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Edward Tapper Obituary
Edward J. Tapper, M.D., a brilliant researcher, devoted friend, and deeply curious soul, passed away peacefully in his home in Calistoga, California, surrounded by love. He was 83.
Born on July 4, 1942, in Akron, Ohio, to Jeanne Siff and Irving Bernard Tapper, Ed grew up in Shaker Heights with a natural gravitation toward science and mathematics. His inquisitive mind surfaced early, and as a teenager he was selected for a prestigious post-Sputnik science initiative designed to nurture young scientific talent. It was a formative experience that ignited his lifelong passion for research.
Ed earned his undergraduate degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York, and a medical degree from The Ohio State University. After completing a gastroenterology residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he practiced both clinical medicine and research in Milwaukee before turning fully toward pharmaceutical development. Among his early contributions was helping shape the emerging understanding of the "second brain" in the human gut-a discovery that influenced the field of neurogastroenterology.
But Ed was more than a gifted mind-he was a man of deep integrity: kind, loyal, and generous, with a wry sense of humor and a deep appreciation for imagination. He supported programs that nurtured creativity in young people, believing imaginative thinking was essential to solving the world's greatest challenges.
Later in life, he discovered a quieter, deeper joy in Calistoga. Nestled between the Palisades and Mayacamas mountain ranges and surrounded by vineyards, native oaks, and the valley's extraordinary natural beauty, he built a life of friendship, family, and community. He delighted in tending his garden, sharing ideas over coffee, and playing an active role in Rotary.
Of all his chapters, the one shared with Peggy was most cherished. Their 18-year partnership was filled with love, respect, purpose, and laughter.
Family and friends will celebrate Ed's life in a private gathering on August 30th, 2025. Edward Jay Tapper
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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