William Phelps Arend M.D.

William Phelps Arend, M.D., aged 82, passed away on January 14, 2020, surrounded by his loving family after a short illness.

William P. Arend was born in Utica, New York, to Ralph Wilcox and Frances Clapp Arend on August 24,1937. Dr. Arend received a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from Williams College in 1959 and a Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1964. He married Ann Elizabeth Manes, a nurse, in 1964 and had four sons, Peter, Thomas, Christopher and Jeffrey.

Dr. Arend was an internationally recognized physician, researcher, and professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he was head of the Division of Rheumatology. He retired as professor emeritus in 2013.

Dr. Arend lived a life of professional teaching, dedication to research, and care to patients and those afflicted with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

An internationally recognized leader in his field, he was a pioneer investigator of the underlying biologic mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis. In the 1980's, he discovered an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) that led to a new commercial drug, Kineret (Anakinra), to treat arthritis and other diseases and a better understanding of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Arend also spent a large portion of his career traveling and working with other health professionals through the American College of Rheumatology and other professional organizations serving as a keynote speaker or panelist about his research. He was the principal investigator of multiple grants and the author of numerous scientific papers and textbook chapters to further the advancement of basic medical research, treatment of diseases, and provide better training and teaching for upcoming physicians and medical researchers.

He was an editor of the Arthritis & Rheumatism Journal and received numerous national and international awards in recognition of his research achievements including, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recipient of the Novartis-ILAR Rheumatology Prize, recipient of the Howley Prize for Research from the Arthritis Foundation, a Pinnacles in Inventorship Lifetime Achievement Award from CU Innovations, Distinguished professor from the University of Colorado, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons' Alumni Association Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Research, and the American College of Rheumatology Gold Medal Award, the highest award in this professional society, among others.

In 2018, funded by Anakinra royalties from Dr. Arend and the Department of Medicine, the William P. Arend Endowed Chair in Rheumatology was established to provide for ongoing research in rheumatology and inflammatory diseases at the University of Colorado.

Dr. Arend grew up exploring, hunting, and fishing the lakes and forests of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. He continued his love of the outdoors by skiing, hiking, and backpacking during his years in the Pacific Northwest and Colorado with family and friends.

Throughout his life he loved to travel, visiting Europe as a college student and later with his young family during a sabbatical year in Cambridge, England. With his wife he went on adventures to Egypt, the Amazon and highlands of Peru, the northern lights and polar bears of the Svalbard Islands, China, Japan, New Zealand, and floating the rapids and exploring the waterfalls of the Grand Canyon.

Dr. Arend was a loving husband, father, brother and friend. An avid reader and learner he was passionate about the political issues of our day. He was an advocate for the environment, health care access for all, and the need to fund ongoing basic medical research to further our understanding of the human body and alleviate suffering from diseases.

Dr, Arend lived a life of high integrity and honesty with a sharp intellect. He took a great interest in his many friends and their families throughout his life following up and supporting their career moves and life changes. He showed particular regard to those moving their way through the medical or academic fields, listening carefully, asking tough questions, and providing sage advice, while always encouraging others to pursue interests and expand intellectual curiosities in the pursuit of truth and the betterment of humankind.

His passing leaves an enormous void for his family and friends but he brought such joy and support to all those around him. He always encouraged those he loved to do their best, to work hard and to follow their passions. The world was a better, kinder place with him in our lives and he will be greatly missed.

Dr. Arend was preceded in death by his father Ralph Wilcox Arend, his mother Frances Elizabeth Clapp Arend, his son Thomas Clapp Arend and an infant son Peter Arend.

He is survived by his wife Ann Elizabeth, two sons Christopher Austin and Jeffrey Phelps Arend, daughter-in-law Bridget Bohan Arend, two grandchildren Zachary Austin and Chloe Ann Arend, brothers John Gorham and Ralph Wilcox Arend Jr., and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to support scholarships in the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Please send your gift in memory of Dr. Arend to: University of Colorado Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver CO 80217. On the memo line of the check, please note Dr. William P. Arend's name and make it payable to the CU Foundation. Gifts may also be made online at https://giving.cu.edu/fund/dr-william-p-arend-memorial-fund.