Philip Greipp, M.D. (HEM ’75)

Philip Robert Greipp, MD, 77, passed away Tuesday evening, February 11th at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN from complications of an acute illness and a previous stroke.
Dr. Greipp was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1943. He attended St. Dorothy’s Grade School in Drexel Hill, PA and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia where he and his older brother learned to row and compete in “an eight boat” on the Schuylkill River. He earned a B.S. at St Joseph’s University on a full scholarship for rowing and graduated in 1964. He was inducted into the St. Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011, having rowed “stroke seat” for one of the winningest teams on the East Coast in the early 60’s. He temporarily rowed for Vesper Boat Club on the Schuylkill River with a team that eventually went to the 1964 Olympics but he chose medical school over training. He graduated from Georgetown University Medical School in 1968 and he married Maureen O’Connor that year. They were married for 44 years. He embarked on his joint passion for pathology and internal medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and began his research career at the National Institutes of Health where he focused on the perfect combination of pathology and medicine; hematology. During this time he jointly served as Commander in the Public Health Services until 1971 when he moved to Rochester, MN and joined the Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Residency program and went on to excel in the Hematology Fellowship Program.
Dr, Greipp joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic in 1975 where he led an exemplary career jointly serving the divisions of Hematology and Hematopathology and achieving Professor of Medicine and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. He is graciously remembered by his colleagues and patients as a model physician, mentor to numerous trainees, an early adopter of computer technology, and friend to so many. Dr. Greipp was fiercely dedicated to his patients. As an example, they nominated “Dr. Phil” to be a torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
He is recognized across the world for his contributions to the understanding of the disease, multiple myeloma, for which he is known for the development of the plasma cell labeling index, a key measure for the aggressivity of multiple myeloma in patients. He is also known for leading the development of a pivotal International Staging System for multiple myeloma. Dr. Greipp published over 400 scientific manuscripts, book chapters and other publications and also received two patents. Dr. Greipp reveled in teaching in the medical school and also enjoyed delivering numerous invited lectures around the globe. He led many important clinical trials and chaired the Multiple Myeloma Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Dr, Greipp also recognized early on, the importance of establishing consented specimen biobanking at Mayo Clinic for research purposes. He inspired his daughter Patricia to study medicine and she is driven to serve patients every day by his example.

Dr. Greipp was an avid marathoner in his younger years and was proud to complete the Twin Cities Marathon with both of his sons, Jeffrey and Dan in 1993. Although the loss of Jeffrey to cancer in 2015 was devastating, he continued to live a positive and spiritual life. Music was another of Dr. Greipp’s passions. He greatly enjoyed blues and other genres, as well as playing acoustic guitar with his son, Dan, who lovingly and attentively cared for him, bringing great joy to him daily, after his debilitating stroke. “Coach Phil” was one of the earliest members of the Rochester Rowing Club where he inspired and trained numerous young rowers in Rochester as coach and President of the Club from 1993 – 2015.He coached and taught by 3 principals. The first 2 coming from his brother Joe: 1) It’s not about you… it’s about the sport and the rowers. When it becomes about you, your ego, your betterment, you need to stop. 2) Don’t be afraid to try something new. 3) Break bread together. Be a team on and off the water.
He is survived by his sister, Joan Quiellen, his daughter, Patty (Patrick) Steward and granddaughter, Kayleigh; his son, Dan (Maureen) Greipp; sister-in-law, Mary Greipp; daughter-in-law, Melissa Love Koenig and granddaughter, Olivia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anastasia V. Greipp and Joseph J. Greipp; brother, Joseph F. Greipp; son, Jeffrey Greipp.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (11 4th Avenue SW Rochester, MN 55902) on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. A Visitation will be held at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes (5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901) on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will take place at Calvary Cemetery.
Gifts in memory of Dr. Greipp can be designated for hematologic malignancies research and mailed to: Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. Memorial gifts can also be made online at www.mayoclinic.org or by phone at (800) 297-1185
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes is honored to be serving the Greipp family. To leave a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com