Joanne Jepson

March 22, 1931 - December 2, 2022

Dr. Joanne Hope Jepson passed away at her home in San Francisco. She was 91.

The native of Indiana moved with her parents to San Francisco in 1935 and grew up and attended schools there. She graduated from Lowell High School, San Francisco, and earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree in Independent Seratec Research, both at UC-Berkeley.

In high school Joanne was active in numerous social activities including cheerleading, rally committee member, was elected to the Scroll Society, was an avid tennis player, an Equestrian, and was manager of the Lowell Riding Club on the side. Joanne also designed the school’s Dance Cards, hand-painted ties, and etched glasses, including some with design requests.

True to her nature, Joanne’s active social schedule continued at UCBerkeley. In addition to her studies in Zoology and the research for her Master’s, she stayed busy in student government, mentored students, ran the Art Bureau, and was a member of the Sophomore Vigilantes - the rally committee that created designs for card tricks used in football halftime productions. She was elected to the Hall of Fame.

Joanne was accepted to McGill University, Faculty of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where she was a University Scholar. She graduated in the top five percent of the class and went on to internship and residency in Internal Medicine at University of California San Francisco. After completing her residency, Joanne returned to Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, on a Hematology Fellowship, and received her own research laboratory, studying Erythropoietin.

By 1970, Joanne became Professor of Medicine and Chief of Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She added boards in Radiation and Oncology, before joining the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She retired in 1996 and settled in San Francisco.

Among Joanne’s many and varied interests were painting in multiple media, sculpture, jewelry and making beaded jewelry. She studied Japanese history and culture and collected Japanese prints. Joanne loved to travel and did so all over the world. She loved ballet, symphony and opera. She had interest in and was knowledgeable about antiques of all kinds, but mostly enjoyed collecting antique toys, and buying and selling them.

Joanne’s warmth, smile, sparkling eyes and enthusiasm for life will be missed by all of her cousins, and friends near and far.