Published in the October 26, 2018 edition

CAMBRIDGE — Dr. Eveline E. Schneeberger, 84, died in her apartment at Cadbury Commons in Cambridge on Thursday, October 18, 2018 after a brief illness.

She was an amazing woman who lived a very full and productive life and will be remembered for her intelligence, elegance, and independence, as well as being somebody with the courage to speak her mind.  

Eveline, was born in The Hague, Holland, to Werner and Elsa (Graf) Schneeberger. From grammar school through high school, the family lived, for varying periods of time, in Indonesia, Australia, South America, Switzerland and the United States where they settled in Colorado. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Colorado, and continued on to the University of Colorado Medical School where she earned her M.D. degree. After interning at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis, she continued eastward to complete her residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.  

In addition to being a successful clinical pathologist, Eveline was an accomplished researcher. She began her research career by “hopping the pond” to work as a Research Fellow at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford, England. Returning to the United States a year later, she continued as a research fellow in the Pathology Department at Harvard Medical School and at the Harvard School of Public Health.  

Eveline next moved her laboratory to Boston Children’s Hospital where she began her research on the barrier function of the lung. Several years later, she was appointed Professor of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital where she continued her research until her retirement 30 years later. She was an author of numerous research papers and served as a grant reviewer for the NIH. She was recognized nationally and internationally for her studies on lung ultrastructure.  

As dedicated to her research as she was, Eveline still found time to be her other self. She was an avid reader, who loved art, live theater and chamber music, often attending performances available at the Harvard campuses and Symphony Hall. Throughout her life she enjoyed hiking through the mountains and forests in the western states and later in northern New England.  

In her later years Eveline became focused on conservation issues and the welfare of wild and domestic animals. In addition to making donations to environmental causes and animal welfare organizations, she walked across the street from Cadbury Commons each day to Danehy Park where she scattered scraps of bread and crackers to ensure that the neighborhood birds and squirrels, were well fed.  

Eveline had two families, one she referred to as her Swiss Family and the other, her American Family. In Switzerland, she leaves behind her sister, Anne Ris, her brother-in-law, Peter and her niece, Elisabeth. Each year, Eveline traveled to Switzerland where she enjoyed celebrating the Christmas holiday season with them. She will be missed greatly.  

Eveline’s American family came into being as a result of her association with a colleague and friend, Bob Lynch, of Batchelder Street in Melrose. This association evolved into her becoming an “honorary member” of the Lynch family. For 50 years she enjoyed participating in festivities during holidays, birthdays, graduations and marriages. This obituary would be incomplete without mentioning Eveline’s extra special, magical relationship with the Lynch family dog, Maggie. The excitement spontaneously bursting forth from both whenever they met was truly remarkable. She will be greatly missed by Bob, Mary, their four children, seven grandchildren extended family, and Maggie.  

Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., followed by a service at 7:30 p.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to mspca.org or massaudubon.org. To leave an online message of condolence please visit gatelyfh.com.