Margit Hamosh

Dr. Hamosh survived the holocaust. She was born in Germany but spent the war years in Romania and immigrated to Israel in 1950. While pursuing her PhD from Hadassah University in Jerusalem, she met her husband, Paul Hamosh, and they married in 1954. Dr. Hamosh had a long and distinguished scientific career that focused on the study of human milk and neonatal digestion. In 1970, she discovered lingual lipase, a digestive enzyme. She moved to the US in 1965 for a scientific sabbatical at the National Institutes of Health. She enjoyed her work and stayed in the US and at NIH until 1974 when she began her tenure at Georgetown University, where she retired in 1998 as Professor Emerita.

A devoted wife, she is survived by her husband Paul Hamosh. They were married for 57 years and enjoyed a lifelong romance, sharing a home, family, office, and scientific career always together. An exemplary and affectionate mother, she is survived by her children, Ada Hamosh, Leora Hamosh, and Tamar Hamosh Taddei. Each followed her in the pursuit of an academic career in medicine and science. She was cherished by sons-in-law Harry Dietz and Christopher Taddei and grandchildren Nina Dietz and Livia, Charlotte, and Thomas Taddei who will miss their beloved “Oma.” An only child, she diligently cared for her mother, Clara Segenreich, until her death in 2009 at the age of 101.

Dr. Hamosh’s hobbies included travel and the fine and performing arts. She traveled all over the world with Paul, and they availed themselves of every opportunity to go to the museums and attend the performing arts at home and abroad. She made many friends during her travels and scientific collaborations and these friendships have endured for decades. She possessed a “joie de vivre” unlike anyone else and an infectious, intelligent charm that captivated friends and family alike.

The funeral will be held on Sunday, November 6 at 1:30 pm at Danzansky-Goldberg Memorial Chapels, 1170 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. Interment to follow at Parklawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends immediately following the interment at the Hamosh home. They will observe shiva at the Hamosh home through Friday afternoon, November 11th. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Liver Research Fund at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Checks should be made payable to AASLD and mailed to: AASLD 1001 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 400 Alexandria, VA 22314; or make a donation online at www.aasld.org.