BLOOMFIELD, CONN.—Dr. Louis Mendelson, 79, of Bloomfield, Connecticut passed away on December 26, 2019.
He was the beloved husband of Margie and father of David and Andrew. He also leaves behind his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, whom he thought of as his brothers and sisters, his loving nieces and nephews, and his many wonderful friends. He was the son of Abraham and Jeanette Mendelson, and pre-deceased by his sister Elaine Levin.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Louis attended Vanderbilt University and the Medical College of Virginia. He served his pediatric internship and residency at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. After serving two years in the United States Air Force, he completed his fellowship in Allergy and immunology at UC San Diego. He began clinical practice in Hartford in 1972.
Louis’s life was committed to caring for his patients and teaching his students and colleagues, many of whom regard him as family. His passion for patient care and public health matters led him to the heights of his profession. He was widely considered a national expert on penicillin allergy.
In addition to his 47 years as a practicing pediatric allergist, Louis was a dedicated teacher at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford Hospital, and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he was the former Head of the Allergy division and Co-director of the Food Allergy Clinic.
Toward the end of his career, Louis helped establish the New England Food Allergy Treatment Center. Furthermore, his lifelong efforts to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment of penicillin allergy culminated in the establishment of AllerQuest, a company formed by a group of experts in the field to fulfill this goal.
His skills and accomplishments have been recognized by the Connecticut Allergy Society, where he served as president, and the New England Society of Allergy, where he was president and an original organizer and Governor. Throughout his career, Louis received many awards of which he was proud and grateful. Among the most meaningful to him was the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and immunology’s distinguished Clinician Award.
Funeral services were held at Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford, Connecticut. Following interment at Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, the family returned to Emanuel Synagogue.
Of all his interests, few things were dearer to him than the work he did as the first chairman of the AAAAI Allergy Research Trust, which is dedicated to the support of clinical research and ongoing educational programs for clinicians and patients. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Louis Mendelson ARTrust Lectureship c/o the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and immunology, 555 E. Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, Wi 53202-3823 or at www.aaaaifoundation.org (Mendelson Lectureship), or a charity of the donor’s choice.