DEATH OF BOB KEEGAN

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Subject: Death of Former CDC Employee Bob Keegan

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Bob Keegan, former deputy director of the Global Immunization Division at CDC, who died on January 16, 2012, after a long illness.

Bob retired from CDC in 2007 after nearly 33 years of service. He spent the first 11 years of his career in STD control: as a public health advisor in Newark, NJ, and New York City, NY, as the STD regional training instructor in Atlanta, GA, as deputy to Marty Goldberg in Houston, TX, and as the STD education specialist in Atlanta. In addition, Bob helped to investigate Legionnaire's Disease in New York City’s Garment District in the late 1970s; worked to locate non-responders in Fulton County, GA, as part of Agent Orange studies in 1982; and helped to develop the first pre- and post-test counseling for HIV/AIDS.

From 1985–1990, Bob coordinated CDC’s refugee health activities in Southeast Asia, helping to assure that refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were immunized and treated for communicable diseases. In 1991, Bob joined the newly formed Polio Eradication Activity, which had a staff of six and an annual budget of $3 million. Since that time, the activity has grown to become the Global Immunization Division (GID), with a staff of 110, and an annual budget of more than $150 million. GID has expanded to include measles mortality reduction and regional elimination, routine immunization systems strengthening, and new vaccine introduction.

Bob’s leadership, energy, and innovation played a pivotal role in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and in accelerated global measles control and regional measles elimination initiatives. He was an outstanding mentor and technical consultant on program management and operational issues for CDC and WHO. In all his endeavors and accomplishments, Bob demonstrated outstanding diplomacy, sensitivity, and social and interpersonal skills as a CDC ambassador on global immunization to international organizations, governments, and global health leaders. He was a true humanitarian who championed global sustainable development and health equity. Bob was a recipient of the William C. Watson Jr. Medal of Excellence and the Public Health Advisor of the Year Award from the Watsonian Society. He also received the U.S. Public Health Service Special Recognition Award (1995) for his significant achievements and service in global public health programs. Bob was also honored as the winner of the Philip Horne Award from CDC’s National Immunization Program (2003) and recipient of a special CDC Foundation 10th Anniversary Public Health Hero Recognition.

Bob worked closely with the CDC Foundation, CDC colleagues, Rotary International, and partners to help establish the Polio Eradication Heroes Fund. This fund honors those seriously injured or killed while working on vaccination campaigns with recognition and a cash award for their families. He also helped the CDC Foundation establish the Endowment for Global Health Priorities, to promote global health and provide a flexible funding source for essential services and equipment for CDC’s global health activities. In addition, Bob initiated and led Watsonian Society efforts to fund and build two Habitat for Humanity houses in the Atlanta area. In honor of Bob’s many accomplishments, the CDC Foundation is renaming one of the funds he initiated as the Bob Keegan Polio Eradication Heroes Fund.

Bob is survived by his wife of 37 years, Gloria, and two children, Marcus and Lauren. The family is planning a “Celebration of Life” party in honor of Bob on Saturday, January 21st at The Mary Gay House, 716 West Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Information about the event can be found on his daughter Lauren’s blog.