Mary Steichen Calderone was honored as Humanist of the Year in 1974 for her active promotion of sex education for the general public. She began her work in 1953, when she was appointed medical director of Planned Parenthood. Her concern for the need of sex education led her to help establish the Sex Information Educational Council of the United States in 1964, for which she has served as executive director, 1964-1975, and as president since 1975.

Dr. Calderone earned a BA from Vassar (1925), an MD from the University of Rochester (1939), and an MPH from Columbia University (1941). She has been a visiting professor, lecturer, and scholar in many universities. In addition to her 12 honorary degrees from colleges and universities, Dr. Calderone has received more than 15 awards and honors, including the Woman of Conscience award from the National Council of Women (1968), and the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood (1980).

She has written and edited several books, including: Release from Sexual Tensions (1960), and The Family Book About Sexuality (1981), and numerous articles for many publications.

--Lloyd Kumley
The Humanist of the Year Book 1953-1991