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An “Unrelentingly Active Mind”

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An “Unrelentingly Active Mind” An “Unrelentingly colleagues wrote in their tribute. “Tom’s Active Mind” passion for the new world of the internet, Samuel McCracken was longtime with an emphasis assistant to President John Silber on search engine marketing, inspired countless students By Cynthia K. Buccini to consider the inter- When Jon Westling met Samuel McCracken in 1968, he recog- active world for a nized McCracken as “an intellectual leader” with interests deep career.” and wide-ranging: music, art, literature, philosophy, theater, What defined Fauls popular culture. was his love of teach- Both men were assistant professors at Reed College at the ing and his personal time, and both were teaching a required freshman humanities interactions with course; they would go on to become friends and colleagues at his students. “They BU. Westling (Hon.’03) is now a BU president emeritus and a sought his advice College of Arts & Sciences professor of history and humanities; about course content McCracken was assistant to President John Silber (Hon.’95), and postgraduate for whom he worked as a opportunities,” his researcher, writer, editor, coworkers wrote. and advisor for 31 years. “They were rewarded “Sam was among the with a rich perspective, most broadly learned, a blended view of the broadly enthusiastic, deeply advertising field that interested in other people, was both old and new. events in the past, the He inspired students present, and the future, of to be bold in their anybody I have ever known,” search for that first said Westling. entry-level job.” McCracken died on And once they October 4, 2013. He was 77. landed careers, those At a memorial service on VERNON DOUCETTE graduates came back to November 8 at the George domination of top help current students. Sherman Union, friends ad agency holding “These alumni paid remembered McCracken’s companies. He was a their respects by myriad interests, his Samuel McCracken worked for BU President John Silber for more coauthor of Advertis- coming back to Tom’s fluency as a writer, his than 30 years, as a researcher, ing & the Business classes to bring their loyalty to Silber, and in the writer, editor, and advisor. of Brands: Media experiences to the words of Brian Jorgensen, Revolution Edition, current students,” a CAS assistant professor emeritus of English, his “large and an introduction to Fauls’ colleagues unrelentingly active mind.” the worlds of advertis- wrote. “They became Westling noted that he’d had the good fortune of studying ing and marketing. invaluable resources, with two or three of the most renowned historians of English Fauls joined the notifying and advis- medieval history. “I learned as much about English history and BU faculty in Sep- ing new graduates English medieval history from Sam, who was not an English tember 2000. “Along about job opportu- medieval historian,” he said, “as I did from either of those with his practical nities. Tom’s lessons highly distinguished scholars. And not just English medieval creative background, in expertise, generos- history, but English history in general, European history, Tom offered an un- ity, and commit- American history, English and American literature from the derstanding and en- ment set in motion Anglo-Saxons to virtually the present moment, the history of thusiasm for the enormous bene- railroading, the genealogy of the royal families of Europe going burgeoning field of fits to his students back a millennium or more.” interactive adver- as they move on Presented by McCracken, those subjects were endlessly tising,” his three through their lives.” absorbing, Westling said. “I don’t give a hoot about the history Winter–Spring 2014 BOSTONIA !! 776-79_BostoniaWinterSpring2014.indd6-79_BostoniaWinterSpring2014.indd 7777 11/30/14/30/14 11:03:03 PMPM FACULTY OBITUARIES of railroading,” he said, “but I listened in fascination as !"##"$% &. '($)- Jack O. Haller Award for Sam would descant upon the history of railroading.” #*+ (MED’68), 70, Excellence in Teaching McCracken also had an interest in camera a School of Medicine from the Society for Pedi- collecting, “as an intellectual study of the history of clinical professor of atric Radiology, which lenses, shutters, and so forth,” said his wife, Natalie radiology and associ- recognizes those who Jacobson McCracken, retired editor in chief for ate professor of pedi- have demonstrated an development and alumni publications at BU. The two atrics, on May 18, “outstanding ability to met as undergraduates at Drake University, on the first 2013. educate trainees (medi- day of their Shakespeare’s Chronicles class. She was An expert in pediatric cal student, resident, struck by his prodigious memory. radiology, Cranley spent and fellow) and…shown “Without having tried to memorize them,” she his entire medical career sustained substantial recalled, “Sam knew the dates the monarchs were at Boston City Hospital, excellence in mentor- born, deposed, reinstated, perhaps deposed and now Boston Medical Cen- ship skills.” reinstated again, and died.” ter (BMC). Outside the classroom “His memory was freakish and encyclopedic,” his He earned a bachelor’s and the hospital, Cranley’s daughter, Elizabeth McCracken (CAS’88, GRS’88), degree from Villanova favorite place was his fam- told the Boston Globe. “I’m not sure if you could call University and a medical ily’s home on Bow Lake in it photographic, but he didn’t seem to ever have degree from MED. After New Hamp shire. MR forgotten a fact that he learned from a book.” completing his training in James Brann, a College of Communication pro- pediatrics at Boston City ,*-". &. !*")- fessor emeritus of journalism, who was chairman of Hospital, he served for three /($01, 79, a School COM’s journalism department from 1973 to 1980, years as a major in the Air of Medicine pro- said he was often called upon to give speeches in the Force, stationed at Shaw Air fessor of medicine, mid-1970s. He made a habit of checking his facts with Force Base in Sumter, S.C. on August 18, 2013. McCracken, who could summon the answers from After opening a private Weintraub, an award- memory. “Sam was my Google before Google was practice in pediatrics, he winning teacher of hema- invented,” Brann said. soon became enamored with tology, was known for McCracken was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1935. radiology and went back to putting patients at ease After graduating from Drake, he earned a master’s BU for training. He would and helping future medical in English from the University of Connecticut and spend the next 35 years in students become the best did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin– pediatric radiology. in their field. Madison and the University of London. In 1997, Cranley was Weintraub graduated The McCrackens were married in 1959, and in appointed vice chair of from Harvard Medical 1963, Sam McCracken became an English instructor MED’s department of School when he was only 23 at BU. Four years later, he joined the faculty at Reed radiology. He was for years old. He interned at the College, then returned to BU in 1974 as assistant to the many years a member of Hospital of the University president. “He and John Silber had great respect and the school’s admissions of Pennsylvania and became affection for each other,” his wife said. committee. a resident at the University “It was a working relationship, but also a real Cranley was passionate Hospital in Ann Arbor, friendship,” his son, Harry McCracken (CAS’86), told about treating children Mich. He began the study the Globe. “It was just the ideal job for someone like and mentoring students of hematology during a my father.” and residents, according to fellowship at Mount Sinai McCracken wrote The War Against the Atom (Basic an obituary in the Boston Hospital in New York City. Books, 1982) and articles for many publications, in- Globe. “‘Dr. Bill,’ as he was He served three years as a cluding Commentary, National Review, the New affectionately known, was captain in the Army Medical Republic, the New York Times and New York Times beloved for his leadership, Book Review, and Columbia University’s alumni his knowledge, his teaching, magazine. He retired from BU in 2005. his dry and unflagging sense Vita Paladino, director of the Howard Gotlieb of humor, but mostly for Archival Research Center, said McCracken believed his dedication to the care of in “improving everything in his world. This would children and the education include notifying us when he found a factual error in of hundreds of medical an exhibition label. He was more worried about your students and residents,” making yourself look foolish than he was about making according to the Globe. himself look smart. He wanted us to look good.” He was honored by Paladino (MET’79, SSW’93) described her friend BMC with the Jerome as remarkable, amazing, and funny. “You are lucky to Klein Award for Physician meet one Sam McCracken in your life,” she said. Excellence as well as the LEWIS R. WEINTRAUB !" BOSTONIA Winter–Spring 2014 776-79_BostoniaWinterSpring2014.indd6-79_BostoniaWinterSpring2014.indd 7878 11/30/14/30/14 11:03:03 PMPM.
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