Robert A. Weker, mesothelioma asbestos cancer researcher, dies at age 66

Robert A. Weker, a longtime chemist, industrial hygienist, and asbestos researcher, has passed away at the age of 66.

A former employee of both the Harvard School of Public Health and a safety officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Environment, Health, and Safety Office, Weker passed away from a heart attack.

“He’s the most brilliant problem-solver I’ve ever known,’’ said his son, Ethan. “He was never content to not know something…He just had a wealth of knowledge about so many things, and he was very humble about it, too.’’

During his time at the Harvard School of Public Health, Weker studied the effects of tobacco and marijuana smoking, asbestos, nitrous oxide, ultraviolet radiation, and air pollution on human health. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is linked to both lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer that often kills within two years after being diagnosed.

Mesothelioma affects thousands of new patients each year in the United States, and thousands more abroad. Sadly, despite the best efforts of researchers and scientists like Weker, mesothelioma remains incurable at the present time.

Andy Kalil, a colleague at MIT, said Mr. Weker was passionately devoted to his work.

“Bob had a lot of really good, innovative ideas about how to do things. He was really interested in constantly improving how we functioned as an organization,’’ he said. “He wasn’t afraid to attempt new approaches to old problems.’’

“He just wanted to make the world a better place, and he did,’’ longtime partner Gail Zwink said.