Dedicated physician, loving father

Dr. Remy Alexander Piibe died at his home in Claremont on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at age 55. He was with his wife, sons, mother, brother and sister. He was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer in September of 2015. Thanks to medical advances, he was able to survive and work part-time until May of 2016.

He was born in Toronto, Canada on December 5, 1960 to Endel and Aleksandra Piibe, who were originally from Estonia. In 1969, young Remy moved with his family to the United States where they eventually settled in Northridge. After graduating from Monroe High School in 1978, he attended Occidental College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dr. Piibe returned to California and did his residency at the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles. He was hired as a full-time physician in the emergency department at San Bernardino County Hospital in 1989. He worked there until the county hospital reopened as Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton in 1999. He worked at ARMC until just before his death.

Dr. Piibe met his wife Julie at Occidental College in 1980. They were married on June 14, 1986 and welcomed three sons, Quinn, Samuel and Brian. Julie and the boys were the lights of Remy’s life. Quinn, now 23, will follow in his father’s footsteps and attend Medical College of Wisconsin in the fall. Samuel, 21, will be starting his senior year at Loyola Marymount University. Their youngest son Brian, 18, will be attending UC Santa Barbara to study engineering.

Dr. Piibe truly loved his career at ARMC. He enjoyed working at a teaching hospital and the opportunity to mentor residents and physician assistants. He viewed the staff at ARMC as his second family, and he was fond of his fellow physicians, physician assistants, nurses, residents, clerks and the entire administrative staff. He worked there until he was no longer able—never wanting to miss a day to help those in need and to be surrounded by the staff.

Dr. Piibe was an avid outdoorsman and loved hiking, cycling, backpacking, rafting, traveling and enjoying nature with his family. He went on many adventures in many places including Lake Powell in Arizona, Zion Canyon in Utah, Alaska, Peru, Europe, Costa Rica, Hawaii and Tanzania. He also enjoyed the simpler things in life: walking his dog, singing karaoke, gardening, especially with succulents, and playing all kinds of games. He maintained a healthy lifestyle and encouraged others to do the same.

As a young man, Remy achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. As soon as his sons were eligible he enrolled them in Boy Scouts and became an active participant, serving as a den leader and an assistant scoutmaster. He went on many scout outings including two trips to Philmont Scout Ranch. All three of his sons earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Remy was a kind and generous man who always extended a helping hand to those in need. Generous to the end, he donated his body to USC for medical science and research.

He is survived by his wife Julie and their sons Quinn, Samuel and Brian; mother Aleksandra Piibe; brother Alary Piibe (Anne-Marie, Aleksandra and Thomas); sister Nora Frolick (Stuart, Japhy, Phoebe and Schroeder); father-in-law and mother-in-law Gerald and Shirley Rude; brother-in-law Gregory Rude (Leslie, Maxwell and Cameron); sister-in-law Pamela Dvorak (Pavel, Jeremy, Jacob and Jonah); brother-in-law Roger Rude (Kristin, Connor and Katherine) and many friends and co-workers.

Memorial contributions on behalf of Dr. Remy Piibe may be made to the Boy Scouts of America or the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Support.