Dr. Iolanda Einstein Low passed away peacefully on Christmas Day at age 94 in her Newton, MA, home of nearly 70 years. Dr. Low was born in Milan, Italy and left for the U.S. with her family ahead of World War II. She earned a full scholarship to Stanford University, and in 1949 married Herbert Low who had also fled the Holocaust from Austria. Herbert supported her in becoming one of the earliest women to graduate from Harvard Medical School in 1953.
Dr. Low worked for more than 20 years in infectious disease and early AIDS research at Harvard Medical School and Boston City Hospital while raising her three children. After turning 50, Dr. Low completed her medical internship and residency finally achieved her goal of becoming a practicing physician. She worked at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital until her retirement. She was an avid traveler and life-long teacher, instructing first at Harvard Medical School and later at Tufts Medical School. In retirement, she volunteered for the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Iolanda was a long-term member of the Austro-American Association of Boston and avid supporter of the Scholarship Awards Program. She was a very active member and held events in her charming home in Newton, MA., and made many dear friends.
Iolanda leaves behind her three children, Patricia (Husband Michael), Robert (Wife Jackie), and Jacqueline Chee (Husband John); four grandchildren Andrea, Jessica (Husband Andrew), Elisabeth, and Christopher; a great-granddaughter Juniper; and her sister Renata Clark.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.