Meet Mary Dore

Mary Shuman Dore was one of the initial eight families that banded together in 1961 to find others walking their journey of child loss so no one would have to walk alone.  

Mary lost her fourth child, Christine, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (“SIDS”) in 1961. As a result of this tragedy, she was instrumental in raising money for SIDSresearch and starting one of the nation’s first foundations dedicated to searching for the causes of what was then called crib death.

“Mary was a disturber of the peace, and she was always right,” said Dr. Abe
Bergman, a noted Seattle pediatrician. “She was more important to SIDS than anyone in the world. Her doggedness helped people realize they did not kill their children. That’s what triggered the whole research movement, not by doctors but by laypeople like Mary. With her compassionate heart, she was the single most important person in the field.” He said through Mary’s work and state money, Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center set up the largest SIDS research project in the world.

Every year NISSA awards the “Mary Dore Heart of Gold Award” to an individual or business that has shown an exceptional commitment to NISSA and its mission, that every child should celebrate their first birthday, and beyond, free from unintentional death and injury.