This beautiful Obituary was submitted by Aaron R., a close and valued friend of Edith Shain..

Edith Shain died at her home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 91.  She is universally recognized as the VJ Day Times Square Nurse.  The iconic picture of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square in 1945 not only represents the end of WWII but also the beginning of the Baby Boomer generation.  The picture has appeared on the front cover of LIFE Magazine more than any other photo and is celebrated as the most recognized photos of the 20th century.
Born in NYC on July 29, 1918 to a Turkish explorer who was featured in Geographic Magazine as one of the greatest explorers who travelled the world by foot.  He ended his journey when his traveling partner was malled by a Bangladesh tiger.  Edith. at only 4 foot 9. attended NYU during 1945 to obtain her nursing degree with intentions of joining the service as an Army Nurse after graduating.  She worked at the then prestigious Doctor's Hospital (which no longer exists) as a psychiatric nurse.  When she heard the news on the radio that WWII had ended, her nursing friend, Lucille, and she went to Times Square that morning to celebrate as the Nation would later collect.  When she exited the subway with her girlfriend, an unknown sailor grabbed and kissed the then 27 year old nurse which was photographed in spontaneity by the acclaimed LIFE Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstadt.  The picture appeared as an inside small picture that encapsulated the historic day the following month in LIFE Magazine.  Edith, who subscribed the the magazine at the time, was "embarrassed" when she saw the photo of herself and would not tell the world who she was until she wrote to Eisenstadt ("Eisie" as she would call him) in 1982 and told him she was the famed nurse that held the curiosity of millions throughout the decades.  Eisie would testify that Edith was indeed the mystery nurse in the photo and they became good friends until his passing at the age of 98 years.

Edith moved to Los Angeles, California in 1947 and became an elementary school teacher.  Over a dozen men over the decades had written to Edith claiming to have been the sailor.  In retrospect, Edith would laugh and tell her public that she simply did not know who the sailor was because her eyes where closed.  "It was a long long kiss, but I figured since he was fighting for our country, I would let him kiss me."  The kiss became immortal and is even resilliant amongst today's youth.  The image recently appeared in the movie "Night Out At the Museum."  Edith attended the 60th anniversary of the celebration of VJ Day in Times Square which is celebrated August 15th.  The President to the Times Square Alliance claimed that it was the largest attendance of photographers in any event he had seen in the city.  Edith accredited her good health and longevity to a healthy diet, cardio exercise and a good attitude.  She was grand marshall of numerous parades commemorating Veterans nationwide, she laid the wreath at the WWII tomb in DC, and has appeared in numerous television appearances.   She received a proclamation from the President of the United States claiming the photo to be a symbol of world peace.  A 25 foot statue was erected in San Diego, California of the famous kiss by the acclaimed artist Seward Johnson of Johnson & Johnson.  People who know the picture loved the photo, however, when people met Edith personally, they found out that the historic iconic figure was just as beautiful as the photo itself.  She is survived by her three sons, grand-children, great-grandchildren.