Marian Elizabeth Olansky, M. D.

Marian Freehafer Olansky was born in Washington D.C. in 1918 and grew up there.  She was a wonderful student.  She attended George Washington University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1940.  She graduated from medical school in 1944, also from George Washington.  She completed training in Pediatrics in Washington, then Pediatric Allergy at Duke University.  Between 1947 and 1952, she gave birth to 4 children.  In 1959, she joined the faculty at Emory University in Pediatrics.  She ran an allergy clinic at Grady Hospital for 27 years.  She taught medical students at Grady, Emory and at Egleston Hospital.  She was Egleston’s Chief of Pediatric Allergy for 20 years.  She was devoted to her patients and would frequently spend long evenings in the emergency room caring for kids with asthma and for their frightened parents.  She was named Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in 1986.

Her interests outside of medicine were many and varied.  She loved books, music, and art.  She had an encyclopedic memory for plants, flowers, butterflies, and for nature in general.

She had 4 children; Leann Olansky M.D., Alan Olansky M.D., David Olansky M.D., and Ad Olansky Ph.D..  She had 3 grandchildren; Charles Cope, Anna Olansky, and Adam Olansky.  She was looking forward to her first great grandchild at the time of her death.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Sidney Olansky M.D..

She died peacefully in her sleep on 5/17/10 from complications of Parkinson’s disease and age.  Arrangements via A.S. Turner and Sons.  Visitation will be Sunday, 5/23/10 from 1-3p.m. with private graveside service to follow.