JEANNIE M. PEDLOW

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JEANNIE M. PEDLOW Jeannie McKenzie Pedlow, 53, State College, Pa. died Thursday, November 13, 2003 at Hershey Medical Centre, Hershey, Pa., after a sudden onset of illness. Born March 16, 1950 in Winnipeg, she was the daughter of Duncan A. and the late Edna Tully McKenzie, both lifelong Manitobans. Prior to graduating in 1968 from Silver Heights Collegiate High School in St. James (Winnipeg), she had volunteered at Deere Lodge Hospital, where her father, himself a war veteran, was a social worker. In 1970, she received a bachelor of Home Economics degree in nutrition at the University of Manitoba. She served a dietetic internship at Winnipeg General Hospital 1971, and was mentored by Margaret Perkins, who became her lifelong sister. From 1971 to 1974, she held various positions as a Clinical Dietician and Lab Instructor at Winnipeg General and her University. In 1974 she moved to Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburg, Pa. and by 1977 she was at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, where she earned two degrees in 1978 a master of Public Health in Epidemiology and in 1982 a doctorate of Public Health. While in Pittsburgh she married George W. Pedlow III, and gave birth to Margaret Elizabeth "Meg", John Wesley McKenzie "Mac" and Bonnie Jean, who survive in State College. From 1988 to 1990, the family moved to Georges hometown of Lock Haven, Pa. where she devoted her time to raising her children, while consulting as a Clinical Dietician at Lock Haven Hospital. In 1991 she began work at Penn State and received a succession of appointments as Research Associate with the Penn State Nutrition Centre, The Gerontology Centre, and The Centre of Locomotion Studies. This culminated with her 2002 appointment as director of the Office of Fellowships and Awards in the Graduate School. Her work at Penn State prompted a family move to State College in 1996. Dr. Archterberg of Penn State said he believes "the work that most touched her heart, however, was the work we did in the Nutrition Centre with young children and their families." Jeannie had at various times had been a member of the American Dietetic Association, and maintained registered dietitian status through that organization, the Canadian Dietetic Association, the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology, the Society for Nutrition Education, board chair of the Nurtury in Woolrich, Pa. and Sunday school teacher at Great Island and State College Presbyterian churches in Lock Haven and State College, respectively. The characteristic that is most remembered about the way she lived was selflessness. Her professional career was dedicated to helping others through her research, managerial skills, and personal interaction. Those with whom she worked were impressed by her integrity, work ethic, and ability to liven up the office. Whenever she involved herself, people openly responded to her warm personality. Her sense of humour flowed through everything she did. Despite holding a full time job and being active in the community, to her, the most important work was her family. She provided everything as a wife and mother. She was a classic "soccer mom" for her children, rushing to soccer practice and games, band and choir rehearsal practice, concerts, parades, gymnastics, dance, and PSU football to see the Blue Band. She is survived, in addition to those named, by her brothers family, David and Carolyn McKenzie, and nephews Duncan and Diel, and cousins. As the auto-immune disease that claimed her progressed, she said in her typical epidemiologic fashion "Im going to get to the bottom of this." So that we can now scientifically pursue what she cannot, contributions are requested to the "Jeannie McKenzie Pedlow Memorial Research Fund," 202A Kern Building. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802. Memorial services will be Monday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the State College Presbyterian Church, 132 West Beaver Ave., State College. Officiating will be Rev. Charles Curley and Rev. Joel Blunk. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the Yost-Gedon Funeral Home, 121 W. Main St., Lock Haven.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 15, 2003