Mayo Alumni Magazine 2002 Spring - MC4409-0402 - Mayo Clinic

“Even though we weren’t chosen as
representatives of Mayo Clinic for the
run, I feel like we represented Mayo
Clinic … The theme of the Olympics is
inspiration, and Mayo has an
abundance of inspirational people.”
— Nicholas LaRusso, M.D.
A bundled up Holmes stood at the Milwaukee street
corner where Dr. Greipp passed the flame to the next
runner on Jan. 5. She and others — some from the
myeloma organizations and others who were his patients
— cheered and held banners congratulating Dr. Greipp.
Dr. LaRusso’s own special cheering section watched
along with countless people who lined the streets of
Kenosha. A gastroenterologist and chair of Internal
Medicine, Dr. LaRusso was nominated by Pam Tietz, a
senior research technician at Mayo Clinic who has worked
with him for nearly 15 years.
In her nomination she wrote, “Dr. LaRusso represents
an embodiment of the Olympic spirit and flame. He serves
as an inspiration to all he encounters while overcoming
his own adversities. He is an elegantly balanced blend of
physician, father, mentor, scholar, cancer survivor,
marathon runner and friend. He is a success by virtue of
hard work, not luck, which is coupled with sincerity,
integrity and passion.”
Dokken was nominated by her daughter, Sara
Anderson, who wrote that her mother motivates her to
run. The duo run an annual race in Lewiston, Minn., held
to raise money for cancer research.
“The knowledge that I was nominated by my daughter
as someone who inspired her made it even more special,”
says Dokken. “To be a participant in the Olympic Relay
especially this year, is quite an honor as I represent the
inspirational fires within each of us needed to bring a
family, a community, a nation and a world together.”
Sharing the experience
Katie Eccles, left, passes the Olympic flame to Lisa Eccles near
the Olympic Village in Salt Lake City. Members of the Eccles
family were major donors for the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium.
Mayo Clinic participants have enjoyed passing the
excitement to others. All three purchased their $335
torches to keep as mementos of the special run. People
are eager to see the torch.
“The most significant thing for me was at the Pettit
National Ice Center after the relay,” says Dr. Greipp.
“There were 6,000 to 8,000 people there. Everywhere I
went with my torch, people wanted to look at it. Traffic
backed up at one point because people were stopping to
see the guy with the torch.”
The experience was similar for Dokken when she
returned to Kenosha. “A woman asked if she could touch
the torch. When I handed it to her, she started to cry, so of
course I started to cry. We hugged each other for a bit and
10 Mayo Alumni Spring 2002