Northwestern Remembers Lou Boshes

Northwestern Remembers Lou Boshes

Dollie’s Corner, the leisure reading room of the medical library at the Feinberg School of Medicine, seemed an especially appropriate setting on January 20 for the Northwestern community to remember loyal alumnus and renowned neurologist Louis D. Boshes, MD. Holder of two degrees from Northwestern (BS 1931, MD 1936), Dr. Boshes died November 9, at age 95.

Speaking at the memorial service attended by colleagues, friends, and family members, James Shedlock, director of the Galter Health Sciences Library, called Dr. Boshes “a great friend of libraries.” He and his wife, Natalie, helped support two medical libraries in Chicago, establishing the Natalie A. and Louis D. Boshes, MD, Library of the Neurosciences at his alma mater and the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he professor emeritus of neurology.

Dean Lewis Landsberg, MD, noted that it was “hard to imagine a more loyal son of Northwestern” than Dr. Boshes, who had served as his medical class representative for 67 years. The dean showed a framed certificate Dr. Boshes had given him, designating Dr. Landsberg as an honorary member of the Class of 1936. Northwestern University President Henry S. Bienen, who was in the audience, wore one of the ties Dr. Boshes had given him—it was purple, of course.

Neil J. Stone, MD, professor of clinical medicine, was a student of Dr. Boshes and then later his friend and personal physician. “Lou was a gifted teacher,” Dr. Stone commented. “He had a teaching point for me and the medical students during each visit….even during his last illness.”

Other speakers were John A. Kessler, MD, Boshes Professor and chair of neurology, and Alan Levy, Dr. Boshes’ stepson.

Following medical school graduation, Dr. Boshes, completed internship and residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He joined the Northwestern medical faculty in 1938. After serving in the Navy in World War II as a lieutenant commander, Dr. Boshes returned to Northwestern, where he remained until 1963. From 1963–78 he directed the epilepsy consultation clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Until his death, he held appointments at Cook County and Michael Reese Hospitals as senior attending emeritus in neurology and psychiatry.

Author of more than 400 monographs, journal articles, book chapters, and scientific abstracts, Dr. Boshes lectured worldwide. His lifelong interest in the history of neurology led him to establish the Rhea and Louis D. Boshes, MD, Lectureship in the History of Neurology at Northwestern and UIC. In 1999 he received the Alumni Medal, the highest honor awarded by Northwestern to an alumnus.

Dr. Boshes is also survived by wife Natalie; daughters Arlene, Judy, and Renee; and six grandchildren.