Helene Horwitz Obituary (2008) - St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Horwitz, Helene Marian, age 66, passed away at her home in St. Louis Park on Oct. 24, 2008 following treatment for a brain tumor. Helene was born on April 8, 1942 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Gertrude Weisberg. She is survived by her husband, Charles; three children, Karyn, Martin (Stacy), Michael; four grandchildren, Kelli, Adam, Xavier and Quinn. Helene received an undergraduate degree in History from Finch College in New York City in 1961 and a Masters in History from the University of Pennsylvania in 1963. Helene married her first husband, Hans Rudnick in 1963 eventually settling in Carbondale, Illinois and conceived three children. From 1967 to 1978 Helene worked at the medical school at Southern Illinois University (SIU) as a coordinator of medical student affairs and admissions. In 1978 she received her PhD from SIU in higher education with an emphasis in academic administration and planning. In 1982, Helene moved to Minneapolis and worked at the Minnesota Medical Foundation (MMF), from 1982 to 1989, where she was director of student aid and related programs. In 1984, she married Charles Horwitz, a Minneapolis pathologist. Helene was appointed Associate Dean for student affairs at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1989 where over the years she worked with 19 separate classes of medical students. Helene represented the Medical School since 1992 on the very important Student Scholastic Committee that monitors the progress of students toward graduation. Match Day, the White Coat Day ceremony, and spring graduation were always the high points of Helene’s academic year. Helene’s leisure time was spent with her family, including her two loyal golden retrievers. She enjoyed travel, reading, computer games, Masterpiece Theater and golf. Over the years, Helene often commented about how lucky she was to have such a rewarding job. She spent her entire career aiding and mentoring medical students. It was thus natural that she would encourage her family to set up a scholarship fund as one of her final projects. So, in lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Helene and Charles Horwitz Scholarship Fund for Altruistic Medical Students, c/o Minnesota Medical Foundation, 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55455-2030. Funeral service SUNDAY 3:30 PM, HODROFF-EPSTEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 126 E. Franklin Ave., Mpls. A memorial service at a later date will be held at the University of Minnesota Medical School.