Farewell to a Dear Friend, Dr. Vincent Riccardi

Author: NF Network

Published On: 07/22/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Dr. Vincent Riccardi, the most influential name in NF care of the last fifty years.  He passed away in his sleep on July 2nd, age 83.  When asked, “Why NF?”, he would explain that in medical school a mentor advised him that to make a real difference he should specialize in a field no one else was studying.  To the everlasting benefit of all of us, he chose neurofibromatosis.

After years of seeing patients at Baylor University, Dr. Riccardi published Neurofibromatosis: Phenotype, Natural History and Pathogenesis in 1986.  It was followed by second (1992) and third (2000) editions, having become the bible for NF clinicians and researchers.  To this day it’s still hard to find a scholarly article on NF that does not reference ‘Riccardi, VM’ as a source.

More importantly to those whose lives are touched by NF, Vic Riccardi was a man of deep compassion.  He never met a patient he didn’t want to help.  He listened, observed, contemplated, and added to his bank of knowledge.  Riccardi was an extraordinarily creative thinker, always seeking an explanation.  Why do we itch?  Why does one neurofibroma keep growing while the one next to it doesn’t?  He developed and tested theories, shared ideas with colleagues, and debated concepts with anyone willing to engage.  Countless among us have stories of seeking and receiving his guidance when at our most vulnerable.  Riccardi was a wonderful friend to the NF Network, and especially to our NF California organization.  He rarely missed a California event, despite occasionally being confined to a wheelchair.  Dr. Riccardi will be sorely missed in all corners of the NF world.