Alma Kuby, a researcher specializing in social policy and health matters, passed away at her home on October 22 from pancreatic cancer. She was born in 1933 to Fannie and Sam Mazur in White Plains, New York.
Her educational background included an undergraduate degree in sociology from Antioch College in Ohio and two master’s degrees — one in sociology and another in business administration — both from the University of Chicago.
Throughout her five-decade career, Kuby focused on health and child welfare research. She directed studies for policy makers on issues such as drug use in minority youth, sudden infant death syndrome, foster care and attitudes about immunization. Her professional experience included positions at the University of Chicago Center for Urban Studies, the Hospital Planning Council for Metropolitan Chicago, the American Hospital Association, and the National Opinion Research Center.
During retirement, she volunteered as an advocate in domestic violence court and served on a federal advisory committee for the National Children’s Study. She resided in Hyde Park for 64 years.
She is survived by her husband Ray; sons Michael and Eric with their partners; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and her sister Marcia Elwitt.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested contributions to Antioch College or the Merit School of Music.