John P. Riepenhoff

RIEPENHOFF John P. Riepenhoff, M.D., a renowned pediatrician, outdoorsman, musician and family man, passed away July 3, 2012 at the Kobacker House in the amazing care of the hospice staff. He was 91. Known to most as "Jack" or "Doc," he was born in South Charleston, Ohio, but raised on the Hilltop on Columbus' West Side. He was a proud graduate of Aquinas College High School, The Ohio State University and Georgetown University. As a young doctor in 1950, he discovered a blue-eyed nursing-school student, took her on three dates then asked her, "Do you want your R.N. or your Mrs.?" Nancy opted for the latter. They married September 11 that year. He established his medical practice, Pediatric Physicians, Inc., on Sullivant Avenue and cared for children there until his retirement from private practice in 1986. Some patients thought he was scary because of his straightforward demeanor. But his patients touched him deeply. One Christmas Day, he asked a friend to open a store so that he could buy toys for a gravely ill child. He was inducted into the Nationwide Children's Hospital Hall of Fame for six decades of devoted service, an honor he cherished. In his free time, Jack could be found on the banks of a lake wetting a line or in a field with one of his many English springer spaniels. As with his professional life, he found great success with his dogs. In 2001, he and his two-time national championship dog Gwibernant Gefni, called "Fire," were inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame based in Tennessee. As a young boy, Jack developed a deep appreciation of music. In college, he played trumpet in The Best Damn Band in the Land. He loved Dixieland, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong. He also was an avid sports fan. He spent summer evenings with the Cleveland Indians on TV. But his interest in baseball paled to his love of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He had attended virtually every home football game since the 1940s including the Snow Bowl in 1950. He looked forward to football Saturdays because it brought friends and family together at his tailgate parties. He made many new friends at those gatherings including the Buckeyes from Atlanta, Ga. While Jack enjoyed traveling, his favorite place to visit was only 20 minutes from his home - Idle R's Farms. It was there that he taught his children to fish, pick off ticks and ice skate. The farm has been a family focal point for more than 50 years. He is preceded in death by his parents John and Sophie, his sister AnnaLou Manion and his beloved son John P. Riepenhoff, III. Survivors include his wife of nearly 62 years, Nancy; his children, Ellen, Susanne, Don (JoAnn) and Jill (Steve) Good; daughter-in-law, Tess and, the apples of his eye, his grandchildren: Robert, Jay and Sophie Riepenhoff and Samantha, Sarah and Sabrina Good. He also is survived by his sister, Virginia (Joe) Schultz of Cincinnati; brother-in-law, Robert Manion of Columbus; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, July 8 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Rd. A funeral mass will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 9 at St. Agatha Church, 1860 Northam Road in Upper Arlington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to HomeReach Hospice, c/o Ohio Health Foundation, 180 East Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215-3707 or to the Dr. and Mrs. John P. Riepenhoff and Family Fund, c/o Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation, PO Box 16810, Columbus, OH 43216-6810.