Tribute

Dr. Howie C. Wolf passed away on Thursday, January 5th, 2023. Howie was born in Chicago on September 8th, 1935 to parents Dr. Henry and Rose Wolf and raised in Elgin, Iowa, a small rural town where his father was the beloved town doctor. He was a young, active 87-year-old. He ran the Bolder Boulder well into his 60’s and walked a mile or more daily until late last year. After graduating from medical school at the University of Iowa in 1959, Howie interned in Galveston, Texas. He was then deployed as a Navy Doctor on a troop transport in the South Pacific. In 1962, he arrived in Longmont where he began his career at the Longmont Clinic. In 1974, Dr. Wolf opened his private practice in Lafayette, Colorado, and remained a solo primary care physician, retiring at the age of 80. He loved his patients and was their best advocate for their health care. Many of his patients became his lifelong friends. Doc Wolf will be remembered for his voluntary contribution of countless hours to many area charitable services, his leadership to the communities of Boulder County, and his activism - especially for healthcare reform initiatives. Throughout his career, he mentored countless medical students, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. In 1977 a small group of people founded Clinica Campesina where both uninsured and underinsured patients at risk could access basic health care. Howie volunteered as their first Medical Director. He was a past president and board member of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians. As a published author, Howie wrote “I Really Didn’t Want to Become a Doctor” with proceeds going to Clinica Health Services. The book is a wonderful short story about his life and is available on Amazon. Howie and his wife, Rose, traveled extensively throughout the world. He was proud of his medical missions to the Amazon, Rwanda, and Honduras. He was a lifetime Philadelphia Phillies baseball fan and you would find him donning his Phillies gear on most days. He was a pacifist and an advocate for social justice. Howie is survived by his wife of 25 years, Rose Pierro, brother Dr. Butch Wolf (Jane), sons, Jay and David; stepchildren, Tom Pierro (Michele), Rich Pierro, Mara Kalow (Bill), Dr. Lance Scott, Kari Scott Hillis, and five grandchildren: Brennan, Haley and Nicole Wolf, Katelyn, and Nick Pierro; nieces, Wendy Petitti, Sharon Chewning, Molly Zwiesler (Tom), Debby Franks, Katey Byrne (Anthony) Elly Gibbs (Neil), Pam Engman, and nephew, Rick Engman (Nancy). He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Henry H. Wolf and Rose (Yeager) Wolf, the eldest son, Jeff, sister Marcia Wolf, and wife Jonni Scott. He wanted to donate his organs to those who might need them. He loved life. Life will miss him.

Friends & Family