FLUORIDE 30 (2)  1997, p. 75	International Society for Fluoride Research	Table of Contents

IN MEMORIAM

Edith M Waldbott
October 5, 1903 - January 14, 1997

It is with a deep and heartfelt sense of loss that we report the passing of Edith M Waldbott, widow of George L Waldbott MD, the founder of our Society and long-time editor of our Journal. During the decade following Dr Waldbott's death in July 1982, Mrs Waldbott very ably and unstintingly edited and published Fluoride until 1992, when the present editor assumed this responsibility.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Edith Marks, daughter of a noted shoe manufacturing family, she was the middle child of four brothers. In 1921 she entered Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, as a scholarship student, where she received her BA degree in psychology and zoology in 1925. She then did post-baccalaureate research in embryology at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and later studied medical illustrating at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

During these years she met Dr Waldbott, who had recently begun his medical practice in Michigan, and they were married on June 18, 1927. They had two daughters, Edith, who lives in Michigan, and Betsy, who lives in Israel where she teaches English and writing.

With her special talent for architectural planning, Mrs Waldbott designed three of their own homes plus a charming rustic summer cottage. Among her other artistic interests were jewelry-making in enamel and silver.

Even as a housewife and mother, Mrs Waldbott put her training in science to good use. According to Dr Waldbott, "she assisted me in preparing my manuscripts ever since we were married. Her main interests had been in science, fine arts, antiques and of course the education of our two daughters."

In the early 1950s, Mrs Waldbott began looking into reports on biological effects of fluoride, especially in humans. She drew some of this information to the attention of Dr Waldbott, who became increasingly interested in it and soon undertook further study on his own. In 1954, much to his surprise, he encountered cases of serious reversible illness from fluoride in drinking water in his allergy practice that provided clear and unequivocal proof that Mrs Waldbott's concerns about the supposed safety of water fluoridation were indeed justified.

In 1955 Mrs Waldbott inaugurated National Fluoridation News as a bi-monthly source of documented information about research and events concerning water fluoridation. Writing most of it herself, she edited and published NFN for seven years before relinquishing it to Ethel Day in Hempstead, New York, who, with the assistance of her well-known illustrator husband, Robert Day, continued it from 1963 to 1985. Publication of NFN was then continued by Shirley Graves in San Anselmo, California, but it ceased publication, unfortunately, in 1988.

After Dr Waldbott began our journal Fluoride in 1968, Mrs Waldbott devoted increasing amounts of her time to revising and editing manuscripts submitted for publication. This challenging task she continued untiringly for ten years after Dr Waldbott's death, under her modest self-imposed title of "Interim Editor".

Intensely devoted to a genuine practice of her Christian faith, Mrs Waldbott was a constant source of inspiration and trust to all who knew her. Her keen mind was that of an inquiring scholar anchored in courage and persistence. But, perhaps most of all, she will be remembered for her warmth and kindness toward everyone she met as well as for her love of truth, beauty, justice, goodness, and integrity.

Mrs Waldbott lived a very uplifting and fulfilling life. She was looking toward her eternal reward when she died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Rochester Hills, Michigan, at age 93. Besides her two daughters, she is survived by four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

For much of the foregoing information the writer is indebted to Dr and Mrs Waldbott's grandson, Arne Wadenstierna, and to their daughter, Betsy Ramsay, who helped with the transition period of this journal in 1991.

AWB

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EDITORIAL NOTE: This issue of Fluoride contains an expanded Discussion Section, because of the very welcome response by members and readers to our invitation to them, in the November 1996 number, to comment on the varying views expressed in our past editorials and in letters to the editor, on controversial subjects related to fluoride research. We believe such discussion can be a valuable contribution to the scientific process.

JC

FLUORIDE 30 (2)  1997, p. 75	International Society for Fluoride Research
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