Rochelle Newman Shain

Her passions included her family and traveling. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and would travel together when possible. She and her husband traveled the world and loved learning about the people and places they visited. One of their favorite places was Hawaii, where she was able to partake in one of her favorite activities - snorkeling.

Rochelle graduated from the Philadelphia School for Girls with a full tuition scholarship to The University of Pennsylvania. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Spanish and International Relations. During her undergraduate years, she received a Hebrew Teachers Degree from Gratz College and taught Hebrew School.

Rochelle spent her undergraduate summers with relatives in Mexico City to attend The National Autonomous University of Mexico. She also lived in Israel for a year, spending the summer on a kibbutz and attended Hebrew University for the remainder of her time.

Upon returning to the States, she attended The University of California at Berkeley where she met her husband, Sydney A. Shain. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Anthropology. During this time, she also taught Hebrew School and returned to Mexico City for an additional summer to study The Role of Dowry in Jewish Families.

Rochelle returned to Israel with her husband and received a grant from The National Institute of Mental Health to conduct fieldwork on kibbutz life. Rochelle and Sydney then moved to San Antonio, Texas where she did Post Doctoral work at UTHSCSA in Reproductive Physiology and Contraception.

Rochelle remained at UTHSCSA for her entire career, retiring after 39 years as Professor Emeritus. During her tenure, she was fully funded by NIH and/or CDC for her work on STI prevention and reproductive health (including NEJM, et al).

Rochelle passed peacefully at age 79 of metastatic breast cancer. She was surrounded by her family. She wanted everyone to know she was at peace and looking forward to her next adventure.

She is survived by her daughters, Jordana Shain Pazin and her partner, Romeo Villarreal; Lara Shain Mire and her husband Doug Mire; and her grandchildren Miles Shain Pazin, Nia Renee Mire, Mason Fielding Pazin, and Brynna Shain Mire.