THOMAS KEITH BLACKWELL

1957 - 2025

BLACKWELL, Thomas Keith Dr. Thomas Keith Blackwell, groundbreaking researcher and geneticist at Harvard and Joslin Born August 21, 1957, in Greenville, SC, he was the son of Joanne and Thomas Blackwell and older brother to Mark. His mother fostered a love of learning; his father modeled drive and ingenuity through the family's NASCAR track. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry and respect for the Blue Devils at Duke University. He then received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Microbiology at Columbia University, conducting thesis research with Dr. Frederick Alt. He completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Harold Weintraub at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, shaping a career focus on gene regulation. There, Keith formed lifelong bonds with fellow researchers who continued to meet annually as the "Weintraub group"-a gathering he considered the most rigorous of the year. Seattle also brought life-changing relationships. He met his future wife, Dr. Sandra Burchett. Their partnership extended beyond academia as they explored the Pacific Northwest-hiking Hurricane Ridge, walking the Redwood Forest, camping in the Cascades, and sailing the San Juans. Their motto: "Never take the same trail twice." In 1993, they moved to Boston. Keith established his lab at the Center for Blood Research at Harvard. Sandra joined the faculty at Boston Children's Hospital. Keith then served as Senior Investigator and Co-Section Head of Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center. Keith's lab studied development, metabolism and aging, and he published over 130 papers in leading journals, including Cell, Nature and Science. As a mentor, Keith led one of Longwood's most productive fellowship programs and founded the Longwood Area Worm Group. He championed bold thinking through thoughtful guidance. Keith and Sandra raised daughters, Kim and Ellen, with the same values he lived by-curiosity, humility and compassion. He enjoyed family traditions, walks in the Arnold Arboretum, kayaking in Maine and parenting rescue dogs, Lacy, the most recent. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughter, Kim Burchett, spouse, Hale Hieronymus and grandson Tristan of Brooklyn, NY; daughter, Ellen Pope, spouse, Chris Cameron of Eymet, France; brother, Mark of Los Angeles; and extended family. Visiting Hours: A Memorial Service will be held May 29, at 4 PM, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain. Livestream available via the church's YouTube. A Celebration of Life follows, 5–8 PM, at The Loring Greenough House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Angell Animal Medical Center, the Arnold Arboretum or Joslin Diabetes Center.

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