The Rt. Rev. Robert S. Denig, Bishop of Western Massachusetts, died May 20 at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston of complications from bone marrow cancer. He was 48.

Bishop Denig was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 1994, a year after being consecrated bishop. He had received a bone marrow transplant from his sister last December which enabled him to retain diocesan leadership until recently.

The bishop was a native of Mount Vernon, N.Y. He graduated from Amherst College and the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. He was ordained deacon in 1972 and priest in 1973.

He became curate at St. John's Church in Northampton, Mass., in 1972, and was Episcopal chaplain at the University of Massachusetts and rector of All Saints', South Hadley, from 1975 to 1979. He became rector of Christ the King in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1979 and remained there until 1984, when he became rector of Holy Comforter, Vienna, Va. He was serving the Virginia parish when he was elected bishop Oct. 3, 1992. He was consecrated Feb. 20, 1993.

Bishop Denig participated in a wide range of church and community activities. He served on standing committees and commissions on ministry, and was a preacher and workshop leader on spirituality and stewardship.

He was a deputy to General Convention from the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, his children, Julia and Nicholas, his father and two sisters.