Elizabeth V. Lautsch, 91, researcher, pathology professor

Elizabeth V. Lautsch, 91, a researcher and former pathology professor at Temple University School of Medicine, died of pneumonia Monday, March 14, at Palm Gardens Nursing Home in Sun City Center, Fla.

A native of Manitoba, Canada, Dr. Lautsch moved to Philadelphia in 1954 to join the faculty of the former Woman's College of Medicine. She later joined the faculty at Temple Medical School.

She received several Golden Apple awards from Temple for excellence in teaching, and in 1968 the senior medical students dedicated their yearbook to her and another faculty member. "She loved teaching, and her high ethical standards were admired by both her colleagues and her students," a daughter, Denise Moylan, said.

After leaving Temple in the late 1970s, Dr. Lautsch taught at New Jersey Medical College and at Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Then, for five years, she taught at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, where she developed a pathology department for female medical students.

She returned to the United States in 1985 and lived in West Chester before moving to Florida in 1990.

She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Manitoba and a medical degree from Laval University in Quebec City in 1944. After graduating, she practiced medicine in Northern Canada and treated native Eskimos.

Dr. Lautsch completed a residency in pathology and earned a master's degree in 1952 and a Ph.D. in 1954 from McGill University in Montreal. Her dissertation led to the acceptance that reducing cholesterol was immensely important to good health, her daughter said.

Dr. Lautsch, who lived in Poland for eight years as a child, was proficient in German, Ukrainian, Polish, and French. She published research on atherosclerosis, heart valves, and coronary embolisms, in professional journals. She was a former member of the President's Council of Immaculata University.

In addition to her daughter, Dr. Lautsch is survived by another daughter, Victoria Halstrick; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson. She was predeceased by her former husband, Jack Baverikos.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at St. Katherine of Siena Church, Lancaster and Aberdeen Avenues, Wayne. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken.