Isabel Drane Wolf's Obituary
Isabel Drane Wolf departed this world peacefully with family members by her side on December 3, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. She was 81 years old and was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 21, 1933.
Isabel was a devoted mother who will be missed by her children and grandchildren.
Isabel is survived by her son August Wolf, granddaughter Abigail, and grandsons Alexander, Andrew and August Junior of Stamford, Connecticut; her daughter Erika Wolf, partner Liya Tukhvatulina and granddaughter Dina of Dunedin, New Zealand; her daughter Isabel Wolf and grandson Oliver of Boca Raton, Florida; her sister Mary Brauer of New Milford, Connecticut. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Victor Lechowich, her former husband Walter August Wolf, her brothers Arthur Drane and Edward Drane, and her parents Louis Drane and Mary Whalen Drane.
Isabel received her Bachelors of Science in 1955 from the Simmons College, Boston, followed by her Masters of Science in Home Economics in 1971 at the University of Minnesota.
While raising her children, Isabel returned to school for further scientific training and pursued an exemplary career as a food scientist and policy advisor in a field dominated by men. She worked in the Department of Food Science at the University of Minnesota, where she advanced to the rank of Associate Professor and established a reputation as a leading national authority on both nutrition and home food preservation. During the 1980s, Isabel served as an Undersecretary in the United States Department of Agriculture.
Following her time in Washington, Isabel and her husband Richard Lechowich established the National Center for Food Safety and Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she served as the Communication and Marketing Director.
In retirement in Gainesville, Isabel and her husband Richard developed strong friendships with other lovers of art, food, and music. They enjoyed travel, gardening, classical music, reading, and cooking. Both Isabel and Richard were docents for the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at The Village Retirement Community Chapel in Gainesville.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Isabel’s name to the Association for Women in Science, 1321 Duke Street, Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 22314 (http://www.awis.org).
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