Helen Santis

1936 - 2019

Helen (Rosenzweig) Santis, May 12, 1936 | March 8, 2019, of Acton, formerly of Concord. Daughter of Philip and Gertrude Rosenzweig. Raised in Brooklyn, New York and then New Haven, Connecticut. Helen attended Simmons College in Boston and dental school at Tufts University, where she met her husband and the love of her life, Martin (Marty) Santis, a medical student also studying at Tufts University. Together, they traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and Herlong, California while Marty was an intern/resident, then in in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. They returned to Ann Arbor where Helen was a fellow with the American Association of University Women at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Helen and Marty ultimately settled back in Massachusetts to raise their children and pursue their professional passions. Helen spent the majority of her career at Tufts Dental School, teaching oral pathology and working tirelessly behind the microscope to diagnose oral cancers and other diseases, leading so many patients to treatment and a healthy life. During this time, she rose to become a Clinical Professor and acting chair of the department of oral pathology. Helen served as the faculty advisor to the Tufts Dental School womens student group and enjoyed the annual brunch she hosted at home, with Marty in the kitchen. As a testament to her teaching and her dedication to students, Helen often heard from former students and enjoyed coffee and lunch dates to catch up with them, even decades later. Helen had tremendous skills in so many areas outside of her professional endeavors. She was an expert at handcrafts, including sewing, knitting and several types of needlework. Helen was also an avid cook, collecting all of our favorite recipes and creating a family cookbook, and a political junkie, watching and listening to educate herself about issues and candidates alike. But, more than anything, Helen was devoted to her family and especially to her four cherished grandchildren. She loved spending time with them, whether at family brunches and dinners or on the many family vacations and holidays. She was blessed that most of the family lived just down the road so she was never too far away for a chat, some knitting lessons or a batch of brownies. Helen was a real force. She will be remembered most for her tenacity, dedication to work and avocation alike, and her love of family. Helen is survived by her son David and his wife Kathi (McRoberts), daughter Susan and her husband Brett Neal, daughter Elizabeth, grandchildren Emily Santis, Alexandra Santis, Jessica (Neal) and her husband Matthew Mackos, and Zachary Neal, her brother-in-law Milton and his wife Florrie Ebner, her sister-in-law Irene and her husband Lester Hahn, and eight beloved nieces and nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her sister Regina (Rosenzweig) Ebner and her brother Harry Rosenzweig. The funeral for Helen Santis will be held on Monday, March 18th at 11:00 am at Kerem Shalom, 659 Elm Street, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 (978) 369-1223. Please join the family for lunch at a reception to be held at Kerem Shalom following the service. Burial will be a private event. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Association of University Women. www.aauw.org, 1310 L St. NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 785-7700. Thank you. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in her online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.