Warren E. Grupe, MD
December 27, 1933 - March 12, 2023
Born in Upper Darby, PA to Harold and Elizabeth (Sutliff) Grupe. He is survived by his wife, Nita (Lewisburg, PA) whom he married in 1959. She has been his constant support and companion as they traveled the world together. Having lived in the Charlottesville VA area for the past 15 years, they were active members of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and recently moved to PA to be closer to family.
He is greatly missed by two daughters, Beth (Grupe) Ashford and husband Randy (Acworth, GA), and Susan (Grupe) Diffenderfer and husband Lon (Selinsgrove, PA); 7 grandchildren: Emerson Ashford (Marietta GA), Connor Ashford (Atlanta GA), Mason Ashford (Acworth GA), Rachael, Robert and Faith Diffenderfer (Selinsgrove PA), Benjamin Diffenderfer and partner Jess Zook (Thompsontown, PA), and one great-grandchild, Cora Diffenderfer.
Warren was a graduate of Upper Darby High School, Johns Hopkins University (A.B.), and University of Pennsylvania (M.D.). He served his country as a Lieutenant in the US Navy Submarine Corp.
His extensive contributions to medicine include Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia (Internship, Jacob Ehrenzeller Award), Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH (Residency, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, and Assistant Dean for Phase III Medical Education), Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston, MA (founder Division of Nephrology, first Chief of Kenneth D. Blackfan Medical Service), Harvard Medical School (Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Chief, Division of Nephrology), SUNY Health Sciences Center, Syracuse NY (Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics), Project Hope (VP of Medical Education), International Center for Children's Health (founder, Division of Medical and Health Sciences Education, and University of Virginia School of Medicine (Visiting Professor of Pediatrics). He founded the Westhaven Coalition for innovative healthcare access and care programs for residents of public housing and the homeless community in Charlottesville, VA.
Dr. Grupe pioneered the use of alkylating agents in the treatment of childhood nephrosis which has become standard therapy for this kidney disorder. Two professorships were established in his name at Harvard Medical School: Warren E Grupe/John P Merrill Professorship in Transplantation Medicine (2006) and Warren E Grupe Professorship in Pediatric Nephrology at The Children's Hospital Boston (2009). Through his career he established medical education and research programs in 39 countries on six continents and authored 157 publications in medical literature including textbooks, original reports and abstracts.
Despite his prestigious career, he was known for his great sense of humor and love of the arts. His greatest joy was listening to others and learning about their experiences. He was always looking for the wonderful "WOW!" factor of every day and never stopped learning and being curious. He encouraged others to try new things because, even if you don't get the results you were hoping for, you will learn something new that will take you wonderful places.
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