Sophie C. Koch-Weser

KOCH-WESER, Sophie C. Of North Andover, formerly of Wellesley Hills, May 21, 2010. She was born in Shanghai, China on April 3, 1930 to the late Carl Schwender and May (Fuchs) Schwender. Sophie had a career in architecture, focusing on medical facilities planning. She graduated in 1954 from the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was instrumental in the development of neighborhood health centers throughout New York State, and in Boston she opened Medical Facilities Planning Associates in the 1970's. She also traveled widely as a health facilities consultant to other countries. In 1997, Sophie moved with her husband Dieter Koch-Weser to North Andover where she was an enthusiastic and beloved member of the Edgewood Retirement Community, active in the initial design and development of Edgewood, and became president of the Residents' Council and then a member of the Board of Trustees. She is survived by her husband, Dieter Koch-Weser, MD, her twin sister, Annie (Schwender) Boss, and two daughters, Carol-Ann Koch-Weser and Suzanne (Koch-Weser) Anderson, and six grandchildren. An open service to remember Sophie will be held at Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 3 o'clock pm. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Sophie may contribute to the "Foundation of the Thoracic Society" of the American Lung Association, indicating "Tobacco Control Activity" at 61 Broadway, 4th floor, New York City, New York 10006.