Marcia Kepler-Bilbao

Marcia Ann Kepler-Bilbao, M.D., passed away at the HopeWest Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction on January 1, 2021, two weeks before her 90th birthday. Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Marcia was raised in a family of physicians. Her father was Edwin John Kepler, M.D.; her mother was Helen Adams MacKeen-Kepler, M.D.; and her grandmother Ida Adams MacKeen was a naturopathic doctor.

Marcia completed her early schooling in Rochester and undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Destined to become a physician herself, in 1952 she enrolled at Columbia University’s School for Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, where she graduated first in her class of very few women in 1957.

In 1955, Marcia married physician Joseph Bilbao, and by 1961, completed her internship, a radiology residency and had three children – Joseph, Lauren, and James. She was offered a position at Columbia, but, instead, the couple chose to move the family to Portland, Oregon. There, from 1962-1981, she pursued her early professional career with clinical radiological appointments at Oregon Health & Science University and academic positions at the Oregon University Hospital.

The mid part of Marcia’s 41-year medical career (1982-1988) was spent as an academic at the University of Utah Hospital and as Chief Radiologist at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City. During her final professional years from 1989 until her retirement in 2002, she was employed as Chief Radiologist at the Grand Junction VA Medical Center, where a co-worker said she fostered an environment of excellence, compassion, and warmth that left a lasting impression on colleagues, staff members and patients.

Another coworker said Marcia’s leadership, guidance and teaching helped him become the first mid-level radiology practitioner assistant in the VA system in western Colorado.

Beyond acknowledgment of her many clinical and administrative achievements, Marcia  received 14 national and international awards – in recognition of her authorship or co-authorship of 53 publications and for numerous presentations at U.S. and overseas conference sites.

Two awards were given in recognition of a diagnostic procedure she created, known as Needle-Breast Biopsy, used to extract cells for biopsy; and for her co-invention of the Bilbao-Dotter Catheter, used to correct narrowing of the arteries. Regarding her career, Marcia wrote, “I am extremely grateful beyond measure for the opportunities I was given in life, including helping produce many fine radiologists and developing and launching interventional radiology.”

Apart from the many professional memberships that she held dear, Marcia was especially proud of her membership in the American Alpine Club and her signature club billed-cap and pin (pictured here). This honor was bestowed on her in 1973 after climbing 50 peaks and completing one first ascent over the preceding years. Although most climbs were undertaken in the United States, several were accomplished abroad following overseas radiological conferences at which she presented.

When Marcia decided she could no longer mountain climb, during the summer of 1993 at age 62, accompanied only by her dog Mollie, she backpacked across Oregon on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trip through forests, across streams, on rock and snow, lasted eight weeks and covered 500 miles with elevations ranging from 180 feet at the Columbia River to 7,400 feet near the Cascade Crest. “It was life-transforming, especially for a woman,” Marcia wrote of the experience. “You find out how strong and capable you really are.”

Marcia was bold, courageous, adventurous and resourceful. She was also creative, conscientious, industrious, hopeful, grateful, generous, loving and spiritual. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, listening to music and dancing, studying and teaching meditation and yoga, memorizing and reciting poems, reading stories about animals and nature, raising puppies and training dogs, and working out at Crossroads Fitness, and later at the Commons.

Neighbors, helpers and friends who were invited to contribute to these remembrances had much to say about Marcia’s loving heart. One friend said, “Marcia was an example of how to be ‘love.’” Another wrote, “She had more love in her heart than anyone I have ever known,” while another said, “Marcia was a loving, gracious, inspiring person who set an example that I hope to grow closer to as long as I live. She embodied love, peace, acceptance, strength, stoicism, enthusiasm, and wisdom.”

Marcia was known for valuing and nourishing relationships for deep and lasting friendships. She always saw the “best in people,” and “helped everyone in her presence feel important,” more friends commented.

Others remarked on Marcia’s curious nature, saying, “Marcia never avoided the difficult path when it was the appropriate one,” and “Her mantra was to strive to become better every day.” Another added, “Marcia was a scientist, through and through, always looking to build a better mousetrap.” Someone else wrote, “Marcia was an adventurer, poet, artist, writer, a great story-teller, loving mother, wife and friend.” Another friend described Marcia as a “peaceful” person with “gumption.”

While some enjoyed day hiking with Marcia locally in Bangs Canyon, at least one couple was inspired to take up backpacking after hearing about Marcia’s experience in backcountry wilderness. They enjoyed many conversations concerning gear and food preparation. The friend recalled how they’d go over the nutritional profiles of various homemade trail foods, and how Marcia generously shared backpacking tips and techniques.

Marcia savored all of life – sunsets, stars, warm breezes, food, wine, poetry, and more, said that same friend.

Marcia contributed to many worthwhile charitable causes and helped several individuals financially to pursue higher education goals. After her retirement, Marcia volunteered at Hospice, joined the Mesa County League of Women Voters, and became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley. Toward the end of her life she participated in a research project designed to halt or reverse memory loss. Unfortunately, her participation was cut short by her recent illness.

Marcia and Joseph divorced in 1984. In 1997 she married William David (aka Bill) Pilkenton, formerly a geologist, although at the time of their marriage he was an Associate Professor at then-Mesa State College. Since both loved the outdoors, after their combined retirements in 2003, the couple began spending summers backpacking and camping, along with their dogs Rachel and Jenny in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah mountain wilderness until 2017, at ages 85 and 86. Marcia and David also greatly enjoyed attending Van Cliburn International Piano competitions in Ft. Worth, when the opportunity permitted.

Marcia is survived by her husband David; sister and brother-in-law Mary and Bob Wolter; her children: daughter Lauren and sons Joseph and James; grandchildren Aaron Kepler (wife Tami), and Nathan Bilbao; and four especially beloved younger women in her life, including Vivienne Palmer, Mitzi Van Arsdell, Kirsten Ulmer, Mariah McCune and special (non-blood) son Greg Vranizan. Also, beloved by Marcia and surviving are David’s children: sons Stephen (wife Rita) and Michael; daughters Kathryn Rivet (husband Paul) and Carolyn Pilkenton-Taylor (husband Steve) and David’s grandchildren: Kaiden and Kalea Pilkenton; Isabel, Olivia and Jolie Rivet and Lucy Taylor Pilkenton.

At Marcia’s request, no service is planned at this time. In the future a marker will be erected in the Memorial Garden Area of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado. A private memorial service and committal ceremony for family and friends will be held at a later date with the time and location to be announced. Contributions in memory of Marcia may be made to HopeWest Hospice Care Center, 3090 B, North 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81506.