Richard J. Grand

Dr. Richard Joseph Grand, beloved husband, father, and grandfather died peacefully on July 16, 2023 with family by his side. He was deeply loved and respected by his family, friends, colleagues, students, and patients for a life defined by compassionate service and commitment to family. Dr. Grand's career reflected his love for his patients and his quest for knowledge.

Richard, lovingly called Dick, was born on February 1, 1937 in New York City. He graduated from Harvard University in 1958 and NYU Medical School in 1962. He completed an internship at Bellevue Hospital. In 1964, he moved to the National Institutes of Health to be a clinical associate. Shortly after his arrival, he met and married Myra Mandel and embarked on an incredible lifelong partnership.

Dick had a long and distinguished career in academic pediatric gastroenterology beginning at the Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Clinical Nutrition where he founded the first modern pediatric gastroenterology program. He went on to serve as the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition until moving to Tufts University School of Medicine to be Chief of a new Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Tufts Medical Center. He then returned to Boston Children's Hospital in 2001 as Director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and later as the Program Director of the General Clinical Research Center (subsequently the Clinical and Translational Study Unit). As one of his colleagues described him, he was a “true triple threat:” investigator, teacher, and clinician. He is generally regarded as the “Father of Pediatric Gastroenterology.”

He forged lifetime friendships with his patients, colleagues, and the medical students and GI fellows he mentored. In 1982, he collaborated with colleagues in the Netherlands to create a unique exchange program for research training of medical students and MDs interested in careers in pediatric gastroenterology. For over 30 years, he trained more than 100 Dutch exchange students. Additionally, he authored over 300 articles and peer-reviewed papers throughout his career. He served as a consultant, advisor, and board member for many national foundations, including at one time being President of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. His work has improved the lives of innumerable children and inspired a generation of doctors in his field.

Upon his retirement in September 2017, he was appointed Director Emeritus at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and at the Clinical and Translational Study Unit in the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital.

While he lived by his father’s motto “Don’t let your halo get too tight,” his family is proud of the many awards he received from the National Foundation of Ileitis and Colitis, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, the American Liver Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital Department of Pediatrics, and the American Gastroenterological Association for his many years of excellence in medical leadership and his commitment, dedication, and compassion to pediatric gastroenterology. Of all these accolades, his most treasured was the Lifetime Teaching and Mentoring award from Harvard Medical School.

Dick was never happier than when he was surrounded by people. No one was ever a stranger, and his lifelong friendships are testimony to how deeply caring and committed he was to the people who were lucky enough to enter his life. His home was often filled with medical students and residents who were entertained by the goofy antics of Dick at Christmas parties in a “Sinterklaas” hat or a bawdy “I Love Dick” shirt. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was always the first to laugh. No pun was too ridiculous. Whether he was listening to Gilbert and Sullivan, attending the theater and opera, or promenading through museums with Myra, his joy of life was contagious.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Milton J. H. Grand and Pearl Greenberg Grand, and sister Ellen Grand. He is survived by Myra M. Grand, his beloved wife of 58 years, his children Peter Grand (Cara Goodman), Julia Grand Doucet (Derek Doucet), Joseph Grand (Keely Grand), grandchildren Benjamin, Ely, Anna, Emma, and Eliza, as well as his nieces and nephews.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation or the American Liver Foundation.