Fay Hirsowitz

Fay (Segal) Hirsowitz, MD of Brookline at age 96. Devoted wife of the late Louis. Beloved mother of David Hirsowitz & his wife Moira and Geoffrey Hirsowitz and his wife Deborah. Loving grandmother of Darren & his wife Nicole, Ryan & his wife Lindsay, and Pnina and great grandmother of Victoria and Zachary. Dear sister of Sylvia Navon and the late Reuben, Sidney, Pearl and Norman Segal. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Hirsowitz served that entire community for over 40 years as an Internal Medicine Specialist, and Deputy in Charge of the Department of Medicine at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, the world’s third largest hospital. Not only a respected individual, but a humble one as she was one of the first female physicians and professors in South Africa, and one who worked so hard to overcome the barriers of discrimination and political oppression of the non-White population in the Apartheid era. Dr. Hirsowitz was a pioneer and unknowingly an advocate for women and civil rights. During her career, Dr. Hirsowitz was honored with a War Medal and an Africa Service Medal as she served as a Captain in the Fulltime Volunteer Forces in the South African Medical Corps during World War II. Upon immigrating to the United States, she began to volunteer as an ESL instructor at the Edward Devotion Public School in Brookline for many years, as well at the Congregation Kehillath Israel Nursery School. Fay felt her best when helping others and her dignified, kind and elegant soul will be dearly missed. Graveside services at Lindwood Memorial Park, 497 North Street, Randolph on Sunday, November 19th at 1:00PM. Memorial observance at Deborah & Geoffrey’s home in Brookline Sunday 4-8PM, continuing on Monday and Tuesday 4-9PM. Remembrances may be made to Congregation Kehillath Israel Next Generation Fund, 384 Harvard Street, Brookline.