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Mary Avery Obituary
AGE: 84 • Wellesley, MA
Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, 84, died on Sunday, December 4, 2011. Born in Camden, NJ, Dr. Avery was raised in Moorestown, NJ and her last residence was in Wellesley, MA. Dr. Avery is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, MA and Johns Hopkins University Medical School. She was a Physician, Researcher, Educator and the first woman to chair a major Department at Harvard University Medical School and the first woman to serve as physician-in-chief at the Children's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Avery is best known for her pioneering research efforts that led to the discovery of the main cause of respiratory distress syndrome in premature babies in 1959. In 1991 she was awarded the National Medal of Service by President Bush. Dr. Avery is the aunt of Sue Smith, William Smith and Jennifer Smith and the grand aunt of 7. She was predeceased by her sister Jane Avery Smith.
Services will be held in the First Presbyterian Church, 101 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown on Friday, December 9 at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, donations to in Mary Ellen Avery's name may be made payable to Children's Hospital Trust, Attention: Mary Conway, 1 Autumn Street #731, Boston, MA 02215 for the Mary Ellen Avery Investigatorship Fund at Children's Hospital Boston.
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Memories and Condolences
for Mary Avery
5 Entries
December 9, 2011
Norma & I were very saddened to hear of Mel's passing. We first met her at Hopkins some 50 years ago and she was a tremendous influence on our lives; for me, medically and for both of us, personally. I was her first post-doctoral fellow ( as she would often quip:
" There were no other candidates !"). Her legacy is legendary and her contributions to the field of neonatology and international child health, either directly or through a multitude of trainees was immense and internationally recognized. We will miss her. Our sincere condolences to the family.
Victor Chernick,
Professor Emeritus,
Dept.of Pediatrics & Child Health,
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Canada
Matilda Smith
December 8, 2011
What wonderful memories I have of Mel and our friendship, beginning at Wheaton where we were roommates, and continuing at Hopkins and through the years. She was a marvelous and fun human being, devoted to her family , friends and colleagues. We will all miss her. Til Snelling Smith
Susie Thurmond
December 8, 2011
I feel blessed to have had Mel as my godmother, and will forever treasure the little time I got to spend with her. Her gifts from around the world were eyeopening for me as a young child, and as an adult I was even more impressed by all of her accomplishments. My condolences to her nieces and nephew-thanks for sharing her in small part.
December 8, 2011
Our condolences to the family,
It is comforting to know that our Creator promises that we can look forward to the time when sickness and death will be completely a thing of the past. Our loved ones will hear Jesus' voice and come out to be reunited in peaceful, paradise conditions. 2 Pet. 3:13
John Torday
December 7, 2011
Mel will always be with us because of her mentoring,leadership and wisdom. I try to reciprocate everyday, but will never be able to fully 'repay' the favor and honor of having worked with her. If only there were more Mels in the world.
John S. Torday, MSc,PhD
Professor,
Department of Pediatrics and
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Director, The Henry L. Guenther Laboratory
for Cell/Molecular Research
Director,Laboratory for Evolutionarypreventive Medicine
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Phone: (310)222-8186
FAX: (310)222-3887
http://evolutionarymedicine.labiomed.org/
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