Obituary: Herschel Woron Lawson - Atlanta Jewish Times

Herschel Woron Lawson passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, at the age of 84. He was born Dec. 6, 1940, in Seattle, Wash., the oldest of four siblings. Herschel attended Garfield High School in Seattle and received his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Washington. He later completed his Ob-Gyn residency at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in 1973 and became board certified in 1975. This led to 50 years of clinical obstetric and gynecological practice experience in both private and public settings.

Hersh retired in January 2009 from the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, at the CDC, where he had previously served as medical director of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for more than 10 years and as a clinical consultant to other CDC Cancer Division program activities since 1993. Following his retirement, he became Chief Medical Officer of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease and served an adjunct associate professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

He served as a general medical officer and Ob-Gyn in the Indian Health Service, which led to 12 years of private practice in Portland, Ore. He is an alumnus of the Epidemic Intelligence Service at CDC. At the Division of Reproductive Health, he was instrumental in formulating the federal guidelines for pap smears and the development of the HPV vaccine.

Hersh has authored or co-authored five textbook chapters, several publications for WHO and IARC, and more than 75 scientific articles published in both CDC and peer-reviewed journals. He has presented numerous abstracts in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. During his government service, he received many U.S. Public Health Service individual and group awards. He is a Life Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

For several summers in the 1980s, it was an honor for Dr. Lawson to volunteer as the camp doctor at B’nai B’rith Camp in Neotsu, Ore., near Lincoln City.

He has been extremely active at Congregation B’nai Torah in Atlanta and frequently led daily, Sabbath and holiday services. In addition, he has served as part of the Ritual Committee and was a pillar of the Atlanta Jewish community.

Hersh was a seasoned tenor with the Atlanta Jewish Male Choir with whom he proudly sang for more than 20 years. He began singing in his synagogue choir at eight years old, instilling a life-long interest in Jewish choral liturgy, following in a family tradition. Throughout his life, he has performed choral works from all periods since the renaissance in Jewish and secular choirs.

He was eternally curious and had a great thirst for knowledge and spirituality. He lived a life full of love, travel, teaching, sharing, learning, singing, and spending time with his extended family.

Hersh was preceded in death by his younger sister, Cantor Frances Lawson. He is survived by his younger sister, Dr. Linda (Don) Elman, and younger brother, Steve (Debbie) Lawson; his three sons, Erik (Kim) Lawson, Joe (Sharon) Lawson, Mark Lawson (Evan Shereck); grandchildren, Sam, Milo, Jacob, Zev and Ori; his partner, Carol Wolf, her sons, Josh (Sharon) Wolf and Adam (Katie) Wolf, and grandchildren, Issac, Jeremy, Hazel and Maggie; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 3 p.m., Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Herschel’s memory to Congregation B’nai Torah, the Milo Gray Guild Fund at Seattle Children’s Hospital, or the charity of your choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

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