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By Lucky Gold & Richa Naik, CNN
When Rita Levi-Montalcini was born in Italy in 1909, girls were expected to marry and have children, but Levi-Montalcini wanted to be a doctor.
Despite her father’s opposition, she graduated from medical school, ready to devote her life to science and research.
However Levi-Montalcini, who was Jewish, was banned from pursuing that dream when Benito Mussolini and the fascists came to power. But that didn’t stop her.
She turned her bedroom into a laboratory, risking her life to conduct research in secret. Levi-Montalcini’s solitary work led her to see what other scientists had missed – a crucial factor that allows cells to grow and develop.
After the war, she came to America to continue her research, creating a new way of understanding conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
In 1986 Levi-Montalcini shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. She continued to work even after her hundredth birthday, making her the oldest living Nobel Laureate.
“At one hundred, I have a mind that is superior, thanks to experience, than when I was twenty,” she said.
Rita Levi-Montalcini died this week at the age of 103. She never married or had children, but leaves behind a legacy of courage and discovery.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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What a woman of courage
My mom would have loved this story. She passed away two years ago, at the age of 85, and was herself a doctor and a pioneer in her field. Fortunately, her father encouraged her a lot, he was so proud of his two daughters who became a doctor and a lawyer, respectively, and his son, a notary. I admire this other lady who just passed away a lot as well. I am sure my mom and her will enjoy chatting up there in paradise!
Nathalie
Canada
Wow! That's human spirit, self-determination, the I Am of God within us. She might have passed, but will never die. Blessings.
Wonder how many more stories like this that we don't know about?
I admire this woman of courage and self determination; her legacy will forever live on
i love that woman but she don't have to leave a life without childern
Not only was she a great scientist, she was also a kind person, never arrogant, never full of herself.
she was an onorary member of the Italian Senate, now that she has gone the IQ and the moral standard of the Italian Parliament has dropped dramatically.
Her last battles were for the young scientists, for the future of scientific research in Italy.
She will be dearly missed by many young and notsoyoung people, she was a model of engagement for Science and for Italy.
Reblogged this on sandrapeets.
I am writing from the southern part of the African continent. This is a story I will certainly be sharing with my daughters, as it shows that patriarchy knows no boundaries nor cultural backgrounds. My mother was denied an opportunity to beyond primary school as it was felt then that educating a woman was not beneficial for the family as she is going to be married off. My mother promoted education for not only her own kids but others in the family and community. Let's ensure that the work initiated by Dr Levi-Montalcin, Malala and others of empowering women through education is vigorously pursued by us all.
i've read her book 'old age doesn't exist' [along with articles about growth factors in endocrinology] & considered that the mind has no boundaries & no age [as the biological corp] :the spirit can stay forever young, as long as you stay open for new ideas & constantly change your view & opinion; mind can adapt to a ever-changing world as long as you allow your brain to assimilate new knowledge & reconsider previous ideas. we won't be 'old' as long as we incorpporate 'young' fresh thoughts into our mind: [the spirit s] 'wider than the sky' [G.Edelman, another neurobiologist- nobel laureate]
I much prefer recognition of people with great minds then stories of idiots with celebrity status.
Good