Edith Shain

Edith Shain, The Iconic Nurse From Eisenstaedt’s WWII Photo Dies

 

Edith Shain, the nurse who became famous after Alfred Eisenstaedt published his iconic WWII photo in which an American soldier grabs and kisses her, died on Sunday at the venerable age of 91, in her Los Angeles home. The image captured on 14 August 1945 in Times Square, in New York, after the end of World War II became one of the iconic images that succeeded to capture the marvelous feeling that was flooding the nation after Japan surrendered. The photograph also appeared in Life magazine.

Alfred Eisenstaedt, who died in 1995 recalled the day when he took the photo, saying that he decided to follow the cheering crowd heading for Times Square. Fortunately he was in the right place at the right time, when Shain, who was a nurse at Doctor’s Hospital met the young soldier, who’s identity still remains unknown. In that second his gesture became a part of history.

Edith Shain leaves behind three sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.