Robert Michael Kacmarek

Bob, you taught me at NMH. You had an awesome spirit and patience like no other which helped and gave your students confidence!!! I am so privileged to see you as director of respiratory care at Massachusetts General. RIP AND MUCH LUV AND PRAYERS TO YOUR FAMILY. LORRAINE OSTROWSKI

A true giant, legend and great educator in the Respiratory Therapy Field. He will be missed. As a fellow educator I cannot think of anyone who I respect more than Bob Kacmarek. My former co-worker Troy Almeida ,who worked at the VA Palo Alto would always share his stories of interacting with him at Mass General and his cowboy boots.

It was my great honor to know Bob since the 80's. I loved and admired him as a leader, a mentor, and a friend. Bob's work influenced an entire generation of ventilators, ventilatory therapies, and therapists (me included). While his work took him to the top, his personality kept him very grounded. I will miss you always Bob!

It was a pleasure to know Bob. He always took time to chat. I greatly respected and admired him for all he did for the respiratory therapy profession. He will be greatly missed. God bless you, Bob.

Bob, I learned a lot from you and your contributions to Respiratory Care, especially this last year navigating through the COVID 19 pandemic. You are an inspiration for all of us. You influenced and enhanced my career.

As a friend and colleague, Bob was unsurpassed not only in his knowledge and his contribution to science, but in his availability to help in patient care. His humanity was matched only by his humility. it was my great privilege to have worked with him.

Dear Bob. We learned a lot from you. Thanks. Above all we were true friends and we will be forever. Lot of kisses. Our condolences to his family. Helen y Pedro.

Bob welcomed and pulled all of us from the research laboratory into his "Kacmarekian" world. His mentorship was partnership in exploration. It was not just respiratory physiology and mechanical ventilation, it was a full human journey. A true educator, mentor, hospital leader and friend.

I met Bob when he was an RT at Passavant Memorial and I was at Chicago Wesley right before they merged in become Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the early 70s. He struck me then a man who loved to learn and also have a good time. We spent many shifts working together and having a few adult beverages after. Bob was the key to the RT program at Northwestern. He assembled a very talented groups of instructors and a rigorous curriculum. He was always proud of the hundreds of graduates of...