A Man of Many Uniforms Leaves Behind a Legacy of Service

Behind his adventurous spirit you never would have known that Robert C. Lohnes was sick. He dedicated his life to serving others through his many uniforms which included NYC Detective, Fingerprint Expert, Cold War Veteran and Ambulatory Care Volunteer.

Even with a distinguished career where he was called upon by the FBI to support in solving high-profile forensic cases, his greatest love was his role as Boy Scout Master for his beloved Troop 235.

Affectionately known as Uncle Bob to hundreds of scouts, under his leadership, an impressive 50 scouts moved up to the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program, known as Eagle Scout.

After being diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer in which the marrow does not produce enough healthy cells, the recommendation was for a marrow transplant. Unable to find a compatible match within his sibling, his family began searching the Be The Match registry for an unrelated donor.

70% OF PATIENTS WHO NEED A TRANSPLANT DO NOT HAVE A MATCHING DONOR IN THEIR FAMILY

With the progression of his MDS, Uncle Bob grew frustrated by his doctor’s refusal to give him medical clearance to continue participating on trips with his troop. There was a trip he was particularly looking forward to on March 15, 2014. This was the morning where Uncle Bob lost his battle with MDS.

In a very fitting tribute to his life of service, Uncle Bob’s family and extended Boy Scouts family will be giving hope to other patients in need, through their participation in The Matchmaker 5K Run/Walk on May 17th. The event will benefit The Icla da Silva Foundation, whose mission is to save lives by recruiting bone marrow donors and providing support services to children and adults with leukemia and other diseases treatable by marrow transplants.