CLASS NOTES

payoff for human health. Jay will use based in Stamford, Connecticut. the award to support his study of a new type of DNA and its role in ocular 2010 Marcus Cano (MBA) has been and neurological disorders. An expert named market director of program on age-related macular degenera- execution at the Sierra Providence tion, he’s a professor and vice chair Health Network in El Paso, Texas. of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Warner School of Education 2004 Roger Di Pietro (Pdc), a Rochester-area psychotherapist, has 1976 Christine Thurber Ervin published a book, The Anxiety Code: (MA) (see ’74 Nursing). Deciphering the Purposes of Neurotic Anxiety (Lulu). 2011 Ashley Smeltzer (MS) and Melissa Kraft ’13 (MS) were mar- 2005 Mai Le (MD) has been ried in July in Wilmington, Delaware. appointed chief medical officer at Melissa writes: “Each of us was pre- OncoSec Medical, a San Diego–based viously an assistant in the athlet- company that develops DNA-based ic department, and are now head intratumoral cancer immunotherapies. coaches in our respective sports (Ashley in field hockey and I in wom- en’s basketball) at Shenandoah School of Nursing University in Winchester, Virginia.

1974 Christine Thurber Ervin 2013 David Hamilton (EdD) (see 2008E Britton ’76W (MA) writes that she’s moved to ’97 Eastman). . . . Melissa Kraft (MS) Sarasota, Florida, where she contin- (see ’11). ues to work part-time in a free care clinic, and enjoys tennis and traveling with her husband. In Memoriam ALUMNI 1996 Christine Tebaldi ’01 (MS) Lillie Kreisberg ’32N, (see ’98 College). October 2014 Helen Holly Stiefel ’35, 2001 Alexandra Boyer Reidmiller June 2013 (see ’99 College). Janet Burt Russell ’37, September 2014 Herbert M. Brill ’39E, Simon October 2014 Business School Lorran Latham ’39E, October 2014 1983 Scott Pomerantz (MBA) Irwin I. Eisenberg ’40E, (see ’81 College). July 2014 Cathrine Zaenglein Weisenbeck ’41, 1989 Philip Yawman (MBA) has September 2014 been named senior vice president Donald N. Groff ’4 2 , of business development at Finger October 2014 Lakes Technologies Group. Previously, William B. Mason ’42, ’50M (MD), he was an executive at Frontier October 2014 Communications. Winifred Freisem Pheteplace ’42N, October 2014 1994 Art Smith (MBA) has been Francis Briggs Tenny ’4 2 , named MUFG Union Bank’s chief com- April 2014 2011W Kraft and Smeltzer munications and marketing officer for Esther Conwell ’44 (MS), the Americas. Art joined Union Bank ’11 (Honorary) Chambliss Distinguished Professor of 1997 Thomas Schneider (D) in 2010 from Wachovia. Henry W. Jann ’4 4 , Medicine at the University of North (see ’90 College). October 2014 Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2002 Tamika Nurse (MBA) has Mary Donowick Olin ’44N, 1998 Jayakrishna (Jay) Ambati written a guidebook for young October 2014 1976 Louis Siegel (MD), ’79M (Res) (Res) is one of 10 recipients of the women professionals, The It Girl Sarah Bergh Brooks ’46E (MA), has published his first work of fic- 2014 National Institutes of Health Rules: Get Hired and Stay Hired— October 2014 tion, Exam Room Confidential: The Director’s Pioneer Award. The award Tips on Navigating Your Corporate Lucia Crocheron Greer ’46E, Wellborne Files (self-published), a of $3.76 million over five years is Career (It Girl Industries). . . . Sandra September 2014 medical mystery novel that serves as granted to scientists proposing Rowland (MBA) has been named Adon M. Foster ’47E, ’48E (MM), a critique of the modern American exceptionally imaginative approach- chief financial officer of Harman October 2014 medical profession and health care es to major challenges in biomedical International Industries, an audio and Max Landsman ’4 7, system. research, which could result in a high entertainment equipment company September 2014

January–February 2015 ROCHESTER REVIEW 59

RochRev_Jan2015.indb 59 12/11/14 12:24 PM CLASS NOTES Jeanne Tarr Moreland ’4 7 E , TRIBUTE July 2013 Leo F. Smith ’4 7, September 2014 Rita Shane: ‘A Unique Star Among Us’ Clawson Y. Cannon ’48E, A little bit of sunshine left Rochester when my ing but eminently practical diva found it worth October 2014 Geraldine Denering Gamburd ’4 8 , dear friend and colleague Rita Shane, professor her while to rise at 5 a.m. on Tuesday mornings at September 2014 of voice at Eastman since 1989, died in October her home on the Upper West Side, deal with the Elaine Scott Sewell ’48N, after a brief and courageous battle with can- vagaries of the airlines and whatever the weath- October 2014 cer at the age of 78. Rita was a world-renowned er threw her way, and teach a nearly full load of Jo Anne Patton Steubing ’48E, opera singer of a rare vocal category (dramatic voice majors before heading back to New York on October 2014 ) and equally rare as an ar- Thursday afternoons to coach professional sing- Leslie A. Walker ’48M (MD), tistic colleague. A native of New York City, she ers on the weekend. I’ve known this about Rita November 2014 didn’t attend a music school but studied at Bar- since I joined Eastman’s Department of Voice Horace V. Apgar ’4 9 E , nard College under Beverly Peck Johnson, a bril- and Opera in 1995; another soulmate of even September 2014 liant vocal technician whom I knew later in my longer standing, Eisenhart Professor of Voice J. Carl Hornberger ’49M (MD), October 2014 own studies in piano accompa- Galway M. Kinnell ’49 (MA), nying at the Juilliard School. October 2014 Rita became a leading soprano George H. Matter ’4 9, at the for August 2014 10 seasons after her 1973 debut Lillian Rubin Scott ’4 9 E , in what became her signature November 2013 role, the Queen of the Night in David I. Wells ’4 9, Mozart’s . She July 2014 also sang at the Chicago Lyric, John V. Adkin ’50, San Francisco, New York City, October 2014 Richard W. Eckler ’50, and many other American op- October 2014 era companies, as well as in Dale C. Lindenmuth ’50, Milan, Vienna, Munich, and a April 2014 dozen other houses in Europe John T. Miller ’50E (MM), and South America. She per- October 2014 formed roles in Manon, Lucia di Donald A. Wormer ’50, Lammermoor, L’elisir d’amore, COLORATURA: Shane’s signature role was the notoriously difficult October 2014 Carmen, and La bohème, as well Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. John A. Garnish ’51, as creating the title role of Miss October 2014 Havisham’s Fire by Eastman alumnus Dominick Carol Webber, said that “Rita’s extraordinary Helen Moresh Kennedy ’51, November 2014 Argento ’58E (PhD) for . voice, truly one of a kind, was matched by her Ralph W. Keyes ’51, Rita taught her students with a sunny disposi- warmth, generosity, and fierce loyalty.” Rita loved February 2013 tion and an ebullient smile that was not only figu- quality in all things—good singing, good scotch, Raymond H. Nagell ’51, ’52 (MS), rative, but a vital element of the vocal technique late night meals at Max or the Inn on Broadway, October 2014 that she cultivated with her devoted and success- which was her home away from home, and most- Harold Silver ’51, ful Eastman students. Many of them would move ly, the well-deserved admiration of her students November 2014 to New York City after completing their degrees, and colleagues. She was a unique star among us, Ralph F. Rauch ’52E (MM), where she generously helped them with their ca- dauntless, ageless, and unforgettable.r September 2014 reers whenever she could. One of the earliest of —Russell Miller Daniel Klein ’54 (PhD), these alums was tenor John McVeigh ’93E, who July 2014 Lois Laymon Lyddon ’54E, when not at Rita’s bedside during her illness this Miller is the chair of the Department of Voice September 2014 fall, was rehearsing himself at the Met for seven and Opera at Eastman. A memorial concert for William M. Mack ’55, productions this season. Rita Shane will take place in Eastman’s Kilbourn October 2014 Every week for 25 school years, this command- Hall at 2 p. m. Sunday, April 19. William L. Sutton ’55M (MS), March 2014 Phyllis Owens Weber ’55, Dale H. Goodfellow ’57N, James H. Taylor ’59, Sylvia Bonavilla Schwartzman November 2014 September 2014 October 2014 ’66N, October 2014 James L. Ferro ’56, Robert K. Johnson ’57M (MD), Peter B. Heinrich ’60, Peter J. Knapp ’67 (MA), November 2014 October 2014 October 2014 September 2014 Carrie Shaw Groppe ’56N, A. Donald Smith ’57 (PhD), Eloise Jarvis ’60E (PhD), Peter Dwyer ’68, September 2014 October 2014 October 2014 November 2014 Monica Laughlin ’56E (MM), Margaret Thurston Wrisley ’57, Paul J. Olscamp ’62 (PhD), Douglas I. Quinney ’68, October 2014 October 2014 October 2014 September 2014 Ruth Anne Williams Parker ’56, John E. Kampf ’58, David J. Statt ’63, ’65 (MS), Marlin D. Schutte ’68 (MS), ’57N, October 2014 October 2014 November 2014 October 2014 Marie Dephillip Vella ’56E, Edwin L. Alderman ’59, Sandra Sue Quick Kuehn ’65E (MM), Tansukh G. Dorawala ’69 (PhD), October 2014 October 2014 October 2014 October 2014

60 ROCHESTER REVIEW January–February 2015 TOMAS FLINT

RochRev_Jan2015.indb 60 12/11/14 12:24 PM CLASS NOTES TRIBUTE Esther Conwell ’44 (MS): ‘Lived and Breathed Science’

Esther Conwell ’44 (MS) first came to the University in 1942 to pursue a PhD in physics, immediately after graduating from Brooklyn College that same year. It was at Rochester that Esther, working with Pro- fessor Victor Weisskopf, made one of her most important scientific contributions, one that helped her to earn the National Medal of Science in 2010. It was the development of a theory that describes the scattering of electrons by im- purities in a semiconductor. Ultimately, this work would lead to an understanding of how transistors operate, which are the building blocks of integrated circuits. But at that time, physicists were just beginning to study silicon and germanium materials; and the Conwell-Weisskopf theory helped to explain how impurity atoms would af- fect the transport of electrons through the semiconductor. Remarkably, Esther completed this sig- PRESIDENTIAL HONORS: President Barack Obama named Conwell a National Medal of nature work in effectively a few months, as Science winner in 2010. Weisskopf was being sent to Los Alamos to aid in the war effort there. She would defining book on this topic some 30 earsy member to be a member of the National receive a master’s degree in physics from earlier! Academies of Science and Engineering and Rochester in 1944, and move on to the Uni- In 1972, Esther returned to Rochester a fellow of the American Academy of Arts versity of Chicago for her doctorate, which to work at Xerox, where she investigat- and Sciences. In 1997, she received the Edi- she earned four years later. ed the conduction of electrons in organ- son Medal. In 2011, the University awarded The seminal paper describing the Con- ic molecules, which had direct relevance her an honorary doctorate. well-Weisskopf theory did not appear in to the xerographic process. After “retire- When Esther died last November at the print until 1950, as it was deemed classi- ment” from Xerox in 1998, Esther joined age of 92, she was still actively working, fied material. the chemistry department at Rochester, coming to her office almost daily. It is -im Meanwhile, Esther went on to a career with an appointment in physics coming portant to note that besides her scientific largely in industry, working first at Bell several years later. At Rochester, she was contributions, Esther’s lasting legacy will Laboratories (1951 to 1952), and then at interested in understanding the conduction be her inspiration to women around the GTE laboratories until 1972. It was at GTE of electrons through DNA molecules, and globe to enter the physical sciences. Often that she studied the effect of high electric especially how the electrons would inter- the only woman, at times unwelcomed, in fields on the transport of “hot” (or highly act with the DNA molecular vibrations to a field ruled by males, Esther had to over- energetic) electrons in semiconductors. In create “polarons.” come countless barriers to achieve the suc- fact, for one of my own research projects Esther lived and breathed science. Her cess and recognition that she deserved.r we were interested in understanding the accomplishments earned her many acco- —Todd Krauss transport of “hot” electrons in nanome- lades even before President Barack Obama ter scale semiconductors, and we discov- honored her with the National Medal of Krauss is chair of the Department of ered that Esther had literally written the Science. She was the only Rochester faculty Chemistry at Rochester.

Robert Glassman ’69M (Flw), Jerome M. Alvermann ’74S (MBA), Margaret Ashida ’78, Robert J. Warth ’87S (MBA), April 2013 October 2014 October 2014 November 2014 Anthony A. Scribani ’71, Gerard F. Driscoll ’74S (MBA), Lisa Kilburne-Huson ’79, Derrick J. Smith ’88E (MM), November 2014 October 2014 October 2014 November 2014 Eileen North Livingston ’72, Roberta Flesh ’75M (Res), David C. Ratajczak ’80, Charles L. Dowling ’91, November 2014 September 2014 October 2014 October 2014 Philip L. McEniry ’72S (MBA), Timothy J. Mauer ’75, Antonio E. Castellvi ’81M (Res), ’82M Harriet Koning ’92W (MS), October 2014 October 2014 (Flw), February 2014 August 2014 Edgar E. Riecke ’72 (Flw), Suzanne Shapiro Presser ’75, Steven E. Fritz ’86M (MD), Scott J. Therriault ’95, October 2014 October 2014 September 2014 October 2014 Lila Gribbroek Miller ’73W (MA), Juvenal Casaverde ’76 (PhD), Mark A. Redline ’87S (MBA), Desiree Stockholm ’12N (MS), October 2014 October 2014 August 2014 November 2014

COURTESY OF RYAN K. MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY/NATIONAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MEDALS FOUNDATION January–February 2015 ROCHESTER REVIEW 61

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