Obituary for Genevieve E. Matanoski (Murray)
On Sunday, October 2, 2022, Genevieve Elizabeth (nee Murray) Matanoski passed away at Sinai Hospital. She was born on August 26, 1930 in Salem, MA to the late Genevieve E. (nee McNally) and James J. Murray.
Genevieve is survived by her children, Gregory J. Matanoski and his wife Debbie Lantry, Vincent J. Matanoski and his wife Carin Celebuski, Dennis F. Matanoski, Mary K. Herbig and her husband Richard and Joseph C. Matanoski. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Genevieve A. Matanoski. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings, Anne Wiseman and James J. Murray.
She was a trailblazer for women in science and public health. She was one of the first women to graduate from Johns Hopkins Medical School receiving her M.D.in 1955 and going on to specialize in Pediatrics. Her experience treating underserved children in Baltimore City led her back to school where she earned a Doctorate in Public Health, studying rheumatic fever in Baltimore City families. She went on to pioneer research in the field of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, becoming the first woman to head the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her research extended into many areas including risks from low level, radiation exposure, electromagnetic fields, health risks among workers in the paper, rubber, semiconductor, and painting industries, environmental exposure to chemicals such as arsenic and radon among others In a career spanning over six decades her fervent desire was always to protect children, workers, and others from disease and death.
Her interests and talents were many and varied, ranging from the arts to nature. She performed in community theater, sang in and directed a choir, and studied and performed opera at Peabody Institute. While in college at Radcliffe, she sang with the Boston Symphony, her powerful soprano voice prompting her college voice professor to suggest a professional music career She loved gardening and birdwatching. With her inquiring mind, she never met a puzzle she couldn’t conquer, whether it be sudoku, jigsaw, or crossword, including the Sunday New York Times. But her greatest joy and love were her family and spending time with them. A truly remarkable woman. And the most loving and caring Mom a family could ever have been blessed with.
A viewing will be at Eline Funeral Home, 11824 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136, Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9,2022 from 2 to 5 pm, with a prayer service on Saturday at 3 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 63 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, MD 21071, Monday, October 10, 2022 at 10 am. Burial will be at Highview Memorial Gardens in Fallston, MD.
Genevieve is survived by her children, Gregory J. Matanoski and his wife Debbie Lantry, Vincent J. Matanoski and his wife Carin Celebuski, Dennis F. Matanoski, Mary K. Herbig and her husband Richard and Joseph C. Matanoski. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Genevieve A. Matanoski. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings, Anne Wiseman and James J. Murray.
She was a trailblazer for women in science and public health. She was one of the first women to graduate from Johns Hopkins Medical School receiving her M.D.in 1955 and going on to specialize in Pediatrics. Her experience treating underserved children in Baltimore City led her back to school where she earned a Doctorate in Public Health, studying rheumatic fever in Baltimore City families. She went on to pioneer research in the field of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, becoming the first woman to head the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her research extended into many areas including risks from low level, radiation exposure, electromagnetic fields, health risks among workers in the paper, rubber, semiconductor, and painting industries, environmental exposure to chemicals such as arsenic and radon among others In a career spanning over six decades her fervent desire was always to protect children, workers, and others from disease and death.
Her interests and talents were many and varied, ranging from the arts to nature. She performed in community theater, sang in and directed a choir, and studied and performed opera at Peabody Institute. While in college at Radcliffe, she sang with the Boston Symphony, her powerful soprano voice prompting her college voice professor to suggest a professional music career She loved gardening and birdwatching. With her inquiring mind, she never met a puzzle she couldn’t conquer, whether it be sudoku, jigsaw, or crossword, including the Sunday New York Times. But her greatest joy and love were her family and spending time with them. A truly remarkable woman. And the most loving and caring Mom a family could ever have been blessed with.
A viewing will be at Eline Funeral Home, 11824 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136, Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9,2022 from 2 to 5 pm, with a prayer service on Saturday at 3 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 63 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, MD 21071, Monday, October 10, 2022 at 10 am. Burial will be at Highview Memorial Gardens in Fallston, MD.