Keith Kroll's Curiosity, Patience Touched Many Hearts - Literally

Keith Kroll was a scientist who understood not only the physical properties but also the deep longings of the human heart.

Intense curiosity fueled both his research and his excursions into music, nature and art. When he was out hiking, he always wanted to know what lay beyond the mountain summit.

In conversation, he cultivated kindness, endearing himself to many, including University of Washington bioengineering colleagues.

"Anybody he met, on a street in Turkey or along the running path, he would end up talking to about almost anything," said his wife of 14 years, Maria Kroll of Seattle.

"He was curious about science, but also about any new thing, whether it was a plant, book, music or food. He was a gourmet cook, his specialty being Indonesian cooking. He never used a recipe."

Dr. Kroll died of cancer Tuesday (July 15). He was 48.

Born in Seattle, Dr. Kroll was diagnosed with cancer at age 18, so he came to value every day as a gift.

"He used to say, `Live every day as if it is your last,' " said his wife. "He led me up a number of mountains - his son, too - with that same energy and enthusiasm. And the way he physically handled things, whether radioactive microspheres in the lab or a piece of fruit, he did so as if they were a sacrament."

He earned a bachelor's degree in biology at Stanford University and did research in Leiden, Netherlands, before returning to Seattle to earn a doctorate in cardiovascular physiology at the University of Washington. He did postdoctoral work in Dusseldorf, Germany.

In 1987, he became an associate professor of bioengineering at the UW. He emerged as a pioneer of techniques and computer modeling to identify and explain the mechanisms a heart muscle uses to regulate its blood supply - a key to understanding heart disease. One of his papers was presented earlier this month to an international research conference in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Away from work, he enjoyed traveling and listening to chamber music.

His son, Aaron Kroll of Seattle, cherishes his father's patience: "If he's telling you something you don't want to hear, he'd always give you a good enough reason as to why you wanted to hear it, so you'd always feel good about it and not that he was bashing you."

Colleagues and friends noted in recent letters that when faced with ill-conceived statements, he would focus on clarifying their positive aspects to honor the speaker.

A colleague at one university honored him by writing, "To my mind your work is bioengineering in its purest form. . . . I consider every great research project to be closely akin to great art - an integrated picture of reality with special insights which only the gifted artist could have supplied. Your work is great art in this sense as well as great science."

Dr. Kroll's other survivors include his parents, August Kroll of Seattle and Kay Metcalf, Whidbey Island; and sisters Kandy Plaster, Lynnwood; Keeva Kroll, Seattle; and Pat Moffat, Toronto, Ontario.

A private memorial celebration is planned. Remembrances may go to the Sierra Club, 85 Second St., San Francisco, CA, 94105.