Kenneth Rabinowitz Warren

Kenneth Rabinowitz Warren passed away on August 21, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Lillian Rabinowitz. He is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years Carol of Cave Spring, Virginia; his son David Warren and wife Dena and their children Grace and Eve of Kalispell, Montana; and his daughter Susan Warren and husband Ben Dickerson and their children Cooper and William of Willis, Virginia. Ken is also survived by his sister Karen Bogart of Ellicott City, Maryland, as well as numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ken was born Kenneth Warren Rabinowitz on July 27, 1943, in the Bronx, New York. As a young man, he worked as a professional saxophone player while pursuing a chemistry degree at City College of New York. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he moved to Michigan to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry at Michigan State University. While in Michigan completing his doctorate, he met and courted his wife, Carol Williams. They were married on November 22, 1966. Ken completed his Ph. D. in 1970. After a brief time performing post-doctoral work in Los Angeles, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ken accepted a position with the federal government working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which took him and his family to Germantown, Maryland. After a couple years in this job, he ended up working for the young National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), transitioning from being a lab scientist to a scientific administrator, a change that suited him well. Ken worked at NIAAA for 39 years, was promoted to the Senior Executive Service at age 43, spent 22 years directing NIAAA’s Office of Scientific Affairs, and spent his last 7 years as the acting institute director. Even after retirement, he continued to consult for NIAAA and maintained an active presence within the professional and scientific community in which he had spent his career. In his long and successful career, Ken’s primary legacy was in the field of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), formerly called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Shortly after joining NIAAA, he organized the first national research workshop on FAS. Ken was the lead author on the first government health advisory on FAS in 1977, the first Surgeon General’s advisory on alcohol and pregnancy in 1981, and the second advisory in 2005. FASD and funding FASD research continued to be a priority for him throughout his career. Ken received numerous awards for his work and was inducted into the FASD United Hall of Fame. He loved his work to the last, participating in a conference virtually just a month before his death because he was not healthy enough to attend in person. Ken had the rare gift of being someone who was extremely intelligent but also eminently approachable and likeable. He was a humble, gentle man whose kindness endeared him to many in both his personal and professional lives. He was gracious with family, friends, and colleagues and had an amazing knack for getting along with everybody. He was never someone whose presence stood out in a room; nevertheless, the quiet influence of his wisdom and caring was always felt by those around him. A memorial service to honor Ken’s life will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, Virginia 20110. There will also be a dinner reception at the funeral home immediately following the service. Memorial donations may be made to FASD United.

Kenneth Rabinowitz Warren

July 27, 1943 - August 21, 2024