. He will be missed.

William Shipley, M.D.

December 5, 2013

Dear Mrs. Collins and family,
It is difficult to express what Dr. Collins meant to me as a student (43 years ago)and how that association has impacted my life ever since. I have the utmost gratitude for being able to attend Vanderbilt Medical School and at having him as my teacher/mentor. I have tried to emulate him in my life as a physician and will continue to until I die.

Stanley Von Hofe

December 4, 2013

It has been 15+ years since those memorable organ recitals and pathology classes with Dr. Collins, but I still use the skills that I learned from him on a daily basis. His teaching style brought out the best from his students, because he believed in our ability. I am grateful to have been one of them. The world has lost an exceptional teacher, but his work lives on in each of us. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Yokko Tamura, VUMC Class of 2000

December 4, 2013

It was a great honor to have the privilege to know Dr. Collins. His caring heart and the wisdom he shared will not be forgotten. Dr. Collins will have a special place in our hearts forever. Our thoughts and prayers to Mrs. Collins and family.

Dorota, Krzysztof, Claudia and Thomas Marosz

December 3, 2013

Unlike the majority of people leaving comments that worked with Dr. Collins, or were taught by him, I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago when he purchased the first of several vehicles from me. Dr. and Mrs. Collins were some of the nicest folks I ever had the privilege of meeting. And even though he was a very busy person, he would always seem to find time to call me periodically about things ranging from the car business to kidding me about my affiliations to The University of Tennessee. He was a good friend that I will miss...condolences to the family.

Danny Cotten

December 3, 2013

My deepest sympathies to Dr. Collins' family, friends, and colleagues. I am a VUMC graduate (class of 1988) and still vividly remember many of his lectures. He was the embodiment of the physician-scholar and a true Southern gentleman.

Sarah Samaan

December 2, 2013

Dr. Collins' enthusiasm for medicine, history, and teaching were a tremendous asset to all of us. Some years ago he took several faculty colleagues and myself on a field trip to Arnold's Country Kitchen (where he was greeted as a favored regular). He then took us to Mt. Olivet cemetery to visit the gravesite of Oswald T. Avery, who won the Nobel prize for discovering that DNA is the genetic material and who spent his last years in Nashville. Dr. Collins read to us from Dr. Avery's letters and writings and gave us copies, which I still have. He will be greatly missed at Vanderbilt and beyond. My condolences to his family.

John Williams, MD

December 2, 2013

Dr. Collins was also a great teacher to the staff. He gave Debra Ferrin (Leath) and I weekly exams on the history of Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and other things he found to be humorous. He was a perfect gentleman in every way and I will miss him terribly.

Scott Mitchell

December 2, 2013

Dear Mrs. Collins and family:

It is with both sadness and honor that I commemorate the life of Dr. Collins. Dr. Collins served as both professor, mentor, collegue and friend over the last 20 years. He was personally the most distinguished and honorable professor who served as my instructor in over 29 years of academics. Unknown to most, Dr. Collins was paramount in assisting my class in the establishment of our class scholarship fund, the David Freedy Scholarship Fund. The number of lives that Dr. Collins has impacted and will continue to impact is countless.

Few of us will ever achieve in medicine what Dr. Collins accomplished in his lifetime; but it is his memory which inspires me every day of my own career. And for that I would like to thank the greatest professor I ever had.

May you rest in peace.

Robert M. Jotte MD PhD
Denver, CO
Class of 1993

December 2, 2013

I had the very distinct privilege of working with Dr. Collins during my very young years upon entering the workforce. Very few have taught me more than I learned from him just from the way he lived his life every day. He has meant so much to so many that will long be remembered. May he rest in peace. My love and prayers to Mrs. Collins and all of his family. It was a great honor to know him, and all of you.

Betty Leslie Warner

December 2, 2013

Dr. Collins, both as friend and mentor, will be referenced in the daily lives of all the Fuqua/Kuykendall family as we hold him alive in our memories and our activities. Love, Lucy Scott and Sam

Lucy Scott and Sam Kuykendall

December 2, 2013

Dear Mrs. Collins and family,
Dr. Collins was an amazing man. I was a member of the last VUMC medical student class fortunate enough to learn pathology from Dr. Collins, and none of us will ever forget his organ recitals. But the lasting impressions I have of Dr. Collins is his dedication to teaching, his professionalism, and his advocacy for medical students. We will all miss him, but his teaching legacy lives on in all of us fortunate enough to benefit from his knowledge.

Andrea Cruz

December 2, 2013

I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Collins at VUMC-a very kind man. He will be missed.

Jim Pleace

December 1, 2013

I'm truly saddened by the passing of such a fine man... he was kind, thoughtful, and I loved his sense of humor. He will indeed be missed! The Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology has lost a tremendous asset!

Brent Weedman

December 1, 2013

I am at a loss for words. No one can ever fill his shoes nor can we try to explain everything we learnt during our organ recitals to those who did not experience it. It wasn't all about teaching us medicine but learning concepts such as humanity, dignity and respect that he instilled in us all. I will forever live in awe of dr Collins. My deepest condolences to his family. Mona Sadek MD FACOG VUMC class of 1994

Mona Sadek

December 1, 2013

To always be remembered

lizzie McCrary

December 1, 2013

Dave (Ingram) and I have told many Dr. Collins "organ recital" stories to our boys and they were fortunate to meet him on one of our visits to Vandy. He was an imposing but dear man and one of my top professors. In the last few years he serendipitously gave Dave wise words of advice that we still appreciate to this day.

Sarah Stelzner

December 1, 2013

Dr. Collins paid attention to details....such as the name of every medical student who entered his classroom on the first day of class. He was one of the reasons Vanderbilt Medical School was a special place for those of us who were fortunate enough to matriculate there.

Patrick Showalter

December 1, 2013

Dr. Collins was a great man who taught us more about professionalism than even pathology (though we learned a lot of that from him, too). He has left quite a legacy in the lives of generations of Vanderbilt physicians, and we will miss him very much!

Morgan Wills

December 1, 2013

Simply a marvelous human being.

Russell Doolittle

December 1, 2013

Words cannot adequately express the loss I feel today. Robert D. Collins M.D. ("RDC" as we fondly called him) was the best teacher I ever had. He was my mentor, opened my eyes and mind to the wonders of hematopathology, and prepared me for the career I have had the privilege to practice. I often share with residents and fellows the things he taught me, and I am very grateful for the 20 years I spent with him at Vanderbilt. His memory will live on through his many accomplishments and the lives of students, friends and family members.

Marsha Kinney

December 1, 2013

Dr. Robert Collins was a giant of American Medicine. He was a pathfinder in each area that he explored. As the staunchest defender of the best values and traditions of Vanderbilt University he was its soul and conscience. He was inspiring, guiding, and always helpful. He leaves an extraordinary legacy-his children and his countless students and trainees.
We loved him and will miss him dearly,
Jacek, Ania, Marcel, Alex,and Adam Hawiger

December 1, 2013

Mrs. Collins and Family,

Randall, Molly, Meghan and I will continue to keep you and your family in our prayers. Dr. Collins was one of a kind and changed my life and career at Vanderbilt! He will be greatly missed by the entire Reynolds family.

Warm regards,

Sarah and Randall Reynolds (Molly and Meg)

December 1, 2013

Our family is saddened at the loss of a real gentleman and friend. I owe him more than words can express. He treated me and my family as if we were part of his own. We will always cherish many fond memories. I will do my very best to be sure he is never forgotten.

Steve Swerdlow

December 1, 2013

Dr Collins was an excellent teacher in addition to his many other professional accomplishments. His "organ recitals" inspired us to know and understand the organs and diseases he was teaching us about. Many generations of physicians have appreciated what he taught us.

December 1, 2013

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