Announcements
Uwe Ernst Freese, M.D.
May 11, 1925 – August 12, 2010
May 11, 1925 – August 12, 2010
Dr. Uwe E. Freese, a retired OB/Gyn, passed away peacefully at 85 on August 12 after many years of living with Lewy Bodies Syndrome.
Dr. Freese was the oldest son of Heinrich and Frieda (Lessau) Freese. He married Gabriela (Friederici), DDS, in 1961 and they enjoyed 49 years of marriage. He is survived by his children Axel (Lisa) and Pamela (Jill Allread); grandchildren Kristofer, Jens-Peter, Annika, Maximus, Jared, and Nina; siblings Waltraut Mehrens and Ruth Corsvandt; brother-in-law to Reinhild (Simon) Freese, Erica (Bachem) Friederici, Renate “Nina” (Friederici) Gottschlich. He was preceded in death by his older sister Anneliese Ekholm and younger brother Ekkehard. He was a loving uncle to Gregory and Paula Hinrichsen; Hans-Arist, Klaus-Ullrich, and Corinna Mehrens; Tim and Kai Schumann; Bertil Ekholm; Claudia (Friederici) Peterson, Peter Friederici, Andrea (Friederici) Ross; and Bettina, Beate, Peter, and Thomas Gottschlich.
Dr. Freese was born in Bordesholm, Germany. He survived WWII and overcame many hardships to pursue his dream of studying medicine, graduating from the University of Kiel in 1952. He then came to the United States in 1953, sponsored by the Ventnor Foundation. Dr. Freese completed his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago, remaining on the faculty until 1977 when he became Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Chicago Medical School (then the Finch School of Medicine) in North Chicago, IL, retiring as Professor Emeritus. His clinical resume also included serving as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL for many years, a position he found both challenging and rewarding. During his professional tenure he delivered more than 3,000 babies.
Passionate about academic medicine, his field of research was the human placenta, specifically the interchange of nutrients between mother and fetus. His many research interests extended to include newborn medicine and pathology. He was a proud member of honorary societies including the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA), the Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI), The Scientific Research Society Sigma-Xi, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as well as the Illinois State Medical Society and American Medical Association. He loved his profession and enjoyed working with medical students, particularly as a teacher and mentor. Dr. Freese also traveled as a university lecturer both domestically and abroad. He was honored to have been granted a sabbatical in 1970 at the University of Hannover in Germany. At the University of Beijing he and colleagues worked to refine the cervical cap as a viable and affordable contraceptive, work for which he held 8 patents.
After his retirement, Dr. Freese and his wife traveled frequently, visiting many wonderful places and family in Australia and Europe. He took great pride in the restoration of their historic Oak Park home, the Beachy House designed by F.L.Wright, after a fire caused extensive damage. He was a kind and generous man who always enjoyed time with family, parties, dancing, being in nature, sailing, and music. His favorite parting words to friends and family, “Take it easy, but take it!” were indicative of his life-long determination and innate optimism. He loved life, his family, and his profession. He will be missed dearly by all who had the good fortune to know him.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hemophilia Federation of America.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hemophilia Federation of America.
Dr. Karlis Adamsons passed away on January 8, 2010. Dr. Adamsons was a member of the SGI since 1965.
