Maya Pines Froomkin

Maya Pines Froomkin, an accomplished journalist who wrote with great clarity about complex topics in psychology, child development, brain research, and the medical sciences, died June 16, 2024 at age 96.
Writing as Maya Pines, she was the author of two acclaimed books: "Revolution in Learning: The Years From Birth to Six" in 1967, which made the case for greater intellectual stimulation for the nation's young children; and "The Brain Changers" in 1973, about advances in brain research.
She also co-authored two books: "Health and Disease," with scientist Rene Dubos in 1965; and "Retarded Children Can Be Helped," with photographer Cornell Capa in 1957, which was the first book written about parents who advocated for their children with intellectual disabilities.
She had a long and celebrated career as a freelance writer for top publications, including Life Magazine, Harper's, the New York Times Magazine, and the Washington Post Book Review. She was a staff writer at the New York Times and a contributing editor to Psychology Today.
She served 11 years as senior science editor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where she wrote and edited highly regarded booklets aimed at the general public describing enormous advances in the biomedical sciences, including human genetics, cell structure, and the senses. More than a million copies of those publications were distributed, many to high school and college classrooms.
Her husband of 59 years, the economist Joseph Froomkin, died in 2019. She is survived by her sons Michael and Dan, and three grandsons.
Service to be scheduled at a later date.