Mary Ann Pass

Mary Ann Blair Pass, M.D., M.P.H., 66 years old, died on Saturday afternoon, February 28, 2015. She was attended by her family after a courageous struggle against metastatic breast cancer. Her life was full of love for her family, joy of gardening, and service to the children of Alabama, particularly children with special health care needs.

A Birmingham native, Dr. Pass was an honor graduate of Banks High School class of 1966. She attended the University of Alabama on a science scholarship where in 1970 she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She was admitted to the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine as one of just a few women in her class, was inducted to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1973. She completed a combined Pediatric Residency at Stanford University and UAB and then completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and earned her Master of Public Health degree at UAB.

Dr. Pass served briefly as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UAB before beginning her public health career at the state of Alabama Department of Public Health, serving as Health Officer for Shelby, Blount, Walker, St. Claire and Chilton Counties. In 1985, she became Deputy Health Officer at the Jefferson County Department of Health where she served for 10 years. In 1995, she joined the faculty of UAB School of Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, as an Associate Professor where she conducted research and taught graduate students on topics ranging from health care systems to immunizations and global health until her ultimate retirement in 2014. She also consulted the State of Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services for several years to improve health care programs for children with special needs.

Dr. Pass was preceded in death by her parents Frank Furman Blair, Jr. and Geraldine Patterson Blair. She is survived by her two children, David Pass, Ph.D., and Rebecca Pass Philipsborn, M.D. and her husband Jonathan Philipsborn; her two grandchildren Michael and Claire Philipsborn; one sister Nancy Blair Smith and husband Scott R. Smith and one nephew Haden Frank Smith.

Funeral services will be at Canterbury United Methodist Church in the Chapel on Wednesday, March 4 at 11:00 am with Rev. Dixon Mitchell officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:15 AM to 11:00 AM at the church. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Canterbury United Methodist Church or the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.