Anna Sanlow at work. [Historic Saranac Lake Collection. Gift of Jon Pabins.]Born: February 22, 1894, Austria [now Ukraine]
Died: October 6, 1976, Saranac Lake
Anna Sanlow was head of the X-ray department at the New York State Hospital in Ray Brook for 47 years. She first came to Ray Brook as a patient at the age of 13. At Dr. Harry Bray's suggestion, she trained as an X-ray technician and returned to work at Ray Brook, becoming a beloved teacher and pioneer in the field.
Note: her obituary notes her arrival at Ray Brook as 1916 at the behest of Dr. Harry Bray, but a 1960 article and several accounts from people who knew her indicate she was a patient at the facility prior to that time. It may be that she returned to Rochester to study, and then came back to settle at Ray Brook and make her career in 1916.
Excerpt from Wonderful Staff and Spirit Found at Ray Brook Hospital, by Roger Tubby -- Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 16, 1960
Miss Anna Sanlow, head of the X-Ray department, has more service than anyone, coming to the hospital as a school girl in 1913. One day Dr. Bray was impressed by her careful needlework and decided she'd make a good X-Ray technician. So, Miss Anna, a girl whose home had first been in the Ukraine, started on her life work of vital importance. Tony Brescia of Saranac Lake is one of her assistants.
Anna Sanlow -- Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 6, 1976
Anna M. Sanlow, X-ray technician at Ray Brook Hospital for 47 years, died early today at Saranac Lake General Hospital. Her home was at 9 1/2 Church St. Miss Sanlow was brought to Ray Brook by Dr. Harry Bray in 1916 and was considered one of the pioneers in the X-ray field. Her associates remember her especially for the sign she made for all her students which read, "Remember Bucky." Bucky referred to a grid used to filter out X-rays. She was born Feb. 22, 1894 in Austria, a daughter of John and Helen Pidsadochna Sanlow, and lived in Rochester before coming to Saranac Lake. Survivors, are a sister, Mrs. Pauline Waz of Rochester; a brother, Michael in Ukrania; two nephews, a niece, and several cousins. Friends may call, beginning Saturday, at the Keough and Son Memorial Chapel from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The Rosary will be said at 8 p.m. Sunday. Members of the Civil Service Employees Association of Ray Brook are invited to attend. The funeral service will be at 9:30 Monday morning at the chapel followed by a Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul at 10 a. m. at St. Bernard's Church. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery.
