Graenum R. Schiff

SCHIFF, Graenum R., 91, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away at his home on the morning of February 13, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Viorica; his son, Jacob Schiff; daughter and son-in-law, Erika Schiff de Witt and Alex de Witt; his grandchildren, Emma de Witt and Hannah de Witt; and his sister, Paula Lippman. Dr. Schiff grew up in Newark, New Jersey, in a large extended family. His father, Sam had three brothers; his mother, Edith, three sisters. He was especially close with his many cousins. He went to high school with author, Philip Roth and, though they never met, Roth's books provided great joy to Dr. Schiff, as they described what it was like to grow up Jewish in Newark in the 1930s and '40s. Dr. Schiff attended Rutgers University and Montana State University and was an officer in the U.S. Army, before graduating from Chicago Medical School. He spent over a decade as a general practitioner in upstate New York. Seeking new challenges, he then completed a residency in Psychiatry at the Bowman Gray Medical School at Wake Forest University. Upon completing his residency, he moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he spent the next 40 years as a psychiatrist at the Tucker Psychiatric Group at Chippenham Hospital, until his retirement in 2014. He often said that the path to career satisfaction was to follow your aptitude and interest. Dr. Schiff did exactly that and epitomized the old saying that "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." He enjoyed his profession and loved the doctors and nurses with whom he worked. Dr. Schiff was an avid skier in his youth. Later in life, when he wasn't working at the hospital, he could be found in his garden, where he grew everything from vegetables to castor beans. He was also a whitewater rafting enthusiast, often taking trips down the rivers of Virginia and West Virginia. Dr. Schiff will be remembered for his integrity, his intellect and his sense of humor. A small private funeral was held on Friday, February 19. A memorial service and headstone unveiling will be held next year to allow his family and many friends to celebrate his life together.