Ted Roberts 1926 - 2007:

I am sorry to inform you that Professor Ted Roberts died peacefully Thursday, December 20th, 2007 with his family at his side. For those of us whom he mentored and befriended, he will be deeply missed beyond any words I can possibly express at this time.

For those who did not know him, Ted, a member of the "greatest generation", WWII Navy veteran, and a University of Wisconsin alumni, became one of the true Greats in Neurosurgery through hard work, skill and scientific imagination. He was a pioneer in the field of stereotactic surgery and developed one of the most widely used stereotactic devices in the world, the BRW system (R for Roberts). He had the vision to see that computer and image guidance to remove deep seated lesions was the future for Neurosurgery. He executed that vision brilliantly; that contribution has been long lasting.

In the field of pediatric Neurosurgery, he was the first to devise a clever and successful way to divide craniopagus twins. He was one of the first Chairman of Neurosurgery at The University of Utah and a Professor of Neurological Surgery here at the University of Washington prior to retiring. He possessed a rare combination of technical virtuosity, courage, integrity, compassion, kindness, honor and, most of all humility, despite all these talents. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Godspeed, Ted Roberts

Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD, FACS
Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Washington School of Medicine
Theodore S. Roberts Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurological Surgery
The Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center

You can read more about Dr. Roberts on Society of Neurological Surgeons web page.

Thank-you.