Rute Medenis Obituary

Medenis M.D., Rute Before her death, Thursday, June 15th, at the age of 84, Dr. Rute Medenis was still practicing pediatrics by conducting research on pediatric HIV programs, educating medical students, and consulting for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Because of her abundant energy, her family referred to her as the bunny who never quits, but just keeps on going. Dr. Medenis was born in Riga, Latvia on November 29, 1921. In 1941, she began her medical studies a the University of Riga. During World War II, she fled to Germany, with the goal of reaching the American-occupied zone. Through her work assisting other refugees, Dr. Medenis was awarded a scholarship by the British government to study medicine at the Medical Academy in Dusseldorf, Germany, where she graduated in 1948. She worked in refugee centers for two years. After her marriage to Vidvuds Medenis, M.D., she immigrated to the United States in 1950. Her first two years in the United States were spent in a candy factory. In 1959. Dr. Medenis completed her pediatric residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital, before beginning her career at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While at the University, she established the Genetic Laboratory for Chromosomal Analysis and she published many articles on genetic and metabolic disorders in children. During her more than 35 years at the University of Illinois, Dr. Medenis served as the head of the outpatient pediatric clinic. She trained hundreds of medical students and medical residents. She was honored with the establishment of the Rute Medenis Award for Excellence in Pediatrics, which is awarded annually to one UIC medical scholar. Although her life's work was pediatric medicine, Dr. Medenis advocated living a well-rounded life, with appreciation fro history, literature, and the arts. She frequently lectured her students on developing interests far beyond medicine. An avid opera fan, Dr. Medenis held season tickets for the Lyric Opera for many years up until her death. She greatly enjoyed exposing her grandchildren to opera, ballet, and especially literature. Every holiday or birthday gift included a book. Survivors include her former husband, Vidvuds Medenis, M.D., her daughter, Ismene Munch Hearlston, her sons, John Medenis (Joanne Medenis) and Peter Medenis, and her five grandchildren, Kathryn, Larissa, and Michelle Medenis, and Alex and Evan Munch. Rute was preceded in death by her sister, Mirdza Nedzveckis and grandson, Derrick Munch. Funeral service Tuesday, 11 a.m., at Kuratko Funeral Home, 2500 S. DesPlaines, North Riverside, IL. Cremation private. Visitation Monday, 3 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Illinois Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, by mail, at 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL. 60601, by telephone, 800-FIGHT CF, or online at www.cff.org. For more information, call 708-447-2500