I just found the obituary [1] and was considering replying with the "correct" quote, but did some more digging and discovered that you are absolutely correct [2]: the Times has, without notification, edited (some might say "airbrushed out") the original phrasing. Shameful.

[1]: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/science/space/yvonne-brill...

[2]: http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/yvonne-brill-and-...