Rothman to Royal Society

From the June/July 2019 issue of Medicine@Yale:

"James Rothman, PhD, chair and Sterling Professor Cell Biology, and professor of chemistry [in addition to being Yale College 1971 BR], has been named to the Royal Society. a fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists, and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.  He is one of seven foreign members announced in April.  Rothman shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on how molecular messages are transmitted inside and outside of our cells."

Congratulations, Jim!

 


News from Christopher Little

Having retired from photojournalism after many assignments and great fun, I've turned to fiction in my dotage. My debut novel is out at last. Ever So Silent: An Emma Thorne Mystery can be found at http://bit.ly/EverSoSilent, should you be interested (review appreciated). Kirkus Reviews called the book "... nerve-wracking. A high-quality murder mystery with a labyrinthine plot and a memorable heroine." Greg Schmidt (who is married to Jenny Lyman '72) wrote: "Fine New Cop on the Block. Welcome Emma Thorne to the pantheon of small town cops who punch above their weight. And welcome Christopher Little to the club of those who craft self-assured, well-researched procedurals with characters whose fate you care about (which includes both compellingly flawed good guys and evil creeps). Little clearly knows his territory - decaying small town New England - and paces the introduction of technical and historical and cultural nuggets so that they contribute to and don't digress from the rollicking and suitably twisty plot. Hard to believe this is Little's first mystery. Hope we see another Emma Thorne installment soon."

I trust this finds everyone well. My wife of forty years, Betsy, and I live in Northwest Connecticut. I still cut down our firewood and do the things country-folk do. And I am still a volunteer EMT and former chief on our local ambulance squad. I rarely get into my birth city, New York. We live a few miles from my only daughter, Eliza (Yale Forestry and Yale Public Health), her Canadian sculptor husband, Bevan, and their brilliant five-year-old daughter, Charlotte (seen here reading a proof copy). To all of you, I send my very best. Finally, thanks dedicated 71ers for this fine website.


Darryle Pollack - 1949-2019

Doreen Gluckin passes along this sad news:

Andy,

It is with a very heavy heart that I am forwarding this obituary to you. Darryle was, as Steve Cushner commented on Facebook recently, “one of the most beloved members of our class since her first day in New Haven”.

I feel that the world seems smaller and less colorful without Darryle and her positive energy in it. Her charm, smile and yes, her amazing hair, will be sorely missed. But I am grateful that I knew her and thankful that she had so many “extra” years after her breast cancer. May her memory be for a blessing.

With warm regards,
Doreen


POLLACK, DARRYLE Born August 19, 1949, died peacefully at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family on May 25, 2019, after a lifetime defined by creativity, storytelling, bravery, laughter and love. Darryle was born in Miami Beach, Florida, the eldest child of Irving and Marcella Pollack, and grew up in the resort city with an intellectual and creative bent encouraged by her parents. She attended Cornell for two years before transferring and graduating from Yale in the first class that included women. Darryle worked on George McGovern's presidential campaign before she returned to Miami to begin a career in journalism. She was a pioneer in women's reporting and worked as a news anchor for CBS station WTVJ-Miami (and later for KCBS-Los Angeles). During a television interview in Miami, Mel Brooks found out she was single, and suggested she go on a date with Brooks' manager, Howard Rothberg. Shortly thereafter, Darryle married Howard and moved to Los Angeles, where they had two children: Alison ("Alice") (b. 1984) and Daniel (b. 1988). After her divorce, she married Vaughn Feather in 1994, and relocated with her children to Carmel, California, where she lived for the next 19 years. After battling and defeating breast cancer, Darryle became an outspoken advocate for cancer survivors. An extremely talented and avid writer, Darryle wrote various publications, including a blog and book, both titled "I Never Signed Up For This," and chronicled her life as a breast cancer survivor in a thoughtful, inspiring and humorous way. Darryle remained an active leader, writer and speaker for the cancer community for her entire life. She was the lead-plaintiff in a lawsuit related to the Springer cancer vaccine (to which she attributed her cancer survival, and was the subject of her ongoing book project). Darryle found refuge from cancer in art, and she developed into an accomplished painter and mosaicist. She considered her work with mosaics a metaphor for how she reassembled the broken pieces of her life into a beautiful new creation. Almost 25 years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which was the cause of her death. Darryle's countless stories, publications and speeches - including her TedX Talk, blog and book - can be found easily on the internet, but she always considered her children to be her greatest accomplishment. Darryle is survived by her two children (Alice and Daniel), her husband (Vaughn), her sister (Carla), brother (Josh), her brother-in-law (Paul), many extended family members, and countless friends. A private service has been planned for family with a larger celebration of Darryle's life to follow, closer to what would have been her 70th birthday. Donations can be made in her name to The Carol Hatton Memorial Fund for Women in Need.
Published in the Miami Herald on May 27, 2019
If you're a Class member and knew Darryle, please share some memories on her In Memoriam page.

2018 AYA Assembly Report from Class Rep Jean Brenner

I was delighted to represent our class at the AYA Assembly/Yale Alumni Fund Convocation in New Haven on November 8-9, 2018.  The other classmates I encountered during the gathering were Steve CushnerAndy ShermanKathyMurphy and Glenn Murphy.  This year’s theme was “Science at Yale:  Shaping the Future.”

The Assembly & Convocation began with introductory remarks by President Salovey providing an overview of the theme of the gathering.  Two years ago, Yale determined that the sciences are fundamental to its mission of educating leaders and improving the world.  At that time, President Salovey and the provost charged the University Science Strategy Committee (the “USSC”) with identifying the most promising opportunities for investment across the sciences.  The USSC identified five top-priority areas:  (1) integrative data science and its mathematical foundations, (2) quantum science, engineering, and materials, (3) neuroscience, (4) inflammation science, and (5) environmental and evolutionary sciences.  In addition, the USSC recommended four areas for cross-cutting investment that would support all STEM fields.  These were (1) graduate student support, (2) diversity across the STEM pipeline, (3) instrumentation development, and (4) core facilities.

President Salovey mentioned several facility advancements around campus, including the renovated Sterling Chemistry Lab, the Greenberg Engineering Teaching Concourse, and the new Yale Science Building.  He also emphasized the importance of the arts and humanities in a Yale education.  As part of an effort to bring the arts to the rest of campus and to encourage collaboration between the arts and the sciences, Yale has undertaken a major renovation of the former Hall of Graduate Studies, which will provide a central home for the humanities, including classrooms and a shared screening room.  Salovey noted that while the renovation hasn’t yet been completed, there are already cross-discipline projects underway.

The next item on the agenda was a panel discussion among four members of the USSC about their process for determining their recommendations.  They also gave some examples of the leading-edge research happening in the priority areas.  Completing the morning’s programs was a panel discussion among deans of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Yale School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Yale School of Public Health.

The afternoon was devoted to break-out sessions on a variety of science-related topics.  I learned about inflammation and ethical issues arising in the study of human genetics, both fascinating topics.

There were various workshops scheduled for the next morning.  I attended the one for Yale College Classes, where a good deal of the conversation was about effective use of social media for maintaining contact with classmates.  Don’t forget our class page, yale71.org!

-- Jean Brenner, Class of 1971 AYA Representative


Tour Charleston with Yale ’69 and ’70 - October 20, 2018

Join us for a Reception and Dinner

Experience the elegance of a by-gone age at a reception in a grand historic Charleston home. Afterwards we dine in one of the private rooms at the celebrated Anson Restaurant: www.ansonrestaurant.com.

Register today for this multi-Class (’69, ’70, and ’71) get-together!

Visit the Lowcountry

The Spanish moss hanging from the live oaks may look cinematic, but the unique climate and soil in South Carolina’s low country made rice the cash crop when America was young. So much so, that rice was dubbed “Carolina Gold”. Over the years, many of the former plantations have become public gardens. Though few of the plantation buildings remain, those that have been preserved are steeped in history, and a magnet for visitors. A number of these gardens and historic sites are within a 30-minute drive of downtown Charleston.

Book a Tour

Tickets for Historic Charleston open houses and walking tours are now available for purchase! But ticket quantities are limited. If you’re interested, reserve a tour today.

Make it a Weekend

We’ve reserved a block of hotel rooms for weekend stays at the Kings Courtyard Inn in the historic district, but the quantity is limited and the room block expires on August 20 … so don’t delay. (For reservations, phone 800-845-6119, reference the Yale 70 group.)

For more information visit at70.com.

Arrangements are being coordinated through the Class of 1970. If you have any questions, feel free to email. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Ken Brown (brown99s@hotmail.com) and Art Segal (asegalplus69@gmail.com), Co-Secretaries
Yale Class of 1969

Ben Slotznick (bslotznick@comcast.net) and Randy Helm (peytonhelm@gmail.com), Co-Secretaries
Yale Class of 1970

Andy Kaufman (kaufmanandrew1@gmail.com), Secretary
Yale Class of 1971


Alice Young Tributes Don Nakanishi Friday November 4 in New Haven

Alice Young writes:

I will be moderating a tribute to our classmate Don Nakanishi from 3:45-4:15 pm at the Yale RITM Conference on November 4 at 351 Loria Center, 190 York Street, New Haven, followed by a reception at Timothy Dwight College. If you are in the neighborhood please come by.

More at:  ritm.yale.edu/2016-ethnic-studies-conference

 


Class Survey Released

The 45th Anniversary Yale College Class of 1971 Survey chronicles our experiences on the Yale campus and beyond. We received more than 300 responses -- more than one-quarter of our living classmates, and more than 40% of the people for whom we have current email addresses -- a HUGE response to a survey of this nature.  Thanks to all of you who responded -- who included many more of us than just those able to attend the reunion -- and to those many Class callers who contacted others to drive participation.

Here are some highlights of the survey:  Yale 1971 Survey SHORT 160617

To see the entire 161-page version, click the menu entry under Private Areas on the right.  If you get a "Page Not Found" message, it probably means you are not logged in, or not yet registered to use the site.  If you are a member of the Class of 1971, please register by clicking in the upper right of this page. When your application is approved (which takes a day or two), you will get a password enabling you to use the site.


Yale '71 45th Reunion a Resounding Success

I am just back from New Haven where I attended our 45th Class Reunion.  I was delighted to see so many old friends, to meet so many new ones -- and to welcome some for whom this was their first-ever Yale reunion attended.

All of us thank co-chairs Ken Freeman and Jean Brenner for the obviously huge amount of thought and work that went into planning and executing this memorable event.  Class Secretary-for-Life Andy Kaufman proved a yeoman "head of ceremonies" (no more masters, please!) on Saturday night.

One of the highlights -- and there were so many -- was the survey conducted by Rick Cech and Barbara Blaine.  As those of you who attended their lively and absorbing presentation know, there was simply too much to absorb in one sitting.  We will have the full deck posted here soon.

With warm regards,

Tim Powell

 


Off-Campus Reunion Accommodations Available

Doug Davie (Silliman ’76 and the son of the late TD Dean, James Davie) and his wife, Liisa (MFA ’87), have a house in Hamden that they’re willing to rent out for reunion weekend.  Below is the listing on AirBnB:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12026785?s=sbvyXJqT

They prefer to rent to a family or group as there are two bedrooms to book. One can sleep two couples with full bath and the other sleeps two singles with half bath.  Those rooms are located on the extreme left and right wings of the house photo.  For any who wish to rough it, there is also a queen mattress upstairs in the master bedroom (with full bath), but it’s on the floor; otherwise, as Doug and Liisa are transitioning, it's unfurnished.

The landscape is an extension of the 1600 acre state park, Sleeping Giant, just 15 minutes down Whitney Avenue to the Yale campus.

If you wish to book this space, you may do so through AirBnB or by contacting Doug directly at (203) 809-2875 or douglasdavie@comcast.net.


Jim Meehan and Yale Symphony in Carnegie Debut - Thursday April 21

Classmate Jim Meehan writes:

I don't know whether you've been following the events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of the Yale Symphony Orchestra, but I wanted to point out the final event, coming up soon. There will be a concert on April 16th in Woolsey Hall, with a second performance on April 21st at Carnegie Hall in New York. John Mauceri, who conducted the YSO during our time at Yale (1968-1974) will be returning to lead the orchestra in Celebrations from Leonard Bernstein's Mass, which we performed in 1972 in New Haven and the following summer in Vienna. The finale of the program is the Festival Prelude for Organ and Orchestra by Richard Strauss, which we performed in 1973. I was the organist back then, and I'm going to be the organist again this time! I don't know how many members of our class have played in Carnegie Hall, but I'd bet that I'm the only member of the class to be making his debut in Carnegie Hall at 66! (I'm calling it my farewell debut.)

It would be great to see friends from our class at either concert, particularly in New York. This will the Yale Symphony's first appearance in Carnegie Hall.