Prominent Rockland County physician, Dr. Maria Spinak passed away unexpectedly at Mount Sinai hospital, on Friday, July 19th. Born in Grodno, Poland, January 2, 1936 to Simon Plakes and Lisa Palkes.
Dr Spinak, graduated medical school in St. Petersburg, Russia and continued her study in a medical school in Lodz, Poland where she met, and married George Spinak – prominent professor of internal medicine.
In 1963, George and Maria had their first son, Andrew,and then emigrated from communist Poland to the USA in 1968. She taught herself English by reading dictionaries and medical books and after two years of study, Maria passed all the exams necessary to apply for work as a doctor in a hospital. During this time, Maria gave birth to her second son, Robert in 1969.
She was one of the first female physicians to obtain a residency position at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine after doing research at Metropolitan Hospital in NY.
Dr. Maria Spinak is one of the most accomplished ophthalmologists in the United States. She carried out research and published numerous papers in scientific journals. Her interest was in cytology and cornea infections. Maria has lectured abroad and at such prestigious universities and teaching hospitals as Harvard, Mt. Sinai and New York University. She was a Senior Attending Ophthalmologist at Nyack and Good Samaritan Hospitals in Rockland County, and she was an Assistant Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1976, Dr. Spinak opened a private practice in Pearl River, N.Y., which is now in the hands of her son, Andrew.
Dr. Maria is survived by her two sons, Dr. Andrew Spinak and his wife Sandra, Robert Spinak, Esq and his wife Jill. Five grandchildren: Alexandra, Nicole, Gabriella, Jack and Arielle. And her brother and sister in law, Marc and Sonia Palkes, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a wide circle of friends.
The Service will be held at Higgins Funeral Home on Sunday July 21st at 11:00AM. Shiva will be at the home of Dr. Maria Spinak on the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The family would deeply appreciate donations be made to the Montefiore Nyack Hospital Hospital, 160 N Midland Ave, Nyack, New York, or the American Heart Association, Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS), or American Friends of Hebrew University, in the memory of Dr. Maria Spinak.
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