About Greg

Beloved Son, Brother, and Faithful Friend

Gregory (Greg) John Liptak, lost his courageous battle with colorectal cancer on Jan. 13, 2008. Greg, a great athlete all his life —baseball basketball and football player, skier, surfer— was only 37 years old. Exactly 60 days elapsed from Greg's diagnosis to his passing.

Age 3		Age 12
Age 17		Age 36

Greg's Diagnosis & Battle

Greg suffered the common malady of heartburn about a year before his death, and his physician prescribed one of the readily available medications and this seemed to solve the problem. In retrospect, this may have been an early warning sign. Then, in September, 2007 while playing softball, he was hit in the shoulder by a stray ball causing severe pain. Orthopedic specialists were consulted, and, after numerous tests, nothing was found. We were frantically trying to get a diagnosis because he was in great pain. One afternoon, while meeting with a physical therapist to work on the shoulder problem, we noticed a yellowing in his eyes. Two different scans were ordered and an oncologist was consulted. The scans revealed the cancer. The shoulder pain, we have since learned, is what the doctors call "referred pain," a byproduct of the cancer that had spread to his liver. The jaundice in the eyes was also due to the liver issues.

Greg approached three tough medical procedures and three chemotherapy treatments with a positive attitude. But, it was too late. He entered a hospice in early January 2008. One night his mother, Stevie, said that his family and friends must do everything in their power to alert young people to this disease – it can be stopped only if it is caught early.

The Foundation encourages young people to get a colonoscopy if any of the symptoms appear or if there is cancer in the family. Had this been done early, Greg could have been spared. As of this writing, 23 of Greg's friends and family have had colonoscopies - five had polyps (the first stage in the potential development of colorectal cancer).; One was pre-cancerous and a second had three polyps that were cancerous. Early detection will save this individual's life - and she is only thirty years old!

Greg's Early Years

Greg was born on December 28, 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He joined his sister, Christine, three years his senior, and his parents, Stephanie (Stevie) and Greg Liptak. Early on, his athletic ability became apparent - usually besting most of the other kids his age in soccer and baseball.

In 1980, business caused the family to move to Mission Viejo, California. Greg readily adapted to the California lifestyle. He attended St. Catherine's Elementary School in Laguna Beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Basketball was his favorite sport at the time. And, then he took up surfing with a passion. He and his friends could take the bus to the nearby Orange County beaches and surf all day, it became one of his favorite things to do.

3 Months		With Christine, Greg's sister		An early star
Fishing early		Junior High		Basketball in California

Halloween with friends		John Wooden Basketbal Camp

Settling in Colorado

As Greg entered high school, business again called and the family moved to the Denver area. Greg entered Smoky Hill High School and immediately became life-long friends with many of his baseball teammates and other school friends. Skiing became his number one sport and he particularly enjoyed the Vail area.

Smoky Baseball		Smoky Basketball		Surfing

Prom Night		Family Land Cruiser

College Life

After high school, he entered Colorado State University in Ft. Collins as a Business major. He pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and there met many more life-long friends.

SPE Fraternity Composite Photo		At a European Monument		Pisa

Graduation from CSU		Trip to Europe with Leon
College Party		Fishing in Mexico

After College

Greg followed in his Dad's footsteps and was involved with the Cable TV industry's Sega Channel as an affiliate rep. Finally, he joined his high school friend, Joe Hayes, and worked in Franchise Development for Hayes Handpiece, based in Carlsbad, California.

Mexico		Lipper-Life		With Koli & Sister Christine

Going Away Party - Bike From Friends		Surfing in Mexico
Skiing with Friends in Vail		Fishing in California

Family

With Nephew Cooper		With Neice Brodie		Getting ready to go Skydiving

Greg with Stevie		Greg and his family at his Uncle Rick's Wedding
Greg, Stevie, Christine and Greg in California 2006		Stevie and Greg for Stevie's Birthday in 2006

In Memory

Mike Harder with his original Oil, "The Lipper"		Stevie at Nuggets Fundraiser		Joey Hayes at the Paddle Out

Sean Tonner		Chris Schaefer videotapes a public service announcement
Greg's freinds organized a paddle out at his favorite beach in CA		Andy Buettner
The paddle out with prayers and songs for Greg		Greg, Stevie, Devon, Cooper and Brodie. Thanksgiving 2007

Greg's Cancer Foundation

Greg's family and friends are determined to do something to help alert people in their thirties and forties to the early symptoms of colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of US cancer deaths for men and women combined.  More lives are lost to colorectal cancer each year than to breast cancer and AIDS combined.  The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is no symptom at all.  Most believe that this cancer strikes only older people - that is not the case. You may remember Jay Monahan, Katie Couric’s husband, who died at age 42 from this disease. 

Greg’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. seeks to  bring this message to young people.  Thank you for looking at this Web site….make sure you look at the section about Early Warning Signs…and then see that your relatives and friends are alert to this disease.

The Foundation will also do what it can to convince insurance companies that they should pay for the colonoscopies.  Read the material on this Web site.  Also, go to www.ccalliance.org, the national organization that fights this disease.  And, please, please, get the word out to family and friends!