BEPPINO GIOVANELLA

1932-2017

Beppino Carlo Giovanella died on Thursday, Deccember 14, 2017, at the age 85. He was born in Merano, Italy to Clemente and Maria Giovanella in 1932.

Beppino was an avid reader and had encyclopedic knowledge of almost any subject you could name. He was inspired by Paul deKruif ’s book “Microbe Hunters” to be a research oncologist. He spent the better part of his 85 years on this earth searching for a cure for cancer.

In 1960, Beppino came to the United States on a postdoctoral fellowship to the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. He worked with Dr. Charles Heidelberger on developing hyperthermic perfusion of the limb for treatment of melanoma. This treatment is highly effective and is used in many cancer centers today. He also studied carcinogenesis to determine which agents were capable of causing cancer.

In 1970, Beppino was recruited by Dr. John Stehlin to be the director of the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research. He and John developed the concept of the tri-partnership, whereby the surgeon, the scientist, and the patient were all actively involved in the patient’s care. He initiated the use of the nude mouse, which is a thymusless rodent that is incapable of rejecting human tumor transplants. Every patient who came to the Stehlin Foundation for treatment had his or her tumor surgically removed by John Stehlin and placed by Beppino into the nude mouse where it would grow and metastasize just as it does in the patient. These mice were administered a variety of treatments, the most successful of which was used to treat the patient. Beppino had 27 patents in the field of research and development of anti-cancer treatments. He was the recipient of many awards and was consulted by many other scientists across the globe for advice on their research.

Beppino is survived by his wife, Wendy, his children, Cory & Carley Giovanella, Micol & Barry Rosen, and his grandchildren, whom he dearly loved, Samantha Rosen and Marcello Giovanella.

A memorial service will be held at the Kagan Rudy Chapel in Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St. on Wednesday, December 20th, 2017 at 3:30pm.

In addition to his passion for science, Beppino, had a great love of art, opera and classical music. Donations may be made to Houston Public Media in his memory.