Emily Dudek (née Pitcher), aged 87, left this earth peacefully on Wednesday morning, August 14, 2024. Born on January 21, 1937, in Boston, MA, Emily lived a life full of purpose and strength, leaving an indelible legacy through her professional achievements, personal passions, and unwavering devotion to her family.
Emily was a trailblazer, earning her doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University at a time when few women pursued such careers. She balanced her demanding academic and professional life with raising four sons while serving as a professor at both Wellesley College and Brandeis University. Her impact on her students and colleagues was profound, and she was a recipient of the Louis Dembitz Brandeis Prize for Excellence in Teaching, notably the only chemist to receive the honor during its first 21 years. Her legacy continues through the Emily Dudek Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award, established in 2016 at Brandeis.
Despite the rigors of her career, Emily was deeply committed to her family. She instilled a love of sports and adventure in her sons, teaching them how to throw a baseball and ice skate, as well as sharing her enthusiasm for Boston’s beloved sports teams. Her sons remember fondly how she balanced her professional accomplishments with moments of joy and play, from cheering on the Red Sox to lacing up skates on frozen ponds in the winter.
Outside of work and family, Emily pursued her passions with equal energy. She was an avid bird watcher, an enthusiastic tennis player, and a devoted bridge player, activities she enjoyed well into her later years. Gardening was a particular love of hers; she took great pleasure in tending to her flower beds, creating beautiful displays that brought color and life to her home.
Emily is survived by her devoted husband, Gerald Dudek; her four sons: Robert, Stephen, Raymond, and John Dudek; her daughter-in-law, Andrea Thies; and her cherished granddaughters, Sasha and Isabelle Thies Dudek. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucile C. and Robert B. Pitcher, and her sister, Lucile C. Jones.
The George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home in Wellesley, MA, is assisting the family during this time. Please join friends and family for a celebration of Emily Dudek’s life on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 2-4 pm on the 3rd floor of the Carl J. Shapiro Science Center at Brandeis University. The campus address is 415 South Street, Waltham MA 02453.
Emily Dudek’s legacy of intellect, strength, and love will forever inspire those whose lives she touched.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Emily Dudek Undergraduate Teaching Award fund by sending a check to: 415 South Street, Chemistry Dept. MS 015, Waltham, MA 02454. Please include "Emily Dudek UT Award" on memo line of check.