Marjeane Collins Blasco

MarJeanne (Mimi) Collins Blasco M.D. Mimi was born in St. Louis, MO on December 8, 1935. She died in Lower Merion, PA on October 8, 2020. Mimi was the wife of Luis Blasco M.D. for 50 years. In addition to Luis, she is survived by their sons Ian (Caitlin) and Trevor (Susan), as well as their grandchildren Colin (20), Tate (17), Caroline (15) and Javier (1). She loved her close family in the Philadelphia area - her sister-in-law Jane Collins, nephew and niece Ed and Stacy Collins and their children Liam and Shelby, and her family farther away in Missouri and Wisconsin - her niece and nephew Ann and Brian Ryherd and their children Joanna Ryherd Hoppe (Martin) and Jonathan Ryherd (Julia), as well as her nephew and niece Geoff and Jami Collins and their children Marjorie and Lydia Collins. Mimi was committed especially to the next generation including her grandchildren and the children of her nieces and nephews (and their children). She was also close to Luis’ sister and brother in Spain, as well as his late parents. Mimi was raised in Upper Darby and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1957. She obtained her M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961, and her G.M.E. in 1966. She specialized in Pediatrics after completing her residency at Penn. For a few years she practiced pediatric medicine with Charlie Hertz in West Philadelphia, and both were recognized as the pediatricians of innumerable children of the Penn Faculty. Eventually she became Director of the newly created Adolescent Unit at CHOP, and finally served as Director of the Student Health System of the University of Pennsylvania until her retirement in December 1999. She was also an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Penn. In 1985, the American College Health Association (ACHA) gave Mimi a special award for her work with the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Task Force. In 1997 she was a co-recipient of the ACHA’s Edward Buck Award for Outstanding Contributions in College Health. On a personal basis she was a member of the Unitarian Church of the Main Line, the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia, the New Century Trust, and the Bryn Mawr College Alumni Association. But who was Mimi? She was full of life and a truly positive person. She engaged with energy, perfectionist determination, purpose and insistence at all the many tasks that she was asked to lead (President of the South American Task Force of the UCML, Bryn Mawr College Golden Sages, Nationalities Services of Philadelphia, Cosmopolitan Club, New Century Trust, Women of the Block on North Bowman Avenue, among many other organizations. She was intensively engaged politically. She believed and lived the principles of equality of opportunities not only for Americans but for all humans. Mimi and Luis delighted in trips to New York to attend Metropolitan Opera productions. They often combined these trips with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum and a wonderful dinner returning late that same night. So what else can be said about Mimi? She was a UNIQUE human being. If one of her many attributes stood out above all it would be her UNSELFISHNESS. She prioritized everyone's interests and needs ahead of her own. She truly cared not only for her family, but for everyone who she came into contact with. She knew details of friends and children of friends. She was uninterested in titles and commendations. Humble! When talking to her, you would never have known the many important positions and responsibilities that she had. She was the pillar of Luis’ life. Their love was based in mutual respect and admiration. She lived a full life, and to quote her during her final days, "I have lived a full and wonderful life, and now I would not be who I truly am". It was hard, very hard, but her family will always honor her, respect her, love her and will never forget her. Burial will be private. There will be a celebration of Mimi’s life after COVID.