Edward M. Kennedy: “the death of Mary Lasker last Monday is a great loss to the Nation. She dedicated her life and career to fighting…”

“the death of Mary Lasker last Monday is a great loss to the Nation. She dedicated her life and career to fighting disease and promoting medical research and better health care for the American people, and what an extraordinary job she did. Through her remarkable commitment, she became one of the most important, influential, and beloved private citizens in medical research in the Nation's history. Millions of persons in this country and around the world have benefited from her crusade to conquer disease and enhance the quality of health care for all people in all nations. Her accomplishments in advancing medical research are legendary. For half a century, the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation has honored and funded many of the world's greatest medical researcher scientists. The Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards are known throughout the world, and rank very close to the Nobel Prize in international prestige. In return for her tireless dedication, Mary Lasker received numerous well-deserved awards and honors herself, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest honor for a private citizen.”