Robert M. Minkoff
April 12th, 1951 – September 6th, 2020
Robert Minkoff passed away September 6th, after a 2018 diagnosis of CNS Lymphoma. Robert was the son of the late Leon and Marianne Minkoff of Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is survived by his children, Daniel (Jessica) Minkoff, Rachel (Ben) Loving, and his nine grandchildren: Leah, Noah, Zoe, Joseph, Amalia, and David Minkoff, and Rebecca, Nathan, and Naomi Loving. He is also survived by his former wife Elaine Minkoff of Potomac, Maryland, his sister Gail (Paul) Chod, and his brother Jay (Sara) Minkoff.
Robert was born and lived in Chevy Chase with his family who were very involved with Washington Hebrew Congregation. After graduating from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, he attended Washington University in St. Louis where he received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Structural Engineering. He followed his father into the family real estate business, Minkoff Development, where he and his brother in law worked to expand the business. He retired in 2005 to focus on his passion for the arts.
He created the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation to promote understanding, education, appreciation, and overall success of the glass arts. His love of art, specifically glass art, led him to become an expert in the field, serving on the Board of the James Renwick Alliance, Wheaton Arts, and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. He lectured at the Corning Institute, developed friendships with glass artists, and used his foundation to create scholarships for up and coming artists. Robert also served on the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where his commitment to the Jewish People was apparent.
Robert’s passion for his community, and for making the world a better and more beautiful place, will be dearly missed. If you would like to honor Robert’s memory with a donation, please consider the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington or Housing Unlimited in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Information above taken from Robert’s obituary. Read more about Robert on the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation website.
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