Mary S. Calderone

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Devoted to Global
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Mary S. Calderone, M.D., was internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of human sexuality. She was former President of the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States, which she co-founded in 1954, and for which she was Executive Director and President until 1982. From 1953-1964, she was the Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

She was an Adjunct Professor, Program in Human Sexuality, in the New York University Department of Health Education. Her writings included: Questions and Answers About Sex and Love; Sexuality and Human Values; Manual of Family Planning and Contraceptive Practices; The Family Book About Sexuality, and Talking With Your Child About Sex.

She was noted in major publications such as 50 Most Influential Women in America and America's 75 Most Important Women. She was also listed in the World Almanac among the 200 Most Influential People in the World. Awards honoring her vast contributions include such acknowledgments as Lifetime Achievement Award from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe/Harvard; Browning Award for Prevention of Diseases, American Public Health Association: Margaret Sanger Award, Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Elizabeth Blackwell Award for Distinguished Services to Humanity and many others.

She had received twelve honorary doctorates from such notable institutions as Columbia, Brandeis, Adelphi, Dickinson, Bucknell and Hofstra Universities.

Dr. Calderone was the mother of three daughters, a grandmother of three and a great-grandmother of three. She passed away in October 1998.

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