Jack Lampe cut his medical teeth in Korea, an experience he didn’t care for.
But he loved medicine and kids – and he put the two together for a career he loved in Denver.
Lampe was 82 when he died of chronic pulmonary disease Jan. 14.
He died just days before his family had planned to celebrate Christmas, which they had postponed because of the Denver snowstorms.
Lampe spent most of his career as chief of health and social services for Denver Public Schools.
But he also had a private pediatric practice, was a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for decades and wrote several health-education books.
His forte, however, was kids.
“‘Jolly’ doesn’t begin to describe him,” said his daughter, Kathleen Lampe of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
He was constantly “patching up” kids in the neighborhood who got hurt, giving little kids rides on his back, and sitting and talking with his kids’ friends.
“Sometimes, I was jealous because he spent so much time with other kids,” said Kathleen Lampe.
Lampe was also generous. After he died, his family found a container “full of IOUs” from friends and relatives who had promised to pay him for medical work.
At DPS, he instituted the first sex-education classes, “which was a huge embarrassment to me,” said Kathleen Lampe, who was in the sixth grade at the time.
A nurse gave “the talk” to girls, and Lampe gave “the talk” to boys, among them his son, John Lampe of Denver. “He was twice as embarrassed,” Kathleen Lampe said, laughing.
In the 1950s, Lampe had a half-hour TV program in which he discussed the developmental issues of kids. Lampe loved Colorado history and historical biographies, and he made wood carvings and jewelry.
He was given CU’s highest alumni honor, the Silver and Gold Award.
John M. Lampe was born June 4, 1924, in Denver, graduated from North High School, attended St. Louis University for premed and earned his medical degree at CU.
The Army had given him a choice of medical schools. His first choice was CU and second was Harvard, “probably the only time someone chose CU over Harvard,” his daughter said.
He was working at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center when he met a senior student nurse, LaVerne Katherine Gregg.
His opening gambit was “I need a date tonight, and you’re it.” The family never let him forget that line.
The two had to date secretly because of rules against staff dating, said his wife, Katherine Lampe.
They married June 29, 1947.
In addition to his daughter, wife and son, he is survived by two grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
