Obituary of Jacques M. Lipson

Jacques M. Lipson, M.D. “Jack” Passed away peacefully on May 12, 2015 in the presence of his loving wife. He is predeceased by his parents, Benjamin & Eva Lipson. He is survived by his loving wife, Dawn; daughters, Judi (Jeff) Tamblin & Elaine (Kevin) Dwyer; grandchildren, Maria & Richard Tamblin. He is also survived by his very special family & friends, Dr. Ross & Marlene Elkin, Morris & Beverly Weinstein, Seymour & Myrna Weinstein, Rodger & Linda Weinstein, Jerome & Audrey Freedman, Gordon & Linda Lipson, the "kid" Tiara Holiday, Patricia Hans & Susan Mandl as well as many other family & friends. His life was full of people. People of all shapes & sizes with vastly different points of view. His life was richer because of those people & the experiences they created together. Jack was a Rochesterian to his very marrow. Born in the city he loved, he had a community connection that was strong & lasted for his lifetime. He has been called the Prince of Rochester, the Duke of Brighton & even a pillar of the community. He was a husband, father, doctor & philanthropist & his life is an integral part of the greater Rochester Community. Jacques, Jack to his grade school friends, attended #8 school & graduated from Franklin High School. He earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan & there became a true blue wolverine. He graduated from the University of Buffalo Medical School & interned at Strong Memorial Hospital. While he was Chief Resident at Strong his love of medicine & music melded. He was offered the opportunity of a lifetime. He traveled with Howard Hanson & the Eastman Philharmonia on an extended European tour. The tour was sponsored by the State Department. The time he spent overseas caring for these 100 people was one of the highlights of his life. After returning to the US, Dr. Lipson opened his medical practice. He was an attending physician at both Genesee Hospital & Rochester General Hospital. He continued to treat patients until his retirement in 2012. Medicine, Music, Golf & the Rochester community were his passions that grew over time. He adored his interactions with his patients & even hospital rounds were an adventure. He was a lifetime member of the Academy of Medicine & the Monroe County Medical Society. One of the proudest moments was the establishment of the Dawn & Jacques Lipson, M.D. Cancer & Blood Disorder Center. He fed his musical soul by playing the oboe & attending the outstanding concerts of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He enjoyed the theatre & the performances at Geva Theatre Center were his favorite. The athletic pursuit of golf was satisfied by his long standing membership at Irondequoit Country Club & the Twilight League. His golf swing has yet to be reproduced. The affinity he had for the community was something that found its voice in philanthropy. He & his wife strongly believed in the power of arts & education to create a better world for everyone. To that end he was active at the State University College at Brockport & was a former Foundation Chair. There is an established scholarship fund & an opportunity fund at Brockport. Both Jacques & Dawn supported Nazareth College Arts Center & have been part of the establishment of the Wellness & Rehabilitation Institute at Nazareth College. At the University of Buffalo there is a Dawn & Jacques Lipson Scholarship Fund for medical students wishing to pursue a career in primary care. There is a Dawn & Jacques Lipson Scholarship fund at Monroe Community College with the preference for non-traditional students entering the nursing field. The Eastman School of Music has a woodwind scholarship that bears his name. While Jacques knew that education provided the tools to succeed, he also knew that success requires imagination & the ability to dream. Without that, the abilities within each of us are chained & one cannot reach his or her full potential. Our abilities soar on the wings of imagination & creativity. This belief fueled the passion to support the RPO, Geva Theatre Center, WXXI, the George Eastman House & Downstairs Cabaret. A Letter from the RPO To the RPO Family: It is with tremendous sadness that I report to you the passing this afternoon of Dr. Jacques Lipson, one of the Rochester Philharmonic’s most ardent benefactors and one of Rochester’s most important philanthropists. The extraordinary philanthropy of Jacques Lipton and his wife, RPO Board Chair Dawn Lipson, has been as diverse as their wide-ranging interests, covering dozens of cultural, civic, educational, and health-related organizations in Rochester, as well as in Buffalo, where Jacques attended medical school, and at the University of Michigan, his undergraduate alma mater. Jacque’s legacy will live on for generations through the Dawn and Jacques Lipson M.D. Cancer and Blood Center at Rochester General Hospital, the Lipson Welcome Center at George Eastman House, a scholarship fund at SUNY Brockport that supports students in the arts and nursing, and at the RPO, the Dr. Jacques Lipson Principle Oboe Chair, currently occupied by Erik Behr, which recognizes his gift to the RPO endowment in 1996. His passion for music knew no bounds. Until earlier this year, when his health began to prevent him from attending concerts, Jacques has been a fixture at Philharmonics and Pops Series concerts for several decades, sitting in his customary seats in the left center aisle just a few rows from the stage. A gifted story-teller, Jacques especially loved to tell stories about music and musicians, including his role as tour physician on the Eastman Philharmonia’s now-legendary three-month tour of Europe and the Soviet Union in 1961-62. He was especially proud of the personal relationships he cultivated with RPO musicians over the years. Jacques served nine years on the RPO Board, and subsequently was elected to the Honorary Board. He received the Board Volunteer of the Year Award in 1998 in honor of his co-leadership role, along with Dawn, in the Special Gifts division of the RPO Annual Campaign. The Lipsons’ financial commitment to this organization has been truly remarkable. In recognition of their most recent commitment, the RPO has named Dawn and Jacques as season sponsors in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, and again next season in 2015-16. Today, the RPO and the greater Rochester community have lost a remarkable philanthropist who took great pleasure in giving back to the community that gave so much to him, and in watching as the fruits of his donations were realized during his lifetime. We also have lost a great friend with a warm heart, a twinkling eye, and a wry (even occasionally naughty!) sense of humor. We extend to Dawn and to their extended family heartfelt condolences from the Board, musicians, staff, and volunteers of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Charlie Owens A letter from Eric J. Bieber, MD, President and CEO May 13, 2015 TO: Rochester Regional Health Board of Directors FROM: Eric J. Bieber, MD, President and CEO I am writing to mark the passing of Dr. Jacques Lipson. Jacques’ relationship with Rochester General Hospital goes back to 1962, when he was named chief resident. He remained a pillar of our team over the span of six decades, becoming an attending physician in 1964 and later serving on the Rochester General Hospital Medical Board and the Rochester General Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors. In 1999, Jacques and his wife, Dawn, made the transformational gift to establish what is known today as the Dawn and Jacques Lipson, MD, Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Through the center, they touched the lives of thousands of patients and their loved ones as they, with the help of our care providers, navigate some of life’s most harrowing challenges. The Lipson’s commitment to making Rochester a better place to live ripples beyond the world of health care. Passionate champions of education, culture and the arts, Jacques and Dawn have been mainstays for a list of community gems that include Rochester Institute of Technology, Nazareth College, SUNY Brockport, George Eastman House, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Geva Theatre and Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. Please join me in extending sincere condolences to Dawn Lipson and the rest of her family. We have lost a friend who, in a city known for philanthropy, managed to stand out as a genuine and caring philanthropist. Eric J. Bieber, MD President and CEO Rochester Regional Health System Thank you so much to all of those who shared kindness & compassion with him. Thank you to the Jewish Home staff for their care, A special thank you to those who went above & beyond to ensure that his days were the best they could be: Barb, Chelly, Dora, Frances, Gerry, Iona, Stephanie & Tasha. We will miss him and the hole left in the fabric of our community life will be difficult to mend. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. A Memorial Service will be held in the sanctuary of Temple Beth El, 139 Winton Road S. on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 3 PM. Click for a Map to the Temple Beth El A Celebration of Jack's life will immediately follow at Irondequoit Country Club, 4045 East Ave until 7 PM. The family will continue receiving friends at Irondequoit Country Club on Tuesday & Wednesday from 3-7 PM. Click for a Map to Irondequoit Country Club Home Brighton, New York Birthplace Rochester, New York Donations