Robert L. Lipnick

1941 - 2024

Robert L. Lipnick died on February 13, 2024 at Goodwin House Alexandria, surrounded by his family. He was 82 years old.

Dr. Lipnick, a lifelong scientist, spent much of his career at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). His work centered on the use of quantitative structure-activity (QSAR) in the correlation of toxicity with chemical structure. This work supported EPA's mandate under the Toxic Substances Control Act to review the potential toxicity of new chemicals before they were permitted to be manufactured. Dr. Lipnick published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals and spoke both within the United States and internationally.

A native of Baltimore, MD, Dr. Lipnick earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Brandeis University. Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Lipnick worked in drug-development research at Memorial-Sloane Kettering Cancer Center before joining the EPA.

Dr. Lipnick translated and edited an important early monograph in anesthesiology and toxicity, Studies in Narcosis (1901), written in German by Charles Ernest Overton. For this work, Dr. Lipnick was recognized in an award from the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Lipnick was passionate about family history from an early age. He and his brother reached out to possible extended family members around the world. Dr. Lipnick went on to explore the genealogy of his family and to organize extended family reunions. He also continued his research with a visit to Lithuania.

Dr. Lipnick was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Anne Ruth Goldberg Lipnick. He is survived by his brother, William Lipnick (Valerie); and his children, Deborah Lipnick Silverman (Justin) and David Henry Lipnick; and three grandchildren – Emma, Asher and Zev. He is survived also by his wife, Sophie Krasik.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 15, 2:30 p.m. at Agudas Achim Congregation, 2908 Valley Dr, Alexandria, VA 22302. Burial will immediately follow at Agudas Achim Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Agudas Achim Congregation (Anne R. Lipnick Memorial Inclusion Fund) or the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

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