LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow of Kingsbridge, New York, died on
May 30, 2011, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow distinguished herself in her
profession and by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to
the welfare of her community; and
WHEREAS, A 1941 graduate of Hunter College, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow,
began her career in science by teaching physics at the University of
Illinois, where she was the only woman out of the 400 people at the
facility; and
WHEREAS, Rosalyn Sussman married her husband Aaron Yalow in June of
1943; the happy couple purchased a house in Kingsbridge, New York, and
she taught at Hunter College; and
WHEREAS, In 1947, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow joined a laboratory at the
Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital where she worked with a small
grant to develop the hospital's radioisotope service; and
WHEREAS, In the 1950s, this remarkable woman developed radioimmunoas-
say, a technique for detecting extremely small amounts of hormones in
the blood and made it possible to screen the blood of donors and babies
for diseases; it is also responsible for major advances in diabetes
research as well as helped scientists measure other substances in the
body including drugs, enzymes, and viruses; and
WHEREAS, The extraordinary work of Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow in devel-
oping radioimmunoassay eventually earned her the Nobel Prize for Medi-
cine in 1977, making her only the 2nd woman to ever win a Nobel Prize in
medicine or physiology; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman was elected a Fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and 10 years later received the
National Medal of Science; and
WHEREAS, An active member of the Kingsbridge Center of Israel, a syna-
gogue on Corlear Avenue, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow was commended with an
auditorium dedicated in her honor; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow's commitment to excellence, and her
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, includ-
ing charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow is survived by her two loving chil-
dren Benjamin and Elanna, and two wonderful grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow.