Joan A. Kadish, M.D., age 83, passed away on February 17, 2011, at Avalon Health Center in Mystic after a period of declining health.
She was born in New York on June 3, 1927, to Molly and Benjamin Karen, M.D. She graduated from the A.B. Davis High School, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Hunter College, and subsequently worked as a medical laboratory technician. She traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend medical school in the 1950s.
There she met and married her life partner, Manuel E. Kadish. Following his graduation, they returned to his home country, Canada, and she completed her medical studies at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.
After a few years as a primary care physician, she moved to Montreal for specialty training in diagnostic radiology. There she joined the teaching staff at the Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, for several years.
In 1969 the family relocated to Norwich, and she began a long career as a radiologist at The William W. Backus Hospital which lasted until her retirement in 1990. Joan was a dynamic and fascinating woman with diverse interests. She took up scuba diving and underwater photography in her 50s. She was a lifelong opera fan and Saturday afternoons were always devoted to listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. Joan loved traveling and told stories of adventures from places like Sri Lanka and Papua, New Guinea. She was an avid gardener and a whiz at puzzles of any sort. She read widely and could always be counted on to be up on the latest literature. She had a soft spot for animals, adopting many stray cats over the years. She always welcomed relatives and friends in her home for as long as they cared to stay.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Manuel Kadish, M.D. of Mystic; her children, Thomas Kadish of Groton and Rebecca Kadish, M.D. of Hollis, N,H.; her grandchildren, Jessica and Daniel Levine of Hollis; her sister and brother-in-law, Roberta and Kenneth Nieberg, M.D.s of Los Angeles, Calif.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at Temple Emanu-El Synagogue, 29 Dayton Road,Waterford.
Memorial donations may be made in Joan's name to The Otis Library.
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