In Memory of

Miriam

Frances

Rossi

(Senhouse)

Obituary for Miriam Frances Rossi (Senhouse)

ROSSI, Dr. Miriam Frances -
Peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. Miriam, dearly beloved wife of Renato Rossi. Beloved mother of Arthur and his wife Christina. Loving grandma of Alexander, Zachary, Luca and James. Dear sister of Muriel and her husband Howard Smalheiser. Dear aunt of Sharon, Adriana; Lawrence (Miyoko), Nagisa and Minami. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, where she completed her undergraduate degree, Dr. Rossi then earned a Bachelor of Science and a Masters Degree in Nutritional Science at the State University of Iowa. She worked as a Registered Professional Dietician and a Public Health Nutritionist and as a health educator for the City of New York before she entered medical studies at Howard University in Washington D.C. and graduated Cum Laude from Mount Sinai Medical School, The City University of New York, New York City, N.Y. She and her husband moved to Italy for a few years and she fulfilled the requirements for an Italian Medical degree and to practice medicine in Milan, Italy. Dr. Rossi is a FRCPC (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Canada) and a FAAP (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics). She is a pediatrician who has worked in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for more than 30 years. She was appointed Professor of Pediatric Medicine at the University of Toronto. For 13 years, starting in 1988, she was Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions at the University Of Toronto Medical School and was also a Registrar for the University of Toronto. During this time she cofounded the Summer Mentorship Program in Medical Sciences that brought underachieving minority high school students which are uder-represented at the University onto the campus for workshops, research experience and practical exposure in several different disciplines. Most of these students gained the confidence to apply and be accepted to programs in Health Sciences at various Universities. The success of the Mentoring Program at the Medical School prompted other Faculties of the University to institute similar programs. She also served on the Ontario Premier's Council for Health Strategy (1991-1998), The Trillium Gift of Life Network (the Ontario provincial organ transplant and donation agency), from 2004 to 2010, The Presidential Advisory Committee on Race Relations and Anti-racial Initiatives of the University of Toronto (1990-1993). She is a Trustee of the BBPA National Scholarship Fund and together with her husband has funded for many years the four Minerva Scholarships in memory of her grandmother. She has been the recipient of many awards: Ontario Psychological Foundation Community Service Award (1991), Harry Jerome Award for Professional Excellence (1997), The Vision Award for Excellence in Ongoing Community Education (1999), The African Canadian Achievement Award in Health Science (2002), The Keeper of the Flame Award for continuing support of culturally sensitive Health Science education for Black youth (2005), and recognized as one of the 100 accomplished Black Canadian Women (2016). Resting at the NEWEDIUK FUNERAL HOME, KIPLING CHAPEL, 2058 Kipling Avenue, (North of Rexdale Boulevard) on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and Monday from 6-9 p.m. Funeral Service Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 1 p.m. at All Saints Kingsway Church, 2850 Bloor Street West, Toronto with cremation to follow. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Black Business Professional Association Scholarship Fund would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com