Marin Women's Hall of Fame

One Honoree's Experience

Lois B. Epstein, M.D., D.Sc.(h.c.)

September 10, 2002

            The phone rang on an afternoon in early December.  “Is this Dr. Lois Epstein?”, a female voice asked.  “This is she”, I said, using correct grammatical but awkward language, thinking all the time that I was probably going to hear some sales pitch.  But there was something different about the caller, first, because she pronounced my name correctly and second, because she spoke with a warm, friendly voice and didn’t at all sound like a computer!!  She continued, “You don’t know me, but I am Carol Shellenberger, calling to tell you that you have been elected to the Marin women’s Hall of Fame!!  At that point in the conversation I was so flabbergasted, surprised, and overwhelmed that I sat down, grabbed a piece of paper and started writing down all the information that she told me, including the fact that I had been nominated by Dottie Breiner, a friend of mine, for many years.  Thus started one of the most heady experiences in my life, and one that my family and I will treasure for many years to come.  And it started on the day when I was already feeling very upbeat because our daughter, Joanna, had left early in the morning for her first interview at a medical school.

            My heart soared as I hung up the phone, and I promptly called my husband and family!  Within a week I received a long detailed letter explaining that I would need photos for an article in the IJ, that I would meet the other honorees and our respective liaisons and our Mistress of Ceremonies, Johanna Willman, at Anne Latta’s home on January 12^th, that I should bring photos from my life for a photo montage video, that I should be prepared to be photographed again by a professional photographer, Marilyn Mulkeen, that I should bring a guest list for the big dinner to be held on March 21^st, and that a short biography of my life would be prepared by Jeanne Lese.  The letter went on to say, and I quote “Later we’ll talk to you about the biographical video taping part of the Hall of Fame.  It feels as if we’re in overload right now.” What an understatement that was!! …. but something was bothering me…the letter also said that I would have only 3 – 5 minutes to talk at the big dinner!!

            A few days later I received a letter from Virginia Souders-Mason explaining about the types of photos to bring to the January 12^th meeting for the photo montage video---I was particularly intrigued that the photos were to span my entire life and that having family members and political figures in some pictures is considered a good thing.  There was no doubt in my mind that I would include many pictures of my family and a picture of me taken at my 50^th high school reunion with one of my favorite classmates, Michael Dukakis.  But my husband also urged me to include a picture taken at a scientific meeting in Rome where, because we were both speakers and sitting in the front row we had the opportunity to be photographed shaking the hand of the Pope---for all of 15 seconds where I just had time to blurt out, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your holiness!”

            I was warmly greeted at Anne Latta’s house and was especially pleased to meet my liaison, the Reverend Carol Shellenberger, Interim Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Petaluma, and several of the other members of the Board of Directors of the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame, each of whom were gracious and informative.  You see, I had very little prior knowledge of the members of the Hall of Fame, its organization, its history and its previous awardees.  I therefore asked Pat Warren, another member of the Board, if she would send me a videotape of a previous award ceremony and dinner.  She sent me the video of the events in 1999 where I was much to my amazement Winifred Baker leading the entire assemblage in song and Patty Garbarino being cheered on by several tables of relatives as she bubbled over with joy!  But strangely enough none of the 4 honorees limited their remarks to 3 or even 5 minutes!!

            An so, between January and the big dinner in March I had the pleasure of being interviewed by dear Beth Ashley, for the IJ, and interviewed and photographed by newly acquired friends, Deirdre McCrohan and Diane Smith for The Ark.  And I was barraged with many good wishes from friends and family in the form of phone calls, cards, notes, letters, flowers, and even a tree planted in Israel and the donation of money to an organization called the Heifer Project International, for the purchase of a goat which would be given to an impoverished family for the production of milk, butter, cheese and yogurt.  That period of time actually provided me with the opportunity to relive portions of my life, and in doing so, it prompted considerable discussion with members of my nuclear and extended family, and many stories and much family lore were remembered.  For example, a cousin recalled hearing my mother singing to me at my first birthday party as I sat in my high chair, “Jack and Jill went up the hill and you will be a doctor”!  Memories long forgotten were rekindled, aspirations, refreshed, and dreams for the future given voice and better definition.  Also, during this period of time my husband and I had the pleasure of hearing my liaison, Carol Shellenberger, give a lovely sermon at her church in Petaluma.  This helped me to get to know Carol much better.

            The big nigh came on March 21 at the Embassy Suites.  I was given a lovely orchid, I was surrounded at several tables by my nuclear and extended family and friends, thanks to the kindness of Board member, Julie Grantz, who was responsible for the seating arrangements.  I was also delighted to meet some of the family and friends of the other 4 distinguished honorees, Melba Beals, Grace Hughes, Mary Taverna, and Kate Hacker.  I did give my talk but I hope I will be forgiven for talking for all of 10 minutes!!  But the excitement kept going---we all received letters of commendation from Barbara Boxer, Lynne Woolsey, Joe Nation and the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

            On July 10^th , the hottest day of the year, I found myself being interviewed for my oral history video by Heidi Kuhn, an incredible woman who has devoted herself to ridding the world of land mines and replacing them with grape vines!  We were in the studio of Steven Kuever at Drake High School with kind and generous Virginia Souders-Mason who was plying us with refreshing cold water and words of encouragement.  That’s when I really got to talk---for almost an hour---but I was told they would trim it to 30 minutes!

            An so it’s now September 10^th, some 9 months after that call from Carol and I’m still talking, still enthusiastic, still very thankful for the honor, and very appreciative of having the total experience and the opportunity to meet and make new friends among the women who are honored and the women who direct the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame.  To come full circle, I would like to report that our daughter, Joanna, is now a first year medical student at Harvard Medical School!!  Thank you all very much.