Obituary

Brian James Whipp, Ph.D., D.Sc

March 3, 1937 – October 20, 2011

Brian Whipp sadly passed away at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff, Wales following a short illness. He leaves his children from his first marriage, Laura and Brian, and his wife, Sue.

Brian was born in Tredegar, Wales and, through what was to be a lifelong interest in sport, gained a Diploma in Physical Education at the then Loughborough College in England – the United Kingdom’s foremost Physical Education Training College. He continued his studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville and then at Stanford University where, as a Danforth Fellow, he gained his PhD in Physiology in 1967, under the tutelage of Karlman Wasserman. He then set out on what was to become an illustrious career in physiology, both as a research investigator and a teacher, at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre in Torrance, California, proceeding through the academic ranks to become Professor of Physiology and Medicine and Vice-Chairman of UCLA’s Department of Physiology. In 1992, he returned to the United Kingdom to become Professor and Chairman of the Physiology Department at the University of London’s St George’s Hospital Medical School - from which he retired as Emeritus Professor in 2001. He remained active nonetheless, working from his home in the Welsh village of Crickhowell and also presenting numerous invited lectures worldwide.

His research interests centred on the control of ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange during exercise in health and disease, with special reference to the non-steady state. In addition to more than 300 publications on these topics, he was author or co-author of nine books and monographs, including the influential “Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation”. He was also an accomplished teacher, combining scientific rigor with humor, wit and enthusiasm.

In recognition of his services, Brian received many academic honours: a Doctorate of Science by Loughborough University in England in 1982; a Citation Award of the American College of Sports Medicine in 1990; Chairmanship of the Respiratory Commission of the International Union of Physiological Sciences from 1997-2002; the 2002 Joseph B. Wolffe Memorial Lectureship of the American College of Sports Medicine; the 2007 Distinguished Scientist Honor Lectureship of the American College of Chest Physicians; the 2008 American Physiological Society Honor Award (Environmental and Exercise Physiology); the 2010 J-C Yernault Lectureship of the European Respiratory Society; and the 2010 D.B. Dill Lectureship of the American College of Sports Medicine.

But Brian had many other “strings to his bow”, each of which he pursued with the same enthusiasm, zeal and attention-to-detail that characterised his scientific work – literature, philosophy, classical music, jazz and walking in his beloved hills and mountains of The Brecon Beacons.

He is, and will remain, sorely missed.

Tuesday 20 December 2011


Sue Ward said...
FROM EDWARD WINTER:

I echo the sentiments expressed above and it is difficult to add to them without repetition. However, I'll try.

I have known Brian for nearly 30 years and he has had a marked influence on my approach to teaching and research. That approach is a trinity of fun, challenge and relevance.

The physiology of exercise is fun - but that fun should not be construed as frivolity. Whether our concern is professional athletes and their entourage of coaches and advisors whose livelihoods could be affected by the advice we give, or patients whose survival is in jeopardy, our business is serious.

We have to confront intellectual and practical challenges. We must convey these challenges to our students but in addition, try to equip those students with the wherewithal to meet what they will face.

Finally, our work has relevance both for fundamental understanding and application to diverse groups.

Brian embodied this trinity.

Whenever I went to one of Brian's presentations he invariably demonstrated this trinity. Moreover, I was unfailing enthralled both by the content of his talks and his delivery.

As regards his wit, I recall an experience I had with him. It resides in my voluminous file of gaffs I have made and I still wince at the memory. Shortly after meeting him and after discussing our Loughborough-based backgrounds I enquired, "Brian, from which part of England do you hail . . . ?"

Considering Brian's provenance, his response was remarkably restrained and after he put me right, my embarrassment was accompanied by a silence followed by his roaring laughter.

I am privileged to have known Brian and hope that I convey the positive influence he has had on me to those I have taught.


Edward M Winter BEd MSc PhD DSc FBASES FafPE
Professor of the Physiology of Exercise
The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science
Academy of Sport and Physical Activity
Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Crescent Campus
Sheffield S10 2BP
UNITED KINGDOM
16 November 2011 05:19
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