Eleanor Doris Stoy was a very close friend of Alice Silverman in the later years of high school and when they were at UC Berkeley 1916-?.
Note that her witness is her friend and fellow traveler, Alice Silverman, and that she is a secretary at the Lick Observatory.
Dear Alice,
As you see I am in the hospital above. I felt I should write you in case of emergency so that you might not be too shocked in case of misfortune.
About six weeks ago I discovered a lump in my left breast – went immediately to the doctor – he diagnosed cancer and I began X-ray treatments every day and tomorrow surgery. I fully expect to come out of the anesthetic minus left breast and under-arm glands – but also perhaps the biopsy will show up a harmless growth and the worst will not happen.
I am so vividly reminded of you in this hospital. Sisters have charge but the nurses are not nuns. There are priests and monks around – I teased Ross3 saying I would ask extreme unction tonight. Ross is bearing up well and has helped with everything. We have a woman who is staying with George and Ross, and I am hoping she will stay for the some 2 months after the operation.
What I started to say about being reminded of you here is the plethora of religious pictures and statues all about the halls and rooms and waiting rooms which give an atmosphere of Old-World cathedrals.
George2 is now a big 11-year old. I suppose your three are almost young people and no longer children.
No more for now. I think of you with such happy memories, dear Alice, and wish we might have seen each other through these last 10 years. Love – regards to Hugo
Sincerely
Edith
—Monday, May 18, 1942, 2301 Bellevue Queen of Angels Hospital
Footnotes
1. Edith Mary Thomas (1896-1943) – Alice and Edith had been very close and went to Europe together…she introduced Alice to Hugo. She died 14 January 1943.
2. George Smart, her son.
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