Dr. Massimo “Max or Dr. P” Tommaso Pietropaolo, 65, peacefully succumbed to his battle with cancer at home on June 20, 2022, in the presence of his loving wife and family. Max was born February 24, 1957, in Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Italy. Thirty-three years ago, after obtaining his medical degree at the University of Perugia, he came to the United States to begin his career in type 1 diabetes research under the mentorship of the late Dr. George Eisenbarth at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. It was during his time there that Max forged long-lasting friendships with Roberto Gianani and Alberto Pugliese who, along with Max, followed Dr. Eisenbarth to the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver. This decisive move led him to his future wife, Susan, and the beginning of their loving journey together of marriage, family and working together in type 1 diabetes research for more than twenty-five years.
Dr. Max Pietropaolo joined Baylor College of Medicine in 2014 as Professor in the Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Department of Medicine’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and the Department of Pathology & Immunology. He was named a McNair Scholar and served as director of the Type 1 Diabetes Program and associate director of the Diabetes Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Prior to coming to Baylor, he held faculty positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Pietropaolo was an internationally known physician-scientist and diabetologist who touched the lives of many patients while contributing scientific discoveries in type 1 diabetes research. He devoted his life to studying the immunology and genetics of type 1 diabetes pioneering studies in the characterization of islet autoimmunity and disease prediction in patients. His goal was to design effective immunotherapeutic strategies to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in future generations. Dr. Pietropaolo received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for the past 20 years. He published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and served on numerous grant review panels (NIH, American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and many others). Among several awards, Dr. Pietropaolo received the Career Development Award from the American Diabetes Association, the League of Research Excellence Award from the University of Michigan Medical School, the Oscar Crofford Award from Vanderbilt University, the Christopher Columbus Italian-American Society Award, and the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award from his alma mater, the University of Perugia Medical School, on the occasion of its 700th anniversary.
In addition to his passion for medical research, Max had a tremendous love of music ranging from New Orleans jazz, blues, modern jazz, gospel, opera, and country music by Lyle Lovett. Some of his favorite artists he saw live with his family were Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John McLaughlin, George Benson, Toots Thielemans, and Herbie Hancock. He also thoroughly enjoyed the gospel range of Houston native Yolonda Adams and had a special connection to Elvis Presley’s “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace.” Max’s passion for music inspired him to take trombone lessons which he thoroughly enjoyed to the point he was able to learn and improvise just by listening to a song.
Max is preceded in death by his mother, Concetta Lopresto and father, Michele Pietropaolo. He is survived by his loving wife and sons Susan (James) and Michele Roy and Giacomo Francesco; brother Renato Pietropaolo (Ornella Chiumeo); Aunt Elvira Lopresto, Uncle Luigi Lopresto (Barbara Bogusz), Aunt Rosa Pietropaolo, mother-in-law Dorothy James; sisters-in-law, Sharon Pisciotta (John Pisciotta) and April Geiser (William Geiser), and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
The family would like to thank you all for your sharing in the celebration of Max’s life. Your words have comforted us, your support has strengthened us, and your love will sustain us. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations supporting Baylor College of Medicine in Dr. Pietropaolo's honor. Please visit bcm.edu/giving/Pietropaolo to make a gift online, by phone at (713) 798–4714, or by mail to the following address:
Baylor College of Medicine
Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs
MSC #800
P.O. BOX 4976
Houston, Texas 77210
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Pietropaolo family.
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