Medical pioneer.
Born at Windsor, Ontario on 21 September 1925, middle of three children of Elizabeth Dale and Edward K. Lewis, the family moved to Winnipeg in 1936. He attended Laura Secord School, Gordon Bell High School, United College, and the University of Manitoba, graduating from the latter with a BA degree.
After completing a course in Medical Laboratory Technology in 1944, she joined the laboratory of Henry Bruce Chown to develop methods and protocol for an Rh laboratory. She is credited as a co-founder of the RH Lab and, with Chown and John Maxwell “Jack” Bowman, the Winnipeg Rh Institute in 1969. She served as Scientific Director of the Rh Lab, Section Head of Blood Group Serology at the Health Sciences Centre, and Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics at the University of Manitoba.
In recognition of her contributions to Manitoba's medical community, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an honorary member of the Canadian Medical Association. She received a Manitoba Centennial Medal (1970) and an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg (1986). She was inducted into the Order of Canada (2019) and Order of Manitoba (2020).
She died unmarried at Winnipeg on 18 October 2025.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 1 November 2025.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 1 November 2025
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