Patrick P. Gribben Jr.

Patrick is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dawn Ann (Garguilo) Gribben, a daughter, Dr. Deirdre Wickham, her husband, David, a son, Mark, and his wife, Susan. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Kelsey Anne Wickham, and John Patrick and Charles Gribben.

A native of New York, Patrick served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his discharge he joined United Parcel Service in its public relations department, at which time he attended New York University, graduating in 1965.

In 1966 Patrick and his family moved to Lansing, where he joined the Michigan Dental Association as its public affairs director. Three years later Patrick became the chief executive officer of the fledgling Delta Dental Plan, where he would eventually serve as the CEO for 25 years. At the time of his retirement in late 1993, Delta was the second-largest dental insurer in the country with operations in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

He was the first non-dentist to be elected president of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a post he held from 1984 to 1986. In 1994, the Association awarded him its highest honor, the F. Gene Dixon Leadership Award. After his retirement he served as the president of the Delta Dental Fund, a non-profit subsidiary that provides grants and charitable contributions to support dental health care, education, and research.

Throughout his life, Patrick was active in many public service, philanthropic, and volunteer causes. He was a gubernatorial appointee to the Mackinac Bridge Authority for 12 years, serving as its chairperson for his final two years on the board. He served as chairman of the Denver-based National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped.

He was a member of the board of Physician’s Health Plan of Michigan, and until his death served on the Board of Directors of the Sparrow Health System.

Among his many volunteer activities, Patrick was also a member of the board of Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board of the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation, and member of the Development Council for the MSU Museum.

His service in the Air Force helped establish a life-long love of aviation; eventually he would accumulate more than 10,000 hours aloft as a pilot, certified in several different classifications of aircraft. His flying experience qualified him for membership in the Quiet Birdmen, a fraternity of pilots across the country.

Although he never lost his love for NYU, Patrick was an avid supporter of his adopted “alma mater,” Michigan State University.

He and his wife, Dawn, were avid travelers, eventually visiting most of the United States and countries on nearly every continent. Later in his life, Patrick’s interest turned from the skies to more terrestrial pursuits when he became an amateur geologist.

Patrick’s family invites his friends to join them for a memorial visitation at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing between 5 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept 18, 2013. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour St., Lansing.

The family asks that friends consider contributions to several charities which Patrick held dear: Hospice House of Mid Michigan, P.O. Box 30480, Lansing, MI 48906, Guest House Addiction Treatment, 1601 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, MI 48360, or the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation, 1500 E Saginaw St Lansing, MI 48906. On line condolences may be made at: www.greastlansing.com