Robert Goepp Obituary

Dr. Goepp was intensely an academic. His mind was always working on a biomedical problem. An accomplished pianist he was equally seminal in his scholarship. He sought perfection in knowledge for the joy that came from the challenge it demanded from his mind. He inspired this dedication in his students, of which I was. He saw oral pathology, oral medicine and oral radiology as a continuum of related skills linked by principles of pathobiology. His training inspired me throughout my career.
Bob was ahead of his time. He proposed "symphokinesis", the controlled/regulated division of basal cells in oral mucosa following radiation damage which essentially described a stem cell population that provided asymmetric division to maintain a stem cell compartment along with a differentiating daughter cell. This work went on to embrace the circadian cycle for maintenance of the oral mucosa. His work underpinned a molecular and cellular understanding of mucosal diseases.

He went on the lead the Zoller Memorial Clinic at the University of Chicago in difficult times. In this period, he supported the work of Bruce Beutler in the Lab for Oral Pathology, a venue that Bob created as a service/training laboratory. Beutler went on to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology for his work on TNF-alpha and cachexia. Bob was a consistent supporter of scientific endeavors eager to embrace new ideas as well as those that elucidated shared pathways.

To Myra and the rest of the Goepp family, My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I first met Dr. Goepp in 1984 when I was a resident applying for a training fellowship at the University of Chicago. My initial impression was one of being impressed and somewhat intimidated by the man. His very demeanor spoke of knowledge and experience. Years later, I had the very good fortune to work at the university with Dr. Goepp where I further came to know of his deep passion for his work and the love he had for Zoller and the people who worked here. Eventually, that passion and love inspired me to strive to do my very best in the care of patients. Bob, even in your passing, you'll continue to inspire me to be the best clinician that I can be. In my mind, you will always represent the heart and soul of Zoller and everything good that it stands for...and I'll always remember you as a friend.

A wealth of knowledge and wisdom has passed with the passing of Dr. Goepp. I had the pleasure of working with him since 1989, until his retirement (or his version of retirement) and learning from him the rest of the time. I will miss him. Dr. Goepp was a True teacher.

I met Dr. Goepp at the University of Chicago Zoller Memorial Dental Department in 1976. We became friends immediately. He was a caring, sincere, honest person. He was a good department chairman. Dr. Goepp was the type of person you could go to for information, if he didn't have the answers you could bet he would obtain the answers and get back with you. Dr. Goepp loved to talk and to teach. Dr. Goepp loved to go on archaeology digs. I remember he would bring back fossils to the staff. I will surely miss my friend!

We were greatly saddened to learn of Bob's passing. We know that he was in much distress in recent years, but he bore this valiantly. We will remember his charm, curiosity, and good humor.

Fondly,

Frank and Shirley

How many times I have thought of you, Bob, and of all the years we knew each other!

Our thoughts are with you.