Obituary: Meredith E. Drench, PhD., PT, 63

Meredith E. Drench, PhD., PT, 63, of East Greenwich, passed away peacefully on May 17, at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence.

A graduate of Boston and Northeastern Universities she earned her Doctorate at Union Institute and University and was a professor of physical therapy at Northeastern, Dr. Drench was also an author and a popular lecturer in physical therapy and behavioral sciences and was known for her sharp wit and humor. She worked with health care facilities, associations, agencies and universities, including the Veterans' Administration in Boston.

She was born in New York City and grew up in New Jersey. Dr. Drench wrote Red Ribbons Are Not Enough, about health professionals caring for people with AIDS, published many articles and was co-author for three editions of Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care. As a physical and behavioral therapist, she worked and taught all over the world.

Dr. Drench served as president of Western New England Region Hadassah and was a past president of the Rhode Island Hadassah chapter and a member of the National Board of Directors of Hadassah. She was a judge for both the National and Rhode Island Academic Decathlon and was an active participant in Boston University alumni affairs, including the Meredith E. Drench Lecture Series, the Rhode Island Project AIDS and the AIDS Seder.

Dr. Drench was the daughter of the late Daniel and Madeline Drench of New Jersey, and is survived by her partner, Paula Hurd of East Greenwich; her brother and sister-in-law, Peter Drench and Anne Ferguson, nephew Zachary Drench and nieces Jessica Drench and Sarah Ferguson of Massachusetts; and her extended family, including many cherished friends and colleagues.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at the Quidnessett Country Club, 950 North Quidnessett Road, North Kingstown. Contributions in her memory may be made to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904; and to the Dr. Meredith Drench Memorial Scholarship, c/o WNER Hadassah, 200 Reservoir St., Suite 103, Needham, Mass. 02494.