Born in Portland, Robert attended both ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó and Oregon State University. In 1943, he graduated from the College of Medicine at Creighton University in Nebraska. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps on the hospital ship USAHS Charles A. Stafford. He moved to Astoria in 1948, where he practiced medicine at the Doctor’s Clinic and Astoria Clinic. Robert married Elizabeth Judd in 1951, and they had five children. In 1976, he married Betty Jane Quinn.
As president of the Astor Library Construction Committee, he was instrumental in establishing the Astor Library, dedicated in 1967. Additional civic duties included serving as president of the Clatsop County Medical Society, the Civic and Community Concert associations, and the Library Board of Trustees. He received the Astoria Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 1968. Robert delighted in reading, fly-fishing, music, opera, and especially spending time at his farm in Jewell. In his late years, Robert volunteered at the Clatsop County Historical Society and as a tutor in Oregon’s SMART Reading Program (Start Making a Reader Today). He is survived by his children, Martha (Gunther) Romanov, David Neikes, Tom (Joom) Neikes, Jim (Jackie) Neikes, and Carrie Neikes; stepson, Peter (Anna) Quinn; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.