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MARION LEWIS
Born: Sep 21, 1925
Date of Passing: Oct 18, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMARION LEWIS
Marion was born on September 21, 1925, in Windsor, Ontario and moved to Winnipeg in 1936 with her parents, Edward K and Elizabeth (nee Dale) Lewis, older sister Helen and younger brother Ted, now all deceased.
Here she received her formal education at the Laura Secord Grade School, the old Gordon Bell High School, United College and the University of Manitoba (BA, Isbister Scholar). On completion of a course in Medical Laboratory Technology (RT) in 1944, she was hired by Dr. Bruce Chown to develop methods and protocol for a Rh Laboratory. Later he credited her with being co-founder of the "Rh Lab", and with him, David Bowles QC and Dr. J. M. Bowman, of the Winnipeg Rh Institute in 1969. Her subsequent positions included those of Scientific Director of the Rh Lab, Section Head of Blood Group Serology (Health Sciences Centre) and Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics (University of Manitoba).
Marion was a Charter Member of the Genetics Society of Canada (1956) and a contributing member of a number of professional associations, as well as being an external referee for several scientific journals and Granting Agencies. Her final publication in 1995, including book chapters, was her 187th. She felt particularly honored to be guest speaker at the Inaugural Meeting of the Victorian Immunohaematology Discussion Group in Melbourne, Australia (1982) and to Chair the 1st International Workshop on Monoclonal Antibodies in Paris, France (1987).
For her research in the fields of Immunohaematology, Human Genetics, and Physical Anthropology, Marion was recognized locally: Teddy research Award, CHRF (1986), DSc (Honoris Causa), University of Winnipeg (1986), Professor Emerita, University of Manitoba (1996) and Order of Manitoba (2020), as well as nationally: Honorary Fellow, Canadian College of Medical Genetics (1987), Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Science (1993), Honorary Member, Canadian Medical Association (2006) and Officer, Order of Canada (2019), and internationally: Merit Award, American Association of Physical Anthropologists (1959), Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award, American Association of Blood Banks (1971), La Médaille de la Ville de Paris (échelon argent) (1987), and the Emily Cooley Memorial Award, AABB (1995).
Marion's 53-year career with the Rh Lab was interrupted at length only once: in 1950-51 she took a year off to spend four months cycling in Europe, the next four on a course in Art History at L'Universita per Stranieri, Perugia, Italy and the final four working at the Lister Institute in London for funds to pay her way home. In retirement she has devoted her time to the enjoyments of reading, of attendance at the splendid selection of Performing Arts accessible to Winnipegers, of caring for her grounds, and especially of the company of her Labs and a few close friends. Her presence will be missed by them and by her nephew Dan Lewis of Tofino, BC, and niece Beth Regehr (DVM) of Vernon, CB. Cremation has taken place.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 01, 2025
