Robin Bennett Kanarek '96, BS, RN

A registered nurse since 1979, Robin has worked in the fields of cardiology, spinal cord injury, insurance review, and, most recently, as a certified diabetes educator at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Conn. She received her BS at Fairfield University in 1996, summa cum laude. In 2000, Robin lost her 15-year old son David to lymphocytic leukemia after a five-year battle with the disease. Since David's passing, Robin and her family have been heavily involved in activities honoring his memory. After moving to London, England, Robin became involved in fundraising activities for The Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), a foundation that raises funds to build in-patient cancer centers for teenagers and young adults suffering from the disease, focusing on their distinct physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Robin recently had a chapter published in the medical textbook entitled, Cancer and the Adolescent, Second Edition (Blackwell BMJ Books, Oxford, England). She co-wrote a chapter on The Parent's Perspective of Adolescent Oncology. Dr. Archie Bleyer, a renowned pediatric oncologist from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, was one of 4 editors and contributor to the book. In March 2004, she was invited to be a lecturer at the International Conference on Adolescent Oncology at the Royal College of Physicians in London; she presented on "The Parents Perspective of Teenage Cancer." Also in 2004, Robin's family and Connecticut State Representative, Christel Truglia, established "David's Treasure Tree" on the pediatric unit of the Stamford Hospital. A large toy closet, it is stocked with an assortment of age appropriate gifts for children admitted into the hospital and overseen by the nursing staff on the unit. It is funded by the Kanarek family and from contributions of the local community. Since its opening, it has been extended to The Child Guidance Center in Stamford; and in 2005, Kids in Crisis of Greenwich opened another extension of David's Treasure Tree called "The Branch."

Robin serves on the board of The Stamford Hospital Foundation and The Thumbelina Fund in Stamford (State Representative Christel Truglia, President). She also serves on the board of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Foundation in Greenwich (Carl Bennett, President). Robin and Joe established The Kanarek Family Foundation in 2006 to honor the memory of David (their first gift was for the University's Nursing Learning Resource Center) of which Robin is the President. She lives in Greenwich with her husband, Joe, and their 17-year old daughter, Sarah.