praise and What cool is Heavy hitter Mike Fitts thanks The substance James Andrews, finds his Commencement and style of super doctor for place 2014. American cool. athletes. President-elect THE MAGAZINE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY is ready to lead.
TUlanejune 2014
CoolYou know it when you see it. paula burch-celentano hip-hop alma mater Green Envy, an a cappella group of Tulane students, sings the alma mater, includ- ing a rap rendition of one stanza, at Tulane University Commence- ment in the Mercedes- Benz Superdome on May 17, 2014. The group also sang the iconic tune, “The House of the Rising Sun,” with lyrics rewrit- ten in tribute to retiring Tulane President Scott Cowen. Among the lines in the recast version of the song: “There is a school in New Orleans/ Some say the perfect one. It’s been the home to this Jersey boy/And now they say he’s done.”
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 1 PRESIDENT’S LETTER
to the exclusive and intense study of a par- ticular field that they have a lot more to learn seems like a cruel joke. But the truth is that any career worth pursuing, any endeavor worth undertaking, any dream worth dreaming and any life worth living is defined by the continu- al, lifelong pursuit of learning and knowledge. Second: Make a difference People often hope to get involved with some- thing bigger than themselves to find purpose in life. But often the “something bigger” they are seeking turns out to be something or someone smaller than themselves—a child who has never been loved, an adult who has never learned to read, an elderly person who does not have a home, an ill person who needs to be healed. As I often stated to Tulanians through the years—no one will ever remember you for what you did for yourself, they will only re- member you for what you did for others. Third: Find your passion This may come as a surprise to you, but I never wanted to be a university president. Yet, becoming one turned out to be the most re- warding and meaningful opportunity of my life. My first dream was to be a professional football player. An illness in college and an un- mark andresen mark believable lack of talent took care of that. Then I thought I would go to law school but instead I enlisted in the Army. After my time in the Saying Goodbye service, I thought I would be a management consultant so I got an MBA degree. While in by Scott S. Cowen business school a faculty mentor thought I had the potential to be an academic and con- The following is an excerpt from President Scott Cowen’s commencement A New Phase of life vinced me to get my doctorate—and, though address to graduates on May 17, 2014. The president and I never aspired to be a professor, an academic the graduates of All of you are saying goodbye to a chapter of your life, bidding farewell 2014 prepare for dean, let alone a president, yet here I am 40 to a time and a place and also to an experience that has shaped, chal- the next chapter. years later having done all of these things. lenged and changed you. You are saying goodbye to one life and hello You have probably been told not to be to another. afraid to experiment, to try, to risk, to fail I suspect you have a lot of mixed feelings now ranging from relief to and to repeat the whole process over again. joy to anxiety about the future. Trust me, I know how you feel because In fact, be afraid not to do that. And once you this is my 16th and last commencement as President of Tulane, and I have arrived at a destination, be prepared am experiencing all the same things as you are. to re-evaluate where you are and where you The good news is that after your time at Tulane you have a degree from want to be and be ready to start all over again one of the country’s most distinguished universities plus your youthful until you find that burning passion that gives energy and many years to figure out what and who you want to be. meaning to your life. I, on the other hand, have 16 years of memories and adventures to And always, no matter where you are, carry me forward and just enough time left to enjoy an encore career re- remember you have a family here at Tulane, turning to my first love—the classroom populated with extraordinarily who cares about you very much. I have no talented and civic-minded students just like all of you. doubt that you will find your way. You will No matter where you are headed next, I suggest your journey be live your dream. You will become who you defined by three commitments: were meant to be and end up where you are First: Lifelong learning. needed the most. And the world will never be Telling people who have just dedicated four or more years of their lives the same, because of you.
2 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE TUlane CONTENTS
The King Elvis Presley performs for adoring fans at the Tupelo, Mississippi, Fair in 1956. (See “What Cool Is” on page 16.)
2 PRESIDENT’S LETTER So long, see you around
6 NEWs y.
r Middle campus transformation • Water
ait galle ait Prize • Freeman School r t r centennial • Who dat? Elyse Luray • New president of Costa
of national po national of Rica • Football play tesy r safe with precautions • Bourbon Street •
, 1956. cou 1956. , AmeriCorps Fellows • Funeral Procession shutz r by Ellis Wilson • t Ma t r Laura Levy Robe 13 SPORTS Tennis star • Future in pro 14 Praise and Thanks football Festive music sets the tone—this is New Orleans, after all—for graduates and their friends and family at Commencement 2014—Scott Cowen’s 16th and final graduation ceremony 30 TULANIANS as president of Tulane University. By Mary Ann Travis Noah Barth • Rocking chair for Scott Cowen • Reynold T. Décou • Susan Murphy • 16 What Cool Is Jeff Rosenheim The concept of cool—you know it when you see it, but it’s tricky to define. By Michael Luke (TC ’04) 31 WHERE Y'AT! Class notes
35 FAREWELL 22 Heavy Hitter Tribute: Thomas Dr. James Andrews has successfully treated the most famous athletes in the world and Langston sent them back to the playing fields. By Kirby Messinger 38 WAVEMAKERS Drs. Waring • Jerry & Barbara Greenbaum 26 Mike Fitts Finds His Place • Glazers, Bergers, Corasanitis The next president of Tulane is thrilled to take on the challenge of leading the university that he’s admired for so long. By Mary Ann Travis 40 NEW ORLEANS Dining guides
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 3 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Thomas Kelly (M ’78) recalls the 1964 Beatles concert in New Orleans (although he was only 12 years old at the time and did not attend). He also has a 45 rpm Beatles record that Bruce Spizer (“He Loves Them, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” December 2013) might wish to add to his collection.
yeah, you write
INTEGRATION OF TULANE Your article [Who Dat? “Doctor them before they were teenagers. and history disappear under I am writing this because your at Bat,” March 2014] does not do So that’s where it came from. his “leadership.” article about the integration of this great guy credit. First, he Peter Pizzo Jr., A&S ’51 So, how about a little balance Tulane [“The Desegregation of a married Sara French (NC ’51), New Orleans in the story regarding President University,” September 2013] re- the Tulane homecoming queen Cowen’s legacy by telling the minded me of an incident in the in 1950. NEWCOMB COLLEGE entire story and how it impacted UC at Tulane and the handling His four World Series games I was extraordinarily dis- those who saw their legacy and of it by Col. [Robert] Scruton in 1947, ’49, ’50 and ’51 set a world appointed in your article history disappear? [campus security chief]. … record batting average: .439—18 on President Scott Cowen Don Michael, E ’68 I am not sure of the year but hits with 41 at bats. Won all four (“Something Extraordinary”) Madison, Mississippi it was either 1967 or 1968 and World Series: Dodgers ’47 and [March 2014]. You mention his I was sitting in the cafeteria ’49, Philadelphia ’50 and Giants eliminating Newcomb College Editor’s Note: It should be noted of the UC eating lunch. At ’51. He had four World Series as a minor footnote. Many of that the legacies of the School of Engi- that time there were a group rings by age 27! us alums consider it more a neering and Newcomb College live on of booths in the center of the His roommate on the road: major mistake—one that will at Tulane in real and vibrant ways. cafeteria. Sitting in one of Yogi Berra. He and Yogi are the forever tarnish his legacy. In the 2005 post-Katrina the booths were two African- only two still living from the Peggy Jo Abraham, NC ’72 reorganization of Tulane, the School American couples chatting and 1951 [Yankees] team. Santa Monica, California of Science and Engineering was having some coffee. Bobby asked Max Lapham established, integrating engineering All of a sudden a group (our medical school dean) if he ENGINEERING and science in one academic unit, of about twenty young men could take time off to play base- I am a 1968 graduate of Tulane while the School of Liberal Arts also come in and totally surround ball during his years at Tulane University’s School of Engineer- was established at that time. the area with the booths. One Med. Max said, “YES, and if ing, BS Chemical Engineering The School of Science and young man goes up to the they will sign me for $54,000, and one of five family members Engineering currently has a team of couples and starts trying to I would like to go also.” … with degrees from Tulane and 58 professors, 33 associate professors, pick a fight. The couples try to Bobby has made many talks Newcomb. Two are graduates of 28 assistant professors, 31 professors ignore him, but he keeps on. over the years, but he just tells Newcomb College. of practice and 16 research profes- Tension is really rising as the interesting stories about all I just finished reading the sors, offering degree programs at the young man pushes harder try- of his teammates (like Joe articles with the many accolades undergraduate and graduate levels. ing to start a fight. About this DiMaggio) AND NEVER TELLS and praise for President Cowen Tulane is a top tier research university time, in walks Col. Scruton and OF HIS BASEBALL STATISTICS, [March 2014] on his retirement with a commitment to high quality comes up behind the young which are fantastic. from Tulane. While he does undergraduate education. Last year man pushing for a fight and Dr. Robert K. Bass, M ’54 deserve much credit for his lead- over 250 undergraduate students taps him on the shoulder. The Dallas ership in bringing the University participated in projects linked to young man turns and sees it through the unprecedented sponsored research in the School of is Col. Scruton and is startled. WHO SENT THE TELEGRAM? disaster caused by Hurricane Science and Engineering. The faculty Col. Scruton asks if he could I had lunch with Rusty Bark- Katrina, I think the article does attracts more than $20 million in get by. The young man steps erding [UC ’78] a couple of not tell the entire story of the sponsored research and generates back, and Col. Scruton walks weeks ago and he told me that University’s recovery. more than 500 articles in archival up to the booth with the two his sisters Helen Barkerding When is it considered a success journals annually. couples and asks if he might Kammer [NC ’72] and Reid when a program that had been a The Newcomb College Institute join them. They slide over and Barkerding Noble [NC ’67] well respected and integral part of carries on the legacy of Newcomb he sits down. The young men appeared in an article in Tulane Tulane’s curriculum, the School College. It’s a thriving institute with a surrounding the booth sort of about the Beatles [in the side of Engineering, was decimated by mission of educating women for lead- look at each other and slowly bar, “A Hard Day’s Night” to “He President Cowen’s recovery plan? ership and connecting the research, start drifting away. Loves Them, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” At a time when the nation is see- teaching and community services I remember the colonel December 2013]. I immediately ing a need for engineering gradu- missions of Tulane. The Newcomb taking this sort of action with said, “Remember when I sent ates of all disciplines to support College Institute research center, several situations at that time. that telegram to Helen?” an estimated multibillion dollar archives and library are valuable, There was a lot of conflict He said, “Read the article.” investment in facilities and infra- indispensable resources for scholars. going on and he always Their father, Robert R. Bark- structure to support the boom in The Newcomb heritage also is seemed to handle situations erding, was my boss when I was oil and natural gas production, carried forth in Newcomb-Tulane without confrontation. in the steamship business after Tulane will stand by silently. College, the academic home for all I would enjoy some other Tulane and the service. That And when is it considered of the university’s full-time under- alums’ stories of their recol- day when I heard about Helen a success when Newcomb graduate students. lections of Col. Scruton. and how excited she was, I went College, a school with a long ______Steve Suplee, A&S ’75 to the Communication Center and storied past, is considered Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the office and sent it. disposable and wiped away, Drop Us a Line I saw Helen a few months as Katrina floodwaters did to E-mail: [email protected] Humble Hero ago, and she said, “I still have the city, by President Cowen’s or U.S. mail: Tulane, University I started Tulane Med the year that telegram to this day.” recovery plan? The graduates Publications, 200 Broadway, Suite Bobby Brown finished (1950). I loved those kids. I knew of Newcomb saw their College 219, New Orleans, LA 70118
4 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Letter From The Editor
MAGAZINE TUlane Editor Mary Ann Travis
creative Director Melinda Whatley Viles
“Tulanians” Editor Fran Simon
Contributors Keith Brannon Roger Dunaway Catherine Freshley, ’09 Erika Herran Alicia Duplessis Jasmin Angus Lind, A&S ’66 Kirby Messinger Arthur Nead Ryan Rivet, UC ’02 Mary Sparacello Mike Strecker
senior University Photographer Paula Burch-Celentano
senior Production Coordinator PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA Sharon Freeman
scott’s faith in others earned him the respect and dedica- Graphic Designer When people talk about Scott Cowen, tion of all in the room.” That room Tracey Bellina his abilities as a leader always come up. was in a hotel several hundred miles As he winds down his presidency at from New Orleans, and the people in free ipad and Tulane, colleagues and friends wrote re- the room in early September 2005 did Android versions membrances of their work with him. And not know how or when Tulane would of tulane are his leadership is the overriding theme. open again. available. Anne Baños (NC ’84), chief of staff Norman Francis, president of Xavier and vice president for administrative University, wrote of the “amazing job” services, puts it this way: “He has un- Cowen did in the recovery of New believable faith in people being able to Orleans: “He did it, not for the acco- do things.” lades, but because it was important More than once, Baños said that to be done.” President of the University Cowen told her, “You’ll figure it out; Cowen’s last “President’s Letter” is Scott S. Cowen you’ll be fine.” in this issue of Tulane, and we cover his With that faith in others, Cowen has last commencement as president. Vice President of University Communications “an innately positive, caring spirit,” said It’s the end of an era, but not the Deborah L. Grant, PHTM ’86 Baños. “When we talk about ‘good peo- end of Cowen’s association with Tulane ple,’ it sounds like an understatement, University. He’ll soon be invested into Executive Director of Publications but he’s a truly good person. Another of the first Distinguished University Chair Carol J. Schlueter, B ’99 Scott’s key attributes, and I can think of (see page 39) and will return to teach- Tulane (ISSN 21619255) is a quarterly magazine published by the Tulane all kinds of examples, is integrity. Scott ing. And for his continued service, the Office of University Publications, 31 McAlister Drive, Drawer 1, New doesn’t ask people to do what he isn’t university community is grateful. Orleans, LA 70118-5624. Periodical postage at New Orleans, LA 70113 and willing to do himself. ” You’ll find the series about Cowen, additional mailing offices. Send editorial correspondence to the above address or email [email protected]. “A true leader” is Sylvester Johnson’s “Thanks for the Memories,” on the Opinions expressed in Tulane are not necessarily those of Tulane estimation of Cowen. Johnson (above) Tulane website at tulane.edu/news/ representatives and do not necessarily reflect university policies. Material was by Cowen’s side during the dark newwave. may be reprinted only with permission. days after Hurricane Katrina. It’s also a good place to find out Tulane University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Johnson, senior associate vice what’s going on at Tulane, day-by-day, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: president for facilities services, recalls hour-to-hour, and to keep in touch. Tulane, Tulane Office of University Publications, 31 McAlister Drive, that Cowen’s “calm but stern directions —Mary Ann Travis Drawer 1, New Orleans, LA 70118-5624.
June 2014/Vol. 85, No. 4
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 5 New Orleans Recovery Tulane President Scott Cowen’s new book, The Inevitable City: The Resurgence of New Orleans and the Future of Urban America, is about leadership, the amazing recovery of New Orleans and the resilience and creativity of the people who helped rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina.
NEWS Water Restoration paula burch-celentano paula SGS U / A S NA Heart of Campus Tulane hopes to tap into the genius of entrepre- President Scott Cowen and the Board of Tulane announced exciting news Changing Classes neurs, researchers and inventors worldwide by this spring about the promise of transforming Tulane’s uptown campus McAlister Place offering a $1 million prize for the best solution and undergraduate student living and learning for generations to come. Pedestrian Way to combat annual “dead zones” in the world’s At its March meeting, the Board of Tulane voted to move forward opened in 2010 as lakes and oceans. with a plan to reimagine the physical design and function of the middle the first phase of a “Water Innovations: Reducing Hypoxia, section of campus between Freret and Willow streets. This is part of a long-range plan that Restoring Our Water” is the country’s latest long-range plan that started with the establishment of McAlister Place includes a new dining Grand Challenge, a response to President as a pedestrian mall in 2010 and resulted in the construction of two hall and new home for Obama’s call for organizations, philanthropists the Newcomb College new residence halls—Weatherhead Hall and the soon-to-open Barbara and universities to identify and pursue today’s Institute. Greenbaum House at Newcomb Lawn. (See page 38 for more about a most pressing issues. gift for this project.) Another phase includes a new four-story, $46 mil- Tulane’s Grand Challenge seeks innovative lion campus facility that will provide Tulane students with a premier solutions to combat hypoxia, oxygen-depleted dining experience while also creating a new and expanded home for the water caused mostly by excessive amounts Newcomb College Institute. of river-borne fertilizers and other nutrients The dining component of the new facility will more than double emptying into lakes and oceans. the seating capacity of Bruff Commons, the current dining hall that Phyllis Taylor, president of the Patrick F. is overcrowded and outdated. In addition to giving students an out- Taylor Foundation and a Tulane Board mem- standing dining experience every day, the new facility will provide HYPOXIA SOLUTION ber, is funding the grand prize. Tulane Prize The Grand Challenge space for special dinners and events for student organizations and seeks to solve the partners include Iowa Secretary of Agriculture residential colleges. problem of hypoxia— Bill Northey in the upper basin of the Mississippi The new facility is planned for the site of the current Newcomb Col- “dead zones”—in River and Louisiana Commissioner of Agricul- lakes and oceans. lege Institute to provide an expanded, state-of-the-art home for the Dead zones are ture and Forestry Mike Strain at its mouth. institute. It will allow the Newcomb College Institute to bring together oxygen-depleted Taylor said, “Tulane has long been a all its offices, programs and activities, which are currently scattered water caused by leader in social innovation. This competition throughout three campus buildings, under one roof. This new high- excessive amounts of advances that mission while strengthening river-borne fertilizers profile home will provide optimal space for more innovative programs, and other nutrients, Tulane’s leadership in water law and policy leadership opportunities and educational activities for women. During shown here at the and coastal research.” this phase of the project, the Newcomb-McAlister Unified Green Project mouth of the The grand prize will be awarded for a test- Mississippi River. will be completed, uniting the Newcomb and LBC quads into a central able, scaled and marketable operating model green space. that significantly, efficiently and cost-effec- The next evolution of the transformation should begin in 2017, when tively reduces hypoxia. Marketing opportu- Bruff Commons and the Caroline Richardson Building, whose func- nities should bring benefits beyond the prize tions will be housed in the new facility, will be redeveloped into two for winners and all competitors. new residence halls, allowing 80 percent of Tulane undergraduates to Information about the challenge is available live on campus.—Mike Strecker at: tulane.edu/tulaneprize. —M.S.
6 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE In That Number A. B. Freeman School of Business
,
freeman centennial 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the business school at Tulane University. Originally named the College of Commerce and Business Administration, the school was renamed the A. B. Freeman School of Business in honor of A. B. Freeman, former chairman of Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. His son, Richard W. Freeman Sr., led the effort to have the school named for his father by helping the school raise $7 million.
Years since the Tulane Board of Administrators 19,811 100 passed a resolution in 1914 to formally establish a new college dedicated to the Living alumni of the business school. teaching of business administration. 25 Years served by the school’s first dean, Morton A. “Doc” Aldrich. He also was a professor of economics at Tulane.
The sole member of the first graduating class in 1918 was E. David McCutchon. He went on to become the sales promotion $20 1 manager at D.H. Holmes. The cost of tuition per course in 1914. Some of the earliest courses included commercial law, economics, foreign trade, accounting and business administration. 1984 The year the College of Commerce and Business is renamed the A. B. Freeman School of Business. Although A. B. Freeman (right) 131,000 was not an alumnus, his son, Total square footage of Goldring/ Woldenberg Halls I and II. Richard W. Freeman Sr., earned a Hall I was completed in 1986, and Hall II in 2003. The buildings bachelor of business administration are named in honor of philanthropists Stephen M. Goldring and degree in 1934. Malcolm Woldenberg, founders of Magnolia Liquor. infographic by tracey bellina tracey by infographic
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 7 Who Dat? Treasure Seeker
ELYSE LURAY (NC ’89) took part in the time-honored tradition of the Newcomb Col- lege Daisy Chain at graduation 25 years ago. An art history major at Tulane, today Luray is an appraiser and historian of popular culture. Based in New York, Luray says, “The first time I was spell- bound by a historical subject was my first semester at Tulane. I was studying architecture in the French Quarter and became fas- cinated by one of the grand old houses. Soon I was spending all my time researching the home’s architecture, former owners and even the furnishings. Eventually my interest turned to objects and how they reflect people’s passions for the past.” Considered to be a leading expert in the collectibles/pop culture field of collecting, Luray is busy in her appraisal business, helping clients who need an insurance, fair market value, donation, estate, damage claim/ loss or market appraisal. She lectures on this topic throughout the country. Luray is one of five hosts on the PBS series “History Detec- tives” in which investigators delve into legends, folklore and personal histories to discover potentially extraordinary objects. Each week the detectives face new mysteries, intertwining everyday people with the legends
of American lore. Mixing forensic luray elyse courtesy evidence with Sherlock Holmes’ where the true value lies and houses. She spends her spare Jones’ personal collection. sharp eye, the “History Detec- then allowing them to decide time lending her auctioneering A wine expert, Luray pub- tives” create entire life stories what’s worth keeping and what skills to charities throughout lished her first book, Great Wines from a single scrap of evidence, they can sell. the country. Below $20, in 2011. Luray says an overlooked piece of the past, Luray has appeared on Luray spent 11 years at she uses her “History Detectives” and help people discover the “Antiques Roadshow,” “The Christie’s auction house as an techniques and wine knowledge truth about their objects. Nate Berkus Show,” the Style auctioneer and vice president to show the reader how easy it Luray also hosts a series Network’s “Clean House NY!” of the Popular Arts Depart- is to find good, enjoyable, cheap on the SyFy network called and the yearly HGTV special, ment. Some collections she wine. Last year, Luray donated “Collection Intervention.” She “The Longest Yard Sale.” appraised were the archives a private wine tasting for the creates a strategy that helps A licensed auctioneer, Luray of Lucas Films, Dreamworks, Helluva Hullabaloo auction collectors curate and showcase can be seen at the podium sell- Warner Bros., Hanna Barbara, to benefit Tulane student- their collection by assessing ing for many different auction Hard Rock Cafe and Chuck athletes.—fran simon
8 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Social Work Relocates After 60 years on the uptown campus, the Tulane School of Social Work is moving downtown to a newly renovated facility at 127 Elk Place, tripling its office and classroom space.
NEWS Costa Rica’s President OK to Play parker waters parker As more parents consider whether it’s safe for adolescents to play football, a new Tulane Uni- versity study of high school players found no ap photos/moises castillo photos/moises ap link between years of play and any decline in The new president of Costa Rica is Tulane alumnus Luis Guillermo Costa Rica neurocognitive function. Solís (G ’81). Solís, who received his master’s degree in Latin Ameri- Elections The results of the study were presented can studies, was elected in a landslide victory in April and started his Luis Guillermo Solís, at the 2014 annual meeting of the American four-year term in May. of the Citizen Action Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Before his historic presidential election, Solís worked as a political Party, celebrates with Orleans in March. The results suggest that science and history professor at the University of Costa Rica. He is the his supporters in San risks of sport-related brain injuries are relative- first third-party candidate to become president of the country. Jose, Costa Rica, on Feb. ly low, said lead author Dr. Gregory Stewart, “It’s a remarkable story,” says Ludovico Feoli, director of the Center for 2, 2014. In April, Solís associate professor of orthopaedics at the won the runoff for the Inter-American Policy and Research at Tulane. Solís “enjoyed a long and School of Medicine. presidency. distinguished career as a diplomat but never before held elected political “The correlation between the number of office. He is articulate and likeable and connected with voters disenfran- years of football participation and the perfor- chised by the two ruling parties, both mired in corruption scandals.” mance on the digit symbol substitution test Those who knew Solís while he was a grad student describe him as [a common neuropsychological test] does not brilliant and captivating. support the hypothesis that participation in a “He had such a charismatic personality and fiery intellect that you collision sport negatively affects neurocogni- knew he would go far,” says fellow student Virginia Garrard-Burnett (G tive function,” Stewart said. ’80, ’86), who attended Solís’ presidential inauguration and is a professor “The implication is that the playing of foot- at the University of Texas–Austin. “You could see that this was someone ball is not in and of itself detrimental.” whose life was going to take a very different direction than the rest of us.” However, the research does “reinforce the Professor emeritus of history Ralph Lee Woodward Jr. (G ’59, ’62) need to educate high school and college ath- directed Solís’ “carefully researched and well-written” master’s thesis. HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS letes to better understand the importance of A Tulane study re- “He was not only an excellent student, but also a charming individual,” viewed two years of being honest about their (concussion) symp- says Woodward. data on football play- toms so that they can be treated appropriate- Solís retained a strong connection to Tulane even after he returned to ers, whose mean age ly,” Stewart said. was 15.9 and whose Costa Rica. He has taught Central American Politics to numerous Tulane mean play time was “Many kids play with symptoms that they students over the years at CIAPA, the Tulane-run campus in San José, 4.4 years. don’t necessarily equate with a concussion.” Costa Rica. Concussion symptoms include balance Thomas Reese, executive director of the Stone Center for Latin Amer- problems, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty con- ican Studies at Tulane, says future CIAPA students will be fortunate to centrating, headache, irritability, nausea, have a close friend of Tulane heading the Costa Rican government. sensitivity to light or noise, vision problems, “It’s a great honor to have one of our own reach such a level of memory difficulties and feeling emotional or distinction,” Reese says.—Mary Sparacello mentally foggy.—Keith Brannon
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 9 Peace Corps Volunteers In the 2014 Peace Corps rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country, Tulane is No. 2 in the graduate school category and No. 13 in the undergraduate medium school group.
NEWS NOLA Service Year Building on its role as a national leader in public service, Tulane has partnered with the Corporation for National and Commu- nity Service (CNCS) and the Aspen Institute’s Franklin Project to launch a pilot program to give recent graduates an opportunity to spend a year of service making a tangible difference within communities in New Orleans. The Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program begins this summer and will support eight fellows who will live on campus as they work full time with nonprofits in high-need neigh- borhoods throughout the city. The two-year pilot program includes free housing and a monthly stipend for living ex- Storied Street penses. Upon completion, participants will earn Richard Campanella’s new book, Bourbon Street: A History (Louisiana Bourbon Street a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to cover State University Press, 2014), is the first truly scholarly work about the Nightlife student loans or to further their education. French Quarter’s mile-long street that has become for millions world- Richard Campanella Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS, said, “The wide a symbol—for better or worse—of the culture of New Orleans. gives a “historical- Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program is a pow- Campanella, a geographer and School of Architecture professor, geographical erful new model that combines the proven traces the history of Bourbon Street starting with the surveying of the panorama” of community impact of AmeriCorps with the city’s street plan and following its evolution from a quiet residential Bourbon Street over public service leadership of a great university.” thoroughfare to the object of heated controversies about local culture three centuries in The program is open to all, and Tulane stu- his new book. and the images that New Orleans ought to project. dents are especially encouraged to apply. The “The first inflection point in Bourbon Street’s trajectory from nor- university will award Tulane alumni fellows an malcy to deviancy occurred in the 1860s, on the heels of the Civil War,” additional $5,000 to further their education at says Campanella, “when middle- and upper-class residents departed Tulane at the completion of the service year. the inner city and elements of the nocturnal entertainment scene Each year, 8,000 Tulane students parti- established themselves in and around the upper French Quarter.” cipate in service-learning classes, volunteer Then with the closure of Storyville in 1917, the nighttime scene projects and internships throughout the shifted again toward Bourbon Street. “Bourbon seized it by landing greater New Orleans region as part of their one of the first modern ‘nightclubs,’ Maxime’s, which welcomed cou- graduation requirement. ples and parlayed perfectly into the ‘dating’ and speakeasy scene of Building on Tulane’s long-lasting collabo- the 1920s Prohibition Era. ration with CNCS—which to date has resulted “The third major inflection point was World War II, when millions in 112 AmeriCorps VISTA members serving of war workers and troops transited through New Orleans and gravi- the New Orleans community and a federal tated to the cluster of bars and clubs that had gathered on Bourbon,” investment of $2.4 million—the Tulane Ameri- according to Campanella. Corps Fellows Program represents a significant “After WWII, Bourbon gained—and kept—national fame, and expansion of Tulane’s service offerings and increasingly, local infamy. a natural extension of its civic mission. The “I’m intrigued that people either love or hate Bourbon Street,” Franklin Project is a new venture by the Aspen Campanella says. “I hope that readers come to discover, as I did, that Institute to marshal the best case for a there are some fascinating—and in my mind, vindicating, aspects—to voluntary civilian counterpart to military Bourbon Street.” —Arthur Nead service in the United States.—K.B.
10 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Gallery Ellis Wilson
If Funeral Procession (shown here) by Ellis Wilson (1899–1977) looks familiar, it’s likely because of the exposure the painting received on TV’s “The Cosby Show.” A replica of the paint- ing hung above the mantle of the fictional Huxtable home for several seasons. The original oil on masonite painting, which measures 30 1/2 by 29 1/4 inches, is owned by the Amistad Research Center located on Tulane University’s uptown campus. Funeral Procession is first introduced into “The Cosby Show” in a 1985 episode, when Wilson is written into the story line as Claire Huxtable’s deceased great uncle. Huxtable bids on the painting at auction after it had been lost to her family years earlier and purchases it for $11,000. In reality, Wilson’s art typi- cally sold for much less and was not widely recognized. But he still made a name for him- self in the art community by exhibiting his work throughout the time of the Harlem Renais- sance and beyond. Wilson left his home state of Kentucky to study at the Art Institute of Chicago from courtesy of amistad research center research amistad of courtesy which he graduated in 1923. He later moved to New York Wilson visited Haiti in the native foliage, bright hues and reference services at where he exhibited with the early 1950s, absorbing the and faceless people. Amistad. “There are a million Harmon Foundation, an organi- country’s culture by watch- The original Funeral reproductions out there, but zation that promoted the works ing people, eating local foods Procession (ca. 1954) was the original strokes made by of African-American artists. and listening to the music. a 1982 gift to Amistad from Ellis Wilson’s brush are on the In 1944, Wilson was Upon his return from Haiti, the Harmon Foundation and canvas of the painting here at awarded a Guggenheim he said, “It came to me that is part of Amistad’s fine arts the center.” fellowship, which he used at a distance, you see these collection, which is named Amistad also owns three of to travel in the South. He people coming and going and for visual artist Aaron Doug- Wilson’s lesser-known works. created paintings depicting you don’t see their features. las (1899–1979), who was a At Amistad, Funeral the lives of African-Amer- They’re black. They’re a mass strong presence during the Procession is kept in a cli- icans at work, illustrating of darkness. So I started Harlem Renaissance. mate-controlled storage area activities such as making painting the faces flat.” “Funeral Procession is the with dim lighting to prevent turpentine, selling goods Haiti’s influence is pal- most famous single image its color from fading. It may in open-air markets and pable in Wilson’s subsequent in the collection,” says Chris be viewed upon request. harvesting tobacco. works, which often feature Harter, director of library —ALICIA DUPLESSIS JASMIN
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 11 Interview Laura Levy, Vice President for Research paula burch-celentano paula
How important is research to Tulane? within and outside Tulane, the inclusion funds intended to bridge the gap between Tulane is widely recognized among the best of innovative approaches to address the competitively awarded federal grants. research universities in the nation. Indeed, scientific problem, and the prompt, effec- our international presence is such that, in tive resolution of administrative or other What advice would you give many countries around the world, “Tulane” obstacles to success. students with their sights set on a is practically a household name. This career in research? reputation is the accrual of generations Do you expect continued I encourage students of that bent to of Tulane faculty who contributed original belt-tightening for researchers? pursue what is surely one of the most research of substance and value, of direct Yes, I regret to say that I do. A recent deeply satisfying, most enjoyable career societal benefit through both technological opinion piece described our current fed- options available. I think my colleagues advancement and through the education eral funding environment as an “unsus- would agree that serving on the faculty and training of future generations. tainable hypercompetitive system that is of a research university is a privilege discouraging even the most outstanding in the truest sense. We are compen- What challenges face private research students from entering our profession and sated to spend our time thinking about institutions? making it difficult for seasoned investiga- original research ideas that captivate In an environment of declining federal tors to produce their best work.” In the our attention, and are free to pursue a research support, researchers are pressed case of the National Institutes of Health, research path of our own design so long to develop ever more competitive grant for example, the funding lines in many as we can attract funding to support it. proposals. Mechanisms often used to reach institutes extended to fewer than the top At the same time, we have the pleasure this goal include a keener focus on the 10 percent of peer-reviewed proposals. of teaching a very eager, capable and most compelling scientific questions to be My office works to help faculty investiga- receptive group of undergraduate and asked in one’s field, the development of tors in this position by awarding what we graduate students. It is a good life. I productive, synergistic collaborations both term Bridge Research Support, that is, recommend it.—RYAN RIVET
12 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE MOVE TO AAC The Green Wave officially joins the American Athletic Conference on July 1, 2014, after playing the last 18 seasons as a member of Conference USA.
SPORTS
PMS 640
PMS 3435 Loves Tennis NFL Bound parker waters parker ryan rivet ryan
After taking home the 2014 Conference USA Tulane standout wide receiver Ryan Grant became the first Green Pro Day Player of the Year honor—and going unde- Wave player selected in the NFL draft since 2009 when the Washing- Wide receiver feated all spring with a 15-match win streak— ton Redskins used the 142nd overall pick to bring him to D.C. Ryan Grant is timed Tulane senior Klara Vyskocilova was one of 64 A native of Beaumont, Texas, Grant started for the past two sea- in the 40-yard dash players selected to compete in the 2014 NCAA sons for the Wave and earned Conference USA first team honors both during Tulane pro Division I Women’s Tennis Singles Champion- years. He completed his career with 196 receptions for 2,769 yards and day in April at the ships in Athens, Georgia, in late May. 21 touchdowns. In the Tulane career record book, he finished in fifth New Orleans Saints “The level of excitement coming from Klara place all alone with the most career receptions in school history, fifth practice facility in Metairie, Louisiana. making the NCAA individual tournament is in career receiving yards with 2,769, third in 100-yard games with 12 immeasurable,” said head coach Terri Sisk, at and tied for sixth in touchdown receptions. Tulane press time. “This is the first time since Some analysts expect Grant to be an early contributor as a slot re- 2005 that anyone in our program has made ceiver in Washington due to the precise route-running and soft hands postseason, and I could not be happier for her.” he showed during his college career. Vyskocilova, the Green Wave’s top singles “I had no idea what team might draft me, but we got the call from top of her game player this season, was the 58th-ranked singles Washington, and I am happy to be a Redskin,” said Grant. “It will be Klara Vyskocilova, player in the nation. She put up an impressive great to be on the same team and catch passes from a quarterback like 2014 Conference USA Player of the 20-6 overall record in 2013–14. Robert Griffin III.” Year, is on her way Among her wins this season are victories Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson called Grant a “terrific young to the NCAA Singles over a pair of Top 25 ranked players, and she man with a solid work ethic,” and said he expects to see “big things” Championships in late May. sports a record of 5-2 against nationally ranked from him as a professional. singles players for the 2013–14 campaign. While Grant was the only Tulane player selected in the NFL draft From Klatovy, Czech Republic, Vyskocilova in May, five members of the 2013 Green Wave team signed deals that majored in finance. She is as solid in the class- will bring them into training camp with NFL squads. Defensive tackle room as on the court. She was selected to the Chris Davenport, kicker Cairo Santos, running back Orleans Darkwa, 2014 All C-USA Women’s Tennis Academic cornerback Jordan Sullen and defensive tackle Julius Warmsley have Team, and she is a two-time member of the C- each signed on as undrafted free agents. Davenport will join Grant on USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Tulane’s the Redskins, while Santos signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and 3.0 Club. She’s on track to graduate with a Darkwa with the Tennessee Titans. Sullen inked with the Denver 3.72 GPA.—Roger Dunaway Broncos, and Warmsley signed with the Houston Texans.—Ryan Rivet
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 13 Praise and Thanks Festive music sets the tone—this is New Orleans, after all—for graduates and their friends and family at Commencement 2014—Scott Cowen’s 16th and final graduation ceremony as president of Tulane University.
by Mary Ann Travis
Job well done was the message, and joy, tinged with a little sadness, Four times during his speech, Marsalis paused to play his trumpet, was the mood. At the Tulane University Commencement ceremony in accompanied by Dr. Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band, per- the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on May 17, 2014, accolades flowed for forming triumphant and ascendant tunes, including “When the Saints the graduates and President Scott Cowen, who was presiding over his Go Marching In.” last ceremony as leader of the university. Marsalis had been asked months earlier to speak at the ceremony, In a ceremony punctuated throughout by joyous, up-tempo music with one stipulation from Cowen: don’t say anything about me. performed by some of the world’s—which by definition, means New Well, Marsalis ignored that admonition and, instead, spoke highly Orleans’—most accomplished musicians, a class of more than 2,800 of the Tulane president who is stepping down on July 1 after 16 years graduates from all 50 states and 63 countries celebrated academic in office. achievements. Cowen “has lived his most sacred belief,” said Marsalis. “It’s diffi- Wynton Marsalis, New Orleans’ own renowned jazz musician and cult to be an exemplar of what comes out of your mouth. Words are the commencement speaker, praised the graduates for “endeavoring to easy to speak; to be is very difficult. This man showed the nation and pursue” their dreams, for their hard work and for joining the elite ranks the world the true meaning of leadership.” of college graduates. And Cowen’s “most sacred belief is that a university is its stu- “You have survived this rite of passage,” Marsalis told them. “You dents,” said Marsalis. deserve to celebrate, but don’t rest.” To celebrate Cowen is to celebrate the graduates. “You are what Gratitude with a prayerful attitude was a theme for Marsalis. he has worked tirelessly to manifest,” said Marsalis, who received an “Give further thanks,” he told the assembled graduates and about honorary degree at the ceremony. 12,000 of their friends and families, “for all the obstacles and tribula- Cowen, in his speech to the graduates, advised them to commit tions that made you reach deeper to raise yourself higher even as you themselves to lifelong learning, making a difference in the world and recognize and appreciate all the advantages and incentives that have finding their passion. (See an excerpt of Cowen’s speech on page 2). allowed you to float above the turmoil and chaos that have destroyed “No one will ever remember you for what you did for yourself,” the aspirations of many.” Cowen said. “They will remember you for what you did for others.”
14 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Rite of Passage Facing page: Tulane President Scott Cowen runs the gamut of feelings during the ceremony filled with tributes to him—and the graduates. This page: Top: Clarinetist Michael White and trum- peter Wynton Marsalis serenade Cowen, who holds a second-line umbrella. Second row, left to right: Devon Walker, who was paralyzed in a football accident two years ago, joins other graduates at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Walker was recognized for his bravery and inspirational attitude. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (right) marches behind Darryl Berger, chairman of the Board of Tulane. Brees and White received Tulane President’s Medals during the ceremony. Third row: Graduates celebrate in style. Fourth row, left to right: Class of 2014 Speaker Michael R. Callender addresses the audience. Graduates make merry. Cowen takes one last photo from the stage. Photos by Paula Burch-Celentano.
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 15 al Portrait Gallery. Portrait al ation N vakian, 1955. Courtesy of of Courtesy 1955. vakian, A aram aram
16 june 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Cool: adj. & interj. [cf. earlier general colloquial, keep a cool head, Negro slang, keep cool, fool; term is linguistic parallel of the new post–World War II musical temper (more relaxed, cerebral, sophisticated) … widely current since c. 1947] … this most protean of jazz slang terms also means, among other things, off dope, on dope, comfortable, respectable, perceptive, shrewd—virtually anything favorably regarded by the speaker. { —Robert S. Gold, A Jazz Lexicon (1964) { Wh?t Cool is The concept of cool—
you know it when you see it,
but it’s tricky to define.
by Michael Luke
Ever since the great jazz sax man Lester Young gave birth to the word “cool” in the 1940s, we— that is, a greater portion of all of humanity—have been consumed with cool in all of its rubrics and forms, relentlessly asking, “What is cool? Who is cool? Is that cool or is this cool?” even Birth of Cool though the ideal existed long before the word. Perhaps, we have been chasing down answers One of the great jazz to the wrong questions. Maybe we should have been asking, “Who knows cool?” artists of the 20th century, Miles Davis One Tulane professor just might have that answer. Joel Dinerstein knows cool. Dinerstein, (1926–1991) embodies associate professor of English and director of the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South, cool. He is one of the has known cool before he wrote a book about it—American Cool (Prestel, 2014); before he few jazz musicians co-curated an exhibit—“American Cool” on 100 cool American figures on display untilS ept. in the Rock and Roll 7, 2014, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.; and Hall of Fame. even before he started teaching college classes about the subject way back in 1997.
TULANE MAGAZINE june 2014 17 al Portrait Gallery. Portrait al ation N y of of y ourtes C william claxton, 1962. 1962. claxton, william
“Cool essentially comes out of rebellious self-expression,” Dinerstein Comics on the Edge says as he sits down to talk about cool and its place in American culture. For an example of the transformative powers (It isn’t a surprise that his Uptown home has not one, but two portraits that cool figures can have, take comedy. Com- King of Cool of Lester Young.) edy has and can have a cool edge. Actor Steve McQueen Dinerstein’s first lesson is that there is substance and style to cool. “Lenny Bruce transformed comedy for- (1930–1980) exemplifies More than just a lit cigarette, the collar up on a leather jacket, and an ever,” Dinerstein says. “We weren’t going the self-confident man eternally beautiful face adorned with sunglasses—though looks and back to Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and George of action who conceals style and sexual charisma are sometimes important elements of cool’s Burns—ever.” his emotions under a mystic alchemy—there is an ethos, an aesthetic, for cool. Bruce’s controversial, profanity-laced bits steely, calm exterior. Think Miles Davis, his back arched, blowing his mighty trumpet that delved into topics such as sex, drugs, inside a smoky jazz club, like some earthly incarnation of Gabriel. In religion, race, and even the government were off limits until he a more modern vein, consider the technological revolution started decided to push the boundaries in the early 1960s, making him a target by Steve Jobs or Jay-Z setting the world of hip-hop on its ear. Or of authority figures, such as the police who arrested him on obscenity maybe it’s Jack Kerouac pounding away at a typewriter at the speed charges for daring to use profanity on stage. of sound, describing wild journeys looking for the soul of America. But once Bruce’s comedic assault began on the mores of 1960s’ And the women of cool? What about Madonna? Or Mae West? Or America, things permanently changed, although his own life and art Zora Neale Hurtson? end tragically. These people are easy to recognize as cool, but the problem is, cool Without Bruce cursing on stage, among other things, we’d never isn’t always so easy to define. get George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” routine. The path blazed by “People often say they know it when they see it,” Dinerstein says, Bruce, as volatile and transgressive as it was, Dinerstein explains, al- but to define the concept can be tricky. lowed for Carlin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Louis C.K., etc. all to “In the exhibit [at the Smithsonian], cool represents the successful be possible. rebels of American culture, and by successful, I mean their rebellion in their given field transformed their area of art or activism, and often IDENTITY FORMATION transformed American culture itself outside of their field.” Cool is profoundly an American concept, often transmitted outward to But these cool figures often pay a price for taking their field and art the rest of the world. to new places. They are routinely attacked by authority figures for their Dinerstein writes in American Cool: “First, new cool personae daring artistic innovation. mostly trickle up through popular culture, and American pop culture
18 june 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE “Cool essentially comes out of rebellious self-expression.” —Joel Dinerstein
He Knows Cool Joel Dinerstein “chillaxes” at home. has functioned as something of a global lingua franca for more than a century. Second, a set of conditions for generational cool are often forged at the intersection of youth culture, popular culture and African Ameri- can culture, from swing to rock ’n’ roll to funk to hip-hop, from language to dance to fashion to aesthetics. Third, cool is in large part an African American concept. Black Americans invented the concepts of hip and cool—both traceable to concepts in many African cultures—and the terms first crossed over from New York’s jazz culture in the late 1940s.” So why is cool so important, so vital to America? “Cool has been central to the American self-concept for the last 70 years,” Dinerstein says. “Starting in the ’50s, the whole way in which you build a self as an adolescent is based on the figures you and your generation have cho- sen to be cool. It is nothing less than the process of identity formation in modernity.”
GENERATION GAPS Cool is personal, Dinerstein points out, and cool changes with each generation. These cool figures speak to the soul, and cool to each of us is a unique experience, our own mythology; we choose which icons to buy into and then willingly worship them. Something that is shared by many, but speaking to each of us simultaneously. “What cool represents is the figure that you choose to represent you,” he says, acknowledging this is how Elvis was the coolest creature on Earth to a litany of kids, hitting a crescendo for them on Sept. 9, 1956, with his hip-shaking appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Nine years later, in 1965, forget Elvis and here comes Bob Dylan going electric with epic-length pop songs and, in his wake, an entire generation of singer-songwriters often called “new Dylans.” Dinerstein traces his first sense of cool back to a 14-year-old kid, Percy Williams, from his junior high days in Brooklyn—a story he often tells his classes. “He was good-looking. He wore dress clothes to school, and they looked good on him. Women loved him. He was smart and a really good basketball player,” Dinerstein remembers. “He wasn’t the rebel kind of cool. He had this other-worldly self- confidence that you don’t know where it comes from.” Almost everyone has this first micro-encounter brush with cool in their youth, that person amongst your peers who stands out with
something in their personality just exuding that essence. burch-celentano paula
TULANE MAGAZINE june 2014 19 THE BOSS African American culture, Dinerstein says that years ago he recognized At 16, Dinerstein had his first encounter with cool on a larger level with the resonance of cool in American culture. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. “I understood at an intuitive level, in ways that I can’t quite explain, “Meanings of cool change,” Dinerstein says, “but for me the Born to that cool was a very profound concept; it was a profound philosophical Run record changed my life, the way an artwork can change your life.” idea. And the notion of trying to be cool, not in the superficial way of The 1975 breakthrough record by Springsteen with its anthems of either being popular or being a rebel, was something very complex.” redemption amid rusty, apocalyptic landscapes, tales of youthful, love- Dinerstein credits the renowned Africanist scholar Robert Farris driven escape to better places, and dangerous passion spoke to Diner- Thompson with excavating the roots of cool in West African societies stein—and millions of others—as only cool can on a personal level. as a concept meaning “spiritual balance.” “I listened to that record every day, knew every word, I sang it on “It means an ideal mode of being in the world. It’s like an ideal exis- streets every day. It was like possession in the primitive sense. I sang it tential mode. If you could be in balance—mind, body and spirit every in Bruce’s voice. I needed to get where he was, and that, in a way, is what day—that’s what cool is,” Dinerstein says. cool is. How do I get to where you are? Because that’s where I want to go.” Those of us who encounter this coolness, we feel it and are drawn to it. We know what cool is. TIMELESSNESS Asked whether cool is timeless, Elvis returns to the conversation, and Michael Luke is a 2004 graduate of Tulane with a Bachelor of Arts Dinerstein claims cool is more time-bound than timeless; in other in English. words, it is about generational impact. “We know what Elvis did to the Boomer generation when he showed up—1955 through, say, ’63. After that he became a caricature of every- Lady Day thing, not just of himself. By the early ’70s, this means in some way he Billie Holiday loses his cool when we look at it historically. But not for the people who (1915–1959), the most grew up with him. He was still meaningful to them,” Dinerstein says. influential jazz vocalist “The people who were the breakthrough for you, they remain that of all time, remains all your life.” true to the jazz practice Drawing from his expertise as a jazz scholar and deep knowledge of of self-expression. . allery G trait trait al Por al n 1951. Courtesy of Natio of Courtesy 1951. y, b willough b Bo
20 june 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Five Cool New Orleanians Dr. John When Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr. announced to the listener, “They call me Dr. John, The Night Tripper,” in the opening lyrics to his 1968 psychedelic classic “Gris-Gris,” the haunting, voodoo- channeled themes forever changed the soundscape of New Orleans music. That album was just the beginning for what would earn Dr. John a place in the pantheon of New Orleans cool. Some 30 albums later and at the age of 73, Dr. John is an essential element to the New Orleans music scene and still creating funky, timeless music. Dr. John { received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Tulane in 2013. {
Tootie Montana The Big Chief of Chiefs. No Mardi Gras Indian’s legacy looms larger than Allison “Tootie” Montana, big chief of the Yellow Pocahon- tas Tribe. The subject of several documentaries, numerous articles and with a statue honoring him in Louis Armstrong Park, Montana revolutionized Mardi Gras Indian culture. Not only did he forever change the way suits were made with his high level of craftsman- ship, giving them a three-dimensional flare that really hasn’t been matched since his death in 2005, he was undoubtedly one of the key figures in getting violence out of Indian culture and on a path to be { recognized as a cultural charm of New Orleans. { Big Freedia If jazz was the first musical gift from New Orleans to the world, bounce music is the city’s latest offering. Big Freedia, the Queen of Bounce, exemplifies the blistering, echoing, relentlessly repeti- tive sounds of bounce. Openly and unapologetically gay, Freedia, whose personality is just as brash as bounce, was twerking well before Miley Cyrus left “Hannah Montana.” Bounce was an under- ground form of hip-hop before Freedia brought its sounds out of { New Orleans and to the masses. {
Leah Chase Next to music, food is just as important to New Orleanians. Who is a better representative of the food community than the woman who has run an iconic Creole restaurant in the heart of the Sixth Ward for de- cades? More than just a place to find New Orleans soul food favorites such as gumbo, fried chicken and red beans and rice, Chase’s restau- rant, Dooky Chase’s, was an essential meeting spot of the Civil Rights movement (and even makes an appearance in a classic Ray Charles’ tune). Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have dined at the restaurant at the corner of Orleans Avenue and North Miro Street, where, Chase, at 91, still cooks up savory food daily. In 2008, she { received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Tulane. {
Peyton Manning The son of golden-armed quarterback Archie Manning, Peyton Manning has grown from a kid playing catch with his brothers in the yard of the family’s New Orleans Garden District home to setting the school passing record at Isidore Newman to shattering countless records in the NCAA with the University of Tennessee Volunteers to winning a Super Bowl and a record-setting five NFL MVPs. Manning is a lock for the Hall of Fame when he does retire, joining other legendary NFL quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Dan Marino. He revolutionized the game of football, and there will not be a conversation in which the greatest quarterbacks of all-time are { considered without his name being immediately mentioned. {
TULANE MAGAZINE june 2014 21 john david mercer/usa today mercer/usa david john
22 june 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Heavy Hitter
Dr. James Andrews has successfully treated the most famous athletes in the world and sent them back to the playing fields. He’s now turning his attention to preventing injuries in young athletes at the beginning of their sports careers.
by Kirby Messinger
In the Action Dr. James Andrews is a physician for several teams. Plus, he per- forms surgery, trains fellows and conducts research. He com- pleted his residency at Tulane Medical School in 1972.
TULANE MAGAZINE june 2014 23 “If you’re still talking about what you did yesterday, then what are you doing today?” DR. ANDREWS’ PAST PATIENTS This is a phrase that Dr. James Andrews has heard from his wife throughout his career. But for Andrews, the words are more than just sound advice; they have helped shape his remarkable work in Troy Aikman sports medicine. Sports fans might recognize Andrews’ name because they Charles Barkley have heard ESPN anchors refer to him or seen his frequent cameos in various newspapers or magazines. But these refer- Drew Brees ences are only a small part of Andrews’ reach in the world of sports. He treats or has treated players on nearly every team roger Clemens and in nearly every sport. In 2010, Andrews was the only doctor to be named among the top 40 most powerful people in Brett Favre the NFL by Sports Illustrated. His resume includes a who’s who Bo Jackson of some of the most famous athletes in the world. Drew Brees, Troy Aikman, Roger Clemens, Kerri Strug, Brett Favre, Ter- michael Jordan rell Owens, Emmitt Smith, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson and the Manning brothers are eli Manning just a few of his notable patients. Andrews’ love of both sports and medicine harkens back Peyton Manning to his roots in Homer, La. His grandfather, a farmer and self- taught country doctor, would rock him on their front porch and
john reed/usa today reed/usa john Jack Nicklaus call Andrews his young doctor. From his father, he inherited a love of sports and eventually went to Louisiana State University on a Terrell Owens track scholarship. Andrews flourished as a pole-vaulter and won the 1963 Southeastern Conference championship. Although he ended emmitt Smith his athletic career early to enter medical school, he now makes it his mission to extend the playing careers of other athletes. kerri Strug Andrews says the seed was planted early on in his life to become a physician. Combining medicine with his love of sports, his dream was to be a team physician. To do that, he pursued a residency in orthopae- Useful Book: Any Given Monday: Sports Injuries and How to dics at Tulane University School of Medicine. Prevent Them for Athletes, Parents and Coaches—Based on My During his second year of residency, Andrews learned of Dr. Life in Sports Medicine by Dr. James Andrews Jack Hughston while watching slides during a regular Friday after- noon class. Hughston was a pioneer in the emerging field of sports STOP: The Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention program medicine, and Andrews was immediately impressed with him. addresses prevention and overuse in young athletes. Andrews approached Dr. Jack Wickstrom, chairman of the Depart- www.stopsportsinjuries.org ment of Orthopaedic Surgery, to see if he could facilitate a meeting between himself and the longtime Auburn University team doctor. The meeting was set and during his third year of residency, Andrews own practice in Birmingham, Ala. He now has centers in Birming- was able to travel to Columbus, Ga., and train full time with Hughston ham and Gulf Breeze, Fla. The Andrews Clinic in Birmingham and the through the help of Wickstrom and the orthopaedics department. Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine see nearly After completing his residency, Wickstrom pushed Andrews to 40,000 patients annually. continue his training. Although it wasn’t common at the time for Andrews credits his success to his ability to talk to patients on residents to pursue fellowships, Wickstrom put Andrews in contact their level—not in “doctor talk.” When asked about his ability to with Dr. Frank C. McCue at the University of Virginia to learn about relate so well to the world’s most notable athletes, Andrews says the upper extremities since most of sports medicine at the time was he is always truthful and focuses on listening. He has an extreme focused on knee injuries. Following a six-month training in Virginia, commitment to customer service and makes himself available to Wickstrom and Hughston then sent Andrews to work with Dr. Albert athletes, agents, parents and coaches around the clock—much to Trillat, known as the father of European knee surgery, in Lyon, France. the chagrin of his wife, Jenelle. Those experiences and training “really set me up in the sports “She’s not always happy when I’m getting phone calls, and we’re out medicine world,” says Andrews. “If it hadn’t been for Jack Wickstrom to eat or at home about to sit down to supper,” says Andrews. and Tulane orthopaedics, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get the Andrews understood early on that being available to clients would training I did in sports medicine.” help him create a reputation for accessibility. He also knew that taking Following his training, Andrews travelled to Columbus, Ga., to care of high school, college and minor-league athletes would create a work with Hughston where he was able to use those upper extremi- network of referrals. These young athletes eventually worked their way ties skills and work with pitchers and throwers. In Georgia, he up to the pros and told all of their teammates to visit Dr. Andrews. perfected the use of arthroscopy, then an experimental technique, Despite his nonstop work regime; the countless phone calls; and which Andrews refers to as one of the biggest revelations in sports the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the sidelines at Auburn Uni- medicine. Arthroscopy involves inserting a long metal rod, some versity, the University of Alabama and with the Washington Redskins with camera and light, and some with instruments for cutting and where he is the team physician, Andrews still manages to train fellows stitching into the injured area. Andrews became one of the first and conduct state-of-the-art research at both of his centers. surgeons to fix labral and rotator cuff tears using the procedure. “I’ve learned so much about the practice of sports medicine by After working with Hughston for 13 years, Andrews set up in his being around young fellows. It helps you have an open mind and
24 june 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE allows you to be continually challenged. I don’t know how I would train like a professional athlete before their bodies are ready for that have done what I have without the stimulation from bright ortho- strain. Young athletes are more susceptible to injuries because of their paedic fellows and residents. My goal is to make them better than I growth status. Weak ligaments and growing musculoskeletal systems even thought about being,” says Andrews. along with poor coordination make them In 2000, Andrews started noticing that highly vulnerable to injury. instead of seeing adult athletes, he was In Any Given Monday, Andrews gives being inundated with young patients. “I’ve learned so guidelines on the prevention of injuries for He says that athletes as young as 13 years 29 youth sports. He says that parents and old were coming in with what he refers grandparents are especially important to as “adult sports injuries.” The number much about the to prevention. of “Tommy John surgeries” (a surgery to “If we can emphasize prevention meth- repair the ulnar collateral ligament) on practice of sports ods, maybe we can make a dent in the patients 18 years and younger jumped from amount of injuries. That’s really the purpose several per year to several dozen. His team of this book. Parents are keenly unaware of at the Andrews Research and Education medicine by the risk factors associated with their kids Institute started tracking the rise in youth playing youth sports.” sports injuries and realized that what they Andrews started the Sports Trauma and were seeing was quickly becoming an being around Overuse Prevention (STOP) program to ad- epidemic. They discovered a seven-fold dress prevention and overuse in young ath- increase in the number of injuries among letes. Proceeds from Any Given Monday go young athletes since 2000, with 2 million young fellows.” to STOP to aid in awareness campaigns and high school athletes hospitalized each prevention research. year with sports injuries. Further research —Dr. James Andrews Andrews warns that STOP is not meant showed that about 60 percent of youth to keep kids from playing sports. He says in injuries were related to overuse and 40 fact sports are very important to our society percent to trauma. and have many benefits for children. The motto of the organization is Those startling discoveries prompted Andrews to write the book to keep kids out of the operating room and on the playing field. The Any Given Monday: Sports Injuries and How to Prevent Them for ultimate goal of the organization is to help change laws that will aid in Athletes, Parents and Coaches—Based on My Life in Sports Medicine prevention. As a result of the program, Little League adopted Andrews’ to help prevent injury in sports’ most vulnerable population—its recommendations to impose pitch counts on all of its participants. young athletes. The title Any Given Monday refers to Andrews’ After 40 years in sports medicine, Andrews is as passionate as ever Monday morning clinic, which is usually comprised of a variety of about the field. He is excited about the future and looks forward to new athletes from professionals to high school students who arrive for developments in stem cell therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering. examinations following their weekend matchups. “The future of sports medicine is similar to 1969 when man first Andrews says that overuse injuries are entirely preventable. His walked on the moon. It’s unpredictable. I think sports medicine has that team sees the two biggest problems with overuse are specialization same unbelievable future. It’s going to have a big impact,” says Andrews. and professionalism. Specialization involves a young athlete playing Andrews shows no signs of slowing down, and he can’t wait to see one sport year round and professionalism is the idea that a student will what happens next.
Gift to Sports Medicine
Dr. James Andrews knows the importance of giving back. He recently made a $100,000 gift to the Tulane University School of Medicine in support of sports medicine. His gift will make an impact in the field in which he has spent his life working. It will help the next generation of orthopaedists pursuing a career in sports medicine.
Gifts to the School of Medicine give the medical school the ability to support the next generation of world-class physicians trying to make a difference in the world. john david mercer/usa today mercer/usa david john
TULANE MAGAZINE june 2014 25 Mike Fitts Finds His Place
The next president of Tulane is thrilled to take on the challenge of leading the university that he’s admired for so long.
by Mary Ann Travis
Mike Fitts has instituted his first policy as the new president of Tulane: Throughout the spring, though, Fitts made several short trips to He walks rather than rides. Tulane, getting to know as many people as possible and as much as he He prefers to walk from place to place on the uptown campus can about the university that he will lead, starting July 1. because, he says, that way he can learn his way around. And, he admits, he has lots to learn. HEART OF THE MATTER “It’s a long process of being educated,” he said. “Think about me When Tulane Board president Darryl Berger (L ’72) announced Fitts’ as a kindergartener.” selection as president, he said that members of the search committee So he turns down rides in the dignitary’s golf cart, the customary tried to look into Fitts’ heart. And they were pleased with what they saw. mode of transportation for a president going from meeting to meet- “We’re certain that he will be a leader who will bring people ing on the expansive, green Tulane uptown campus. (Although he together, infuse them with a common vision, communicate beautifully does take cars to the downtown campus.) with them and inspire everyone to achieve their highest aspirations,” Fitts’ first walk across campus was on Feb. 4, 2014, to the Lavin- Berger said. Bernick Center for the Board of Tulane announcement that he had Fitts said that he does, indeed, already care deeply about Tulane. been named the next president of Tulane University. “If you’re leading an institution of this The February event included hugs, standing ovations and accolades size and complexity and obviously focus- bestowed on Fitts and the man he succeeds, President Scott Cowen. ing on all the challenges in higher educa- Then Fitts returned to Philadelphia where he continues as dean tion that every institution faces, you need Ready to Lead and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylva- at the end of the day to care about the President-elect Michael A. nia—a position he’s held since 2000—until he moves to New Orleans place,” he said. Fitts steps into the top job at the end of June. “You need to be emotionally, not only at Tulane on July 1, 2014.
26 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE paula burch-celentano paula
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 27 paula burch-celentano paula
attached, but you have to care about it and its future. I think that you and “deep moral compass” inspired Fitts to become a lawyer, he said, can only be successful if you have that relationship with an institu- although he did not become a trial lawyer and has never stood up in tion you’re leading.” court in his life. In his early rounds of meeting students, alumni, faculty, staff Of Finch, Fitts said, “He could understand and engage with and administrators, Fitts has discovered, not surprisingly to him, an everybody around him. He could think through issues. For me, unparalleled enthusiasm at Tulane. It’s in the DNA of the institution. he was the ideal.” “From everyone I speak with, there’s a passion here and an Fitts forged his career in legal academic circles, writing exten- ambition at Tulane that’s infectious,” Fitts said. “You can see it sively on administrative law, presidential power, the separation of across the schools in an institution that faced one of the most diffi- powers, improving the structure of political parties and executive cult challenges any institution could—and then came back stronger branch decision-making. He began teaching at Penn Law in 1985 as a result of it.” after serving as a clerk for civil rights advocate Judge Leon Higgin- botham and as an attorney in the U.S. Justice Department’s Office LEGAL TRAINING of Legal Counsel. Fitts earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University (1975) Legal training is valuable for being a president or academic and a law degree from Yale University (1979). administrator because it develops abilities in decision-making and His early hero was Atticus Finch, the small-town Southern lawyer leadership, said Fitts. in the novel and film To Kill a Mockingbird. Finch’s intelligence “In law you’re taught about how to think through problems
28 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE said Fitts. “There are so many people at Tulane who were with him as Campus Tour part of the process, who were part of his success.” Mike Fitts walks from Meeting and working with the resilient people who contributed to meeting to meeting to get Tulane’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina adds to the appeal of the to know the campus from position of president of Tulane for Fitts. the ground up. “The story of Tulane is a wondrous story of an institution with a distinguished history,” said Fitts. The relationship of Tulane with New Orleans and the university’s ability to face trials and tribulations and systematically. I think come through them better than before contribute to its character, its grit. legal training equips you “It’s wonderful for anybody from the outside to see,” said Fitts. to work through multiple As Fitts prepares to take over from the inside of the university’s problems, inductively and main administrative office in Gibson Hall, he sees Tulane as “special deductively. It allows you and important” in the higher education pantheon. to understand a variety Tulane has performed extremely well, said Fitts, and it has a huge of different disciplines. number of opportunities ahead. Law intersects with every- “Tulane is perfectly structured in the sense of having a rich breadth thing in the world.” of schools, including arts and sciences and professional schools Lawyers engage with proximate to each other.” everybody, said Fitts. “And Research at the boundaries between fields is where some of the I like that.” most important discoveries are occurring, said Fitts, who as law school dean at Penn reached out to other schools and departments to create Family ties several interdisciplinary collaborations and programs. There’s been another Mi- The interdisciplinary work at Tulane exhilarates him. chael Fitts associated with “Education that brings people across fields and challenges them in Tulane, and that’s Fitts’ different ways is important for the next generation,” he said. uncle who studied engi- Another component of a Tulane education that Fitts sees as neering at Tulane in the bringing enormous educational and professional benefits is students 1950s and then went on to going out in the field and into the community. These experiences earn a degree in architec- teach “skills about life, working with other people and being commit- ture from the University ted to your community.” of Tennessee and serve as Fitts points out that while Tulane Law School was the first in the state architect of the state of nation in 1987 to require pro bono work as a condition of graduation, Tennessee for 30 years. Penn Law was the second. Leadership runs in the The public service ethos of Tulane is a signature of the university— family. Fitts’ father was and a well-recognized model for the rest of higher education, said Fitts. head of surgery at the U He wants to deepen that commitment to community, while “working Penn medical school, and through all the different ways it can be part of the whole learning and his grandfather was dean educational experience of the students while they are here.” of the Wharton School of Taking on the set of issues that Tulane faces today excites Fitts. Business at U Penn. “Life is taking on new challenges,” he said. “We tell our students that Fitts, who is married they should not become stasis. They should try new things and move and the father of two adult in new directions.” children, said he’s ready For Fitts, the job as president of Tulane is “a wonderful case of to lead Tulane and move taking on a set of new issues. I’m quite excited about it.” to New Orleans. Among the most exciting events that Fitts will be part of in the fall “There are aspects in is the opening of Yulman Stadium, the new football stadium on the terms of culture, music uptown campus. and food in New Orleans “Yulman Stadium will have a positive effect on Tulane,” said that are not replicated anywhere in the United States,” he said. “That Fitts. “By bringing football back to campus, Yulman Stadium will is clearly very attractive and very different from Philadelphia.” bring everyone together.” Much will be new and different in New Orleans, and there will be Fitts played soccer and wrestled in high school. From sports, he the temptation of beignets. But everything he’s learned so far about learned more about getting along with people and where determina- the city has been “fascinating,” said Fitts. tion can get you than from almost anything else he ever did, he said. One thing he knows for sure—the weather will be a lot nicer than in Sports are more than just of value to athletes themselves. “Sports the Northeast. are an extremely important way for people to come together and form a community,” said Fitts. “There’s no question that going to and watching SHOES TO FILL a game, whether in person or on television, is an uplifting experience.” Fitts said that he doesn’t expect to fill the shoes of Tulane President He’s not quite prepared to shift all his allegiance to the New Orleans Scott Cowen, who steps down from the position of president after 16 Saints from his hometown team, the Philadelphia Eagles. But he vows years on June 30. to cheer for the Saints whenever they aren’t playing the Eagles. “Nobody can fill his shoes,” said Fitts. “Scott is a legend. He is not just Most of all, he’s eager to witness the first kickoff in Yulman Stadium one of the most significant university presidents of the last 25 years but when the Green Wave plays Georgia Tech on Sept. 6. one of the most significant leaders in America over the last 25 years.” He’s ready to say, along with everyone else for the first time in the Cowen “not only confronted but overwhelmed a series of issues,” new stadium, “Roll Wave!”
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 29 KING OF CARNIVAL Jack Laborde (E ’71, B ’73) was Rex on Mardi Gras (Feb. 22, 2014). Laborde, who led the Green Wave football team to the 1970 Liberty Bowl, is president of All Aboard Development, an oil and gas exploration firm.
TULANIANS Rock On The Emeritus Club of the Tulane Alumni Association held a special tribute to outgo- ing Tulane President Scott Cowen on March 18, 2014, in the Qatar Ballroom of the Lavin- Bernick Center on the uptown campus. Bobby McIntyre (B ’52), president of the Emeritus Club board, congratulated Cowen on his retirement from the university presi- dency on June 30, as members of the Emeri- tus Club, the Board of Tulane, deans, other administrators, faculty, staff and guests ap- plauded Cowen at the luncheon in his honor. McIntyre and James Stofan, vice presi-
photo from noah barth noah from photo dent of alumni relations, presented a rocking chair to Cowen, along with a wish for “many hours of rest and peace.” McIntyre lauded Cowen for “the precious gift not only of 16 years of your life, but for the way you gave it.” Rockaways Speaking about his experiences following Hurricane Katrina, Cowen’s eyes teared as he thanked the Emeritus Club and said, “All these honors that I have been receiving … I would have gladly given up every one of these honors, if we didn’t have Katrina.” Relief Cowen praised Emeritus Club members Noah Barth (TC ’04, G ’05), program manager for the first Doctors of Clinical Help and other alumni. “Every honor we’ve gotten the World clinic in the United States, found his calling in the flooded Noah Barth works in in the last nine years is because of you.” homes of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. the aftermath of The Emeritus Club is comprised of mem- Barth returned to New Orleans in October 2005 after the storm to Hurricane Sandy at bers of the 50-year and earlier classes and clean out his apartment and wrap up his master’s degree in interna- the first Doctors of the emeritus faculty.—Fran Simon tional development. Surrounded by the devastation, he volunteered World clinic in the U.S. to muck out houses and advocate for communities. He worked his way through the post-deluge cityscape, cleaning up and interviewing residents in a project to find out who was returning. “The actual manual labor, the mucking out, was the more forma- tive experience,” he recalls. When Hurricane Sandy hit New York, Barth knew how to respond. The skills he had learned post-Katrina prepared him to help Doctors of the World open a free clinic in the Rockaways neighborhood. Doctors of the World is an international disaster-response organi- Rest easy zation. It opened its Rockaways Free Clinic in October 2013 to provide The rocking chair presented by free medical care and assist people in finding health insurance. the Emeritus Club to “I went and volunteered in an area of Brooklyn, bringing supplies Tulane President to people in housing projects who weren’t able to get out,” Barth says. Scott Cowen sports a green and blue bow. He threw himself into mucking out neighborhoods yet again, and eventually the Rockaways neighborhood drew him in. “Right now we are completing the first community health survey since Sandy, modeled on one used after Hurricane Katrina.” Doctors interested in volunteering at the clinic may email rocka-
[email protected].—Madeline R. Vann, PHTM ’98 burch-celentano paula
30 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Dispatch Reynold T. Décou
WHERE Y’AT!
1940s JEANET STECKLER DRESKIN (NC ’42) had a solo exhibit of paintings at Clemson University’s Lee Gallery and Acorn Gallery this winter. The exhibit included new works and pieces from private collections as well as from, among other museums, Greenville County Museum of Art and South Carolina State Museum.
1950s MARY HARRELL REEVES (NC ’56) is a volunteer floral designer at Festival Hill Music Foundation in Round Top, Texas. She won the Herb Society of America’s Award for the Artistic Use of Herbs in 2012. She has two daughters, 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
1960s JACK KUSHNER (A&S ’60) and TONY NICHOLSON (B ’60) met up in Annapolis, Md., at Anne Arun- del Medical Center’s Simulation to Advance Innovation and Learning Center. “Perhaps we will meet again when football season resumes at the new Tulane stadium,” Kushner writes.
WILLIAM KITCHIN (A&S ’67) was named the Distinguished Teacher of the Year for 2013 at Loyola University Maryland where he has dalton Scott taught political science for 38 years. OIL EXPLORER Reynold T. Décou (A&S ’67, ’79) has had a highly successful career as GAY YELLEN (NC ’68) announces the publica- a petroleum geologist. tion of her suspense novel, The Body Business, It’s a career that’s taken him around the world—from the Gulf of Mexico of Louisiana this spring. Yellen has retired from an executive and Texas to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico to the North Sea of the position in corporate public relations. United Kingdom, to Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and points in-between. RICHARD EDGAR ZWEZ (G ’68) announces the He’s been mainly based in Houston and has worked for a succession of oil and publication of New Orleans Spirit: A Tchoupitou- gas exploration companies, including Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. for 30 years, las Life. Zwez taught special education, Spanish Schlumberger, El Paso Oil & Gas, Coastal Oil & Gas, Erskine Energy, Swift Energy and French for 45 years and is retired from the and others. U.S. Army and the Naval Reserve. He is a com- But Décou didn’t start out as a geology major when he entered Tulane University mander of the American Legion. Zwez lives in as the first African American to enroll in the College of Arts & Sciences as a full-time, Baton Rouge, La., with his wife, Sandy. undergraduate student in 1963. A New Orleans native, a graduate of the prestigious St. Augustine High School and 1970s a trailblazer in the desegregation of Tulane, Décou was a biology major, intending to go JEROME S. BLACKMAN (M ’71) wrote the chapter “Fear of Injury” in Fear: A Dark Shadow Across on to medical school. Our Life Span, edited by Salman Akhtar and He studied hard, joined the Air Force ROTC and kept “under the radar.” [See “Set- published by Karnac Books of London. In May, ting the Record Straight,” on page 4 of the March 2014 Tulane.] he became president of the American College And he found his passion in life—geology and the pursuit of oil and gas exploration. of Psychoanalysts. He practices in Virginia He took an elective course, Petroleum Geology, taught by Tulane professor Raymond Beach, Va., and is professor of clinical psy- Steinhoff. chiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School in And the rest, as they say, is history. Norfolk, Va. “It’s the sort of thing that is happenstance,” says Décou. “You take a course that you enjoy and all of a sudden, it shapes your entire future.” SHERRY WILENSKY SCHNEIDER (NC ’71, L ’82) Still active as a petroleum geologist after eclipsing 45 years in the risky oil and gas started Schneider Legal Group, which handles business, he’s seen his share of booms and busts. attorney placement in Florida, last spring. She “It’s a dynamic business,” he says. “I’ve probably been associated with literally enjoys her three grandchildren and eight step- thousands of wells. And even though you try to make comparisons between wells, grandchildren, and working with clay. each one is a little bit different. Each one has a character all its own and presents its own unique challenges.” ANDREW TITEN (A&S ’72) was promoted to CEO In looking for oil, instruments probe below the surface of the earth—from 5,000 of Bisk Education, an online degree business to 25,000 feet down. But instruments alone can’t tell the whole story. Intuition comes headquartered in Tampa, Fla. Titen is a CPA and chartered global management accountant. into play in deciding whether or not to drill, on land or under the water. “It’s thrilling,” says Décou. “There’s nothing more stirring than you generating DANIEL VAN BENTHUYSEN (A&S ’73) will be a prospect, making a map, and the company drills your prospect. Only then do artist-in-residence at Weir Farm National you find out if you’re going to be successful—sheer excitement and overwhelming Historic Site in Wilton, Conn., for the month self-gratification.”—MARY ANN TRAVIS of August. Van Benthuysen teaches courses in
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 31 Recognition Awards
WHERE Y’AT!
visual journalism at Hofstra University. His The Tulane Alumni Association presented awards to honor outstanding alumni at the paintings can be seen at the Upstream Gallery Freedom Pavilion of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on April 12, 2014. in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. Hans A. B. Jonassen (A&S ’63) was awarded the Alumni Professional BARNES CARR (UC ’74) won a 2013 William Faulkner Gold Medal for his story “Needle Achievement Award. He began working at his wife’s family-owned Man,” which is based on events that occurred heavy marine equipment business, Cortney Co., after serving two years in a New Orleans hospital during the flood after in the U.S. Army. In 1984 Jonassen bought the business, which was Hurricane Katrina. The story has been pub- known as a leading seller in the industry. He helped introduce a number lished in the Faulkner Society’s literary journal, of innovative products to the offshore oil and gas market. Cortney Co. The Double Dealer, and can be read online at joined with competitors and expanded into DCL Mooring and Rigging. Digital.turn-page.com/i/220881. Jonassen is an active member of the New Orleans community. He serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Tulane School of Liberal Arts ALAN SMASON (A&S ’75) was featured as a long- and has been a member of the TAA board and the Tulane College Dean’s Advisory Council. time Carnival ball manuscript writer and nar- rator in the 2014 Arthur Hardy’s Mardi Gras The International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement was Guide. Smason, a self-employed computer net- presented to Essam M. AlZamel (TC ’02). He was sponsored by Aram- work specialist, has edited for the past several co Oil to come to Tulane from Saudi Arabia. A Web and technology serial years Crescent City Jewish News (www.crescent- entrepreneur, AlZamel is founder of Remal IT, which owns and operates cityjewishnews.com), which he founded. one of the largest networks in the Arab world. Prince Salman Young recognized him as Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 and Forbes ROBERT S. TOALE (A&S ’75) was elected presi- dent of the Louisiana Association of Criminal magazine named him a business leader who inspires a kingdom. AlZamel Defense Lawyers for 2014. LACDL is the only is co-founder of Areeb, an innovative education academy; Fareegi, a so- Louisiana lawyers’ association devoted exclu- cial networking site for football fans; and Creative Cinema, an award-winning short-movie sively to the profession of criminal defense. production startup. He is developing an educational video game for K-12 students to help kids exercise their knowledge of math and science while having fun. STEPHEN WEBRE (G ’75) is the 2014 recipient of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ David J. Goodman (B ’86) received the Scott Cowen Alumni Service Individual Achievement in the Humanities Award. Goodman is passionate about supporting charities that provide Award. Since 1982, he has taught at Louisiana a safety net for those who are most vulnerable. Moved by the images Tech University, where he is currently the of New Orleans immediately after Hurricane Katrina, Goodman and Garnie W. McGinty Professor of History and two partners founded the Klene Up Krewe in September 2006, which interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts. gathers twice a year to help rebuild and restore the city. More than 350 people have volunteered with the Klene Up Krewe to date. The group has MARY P. LUPO (NC ’76, M ’80), a board-certified primarily worked with the St. Bernard Project, Just the Right Attitude dermatologist and clinical professor of der- and the Tulane Center for Public Service, where Goodman serves on the Cowen Service matology at Tulane University School of Challenge Advisory Board. He is a managing partner of Lawrence B. Goodman & Co. Medicine, was named “Mentor of the Year” by the Women’s Dermatologic Society. In 2013, Elliott J. Wiener (B ’07) was recognized as the Young Alumnus Lupo welcomed 12 students into her practice Volunteer of the Year. He volunteers his time as president of the to shadow her while treating patients. New Tulane Alumni Club of New York and is a member of the Tulane Alumni Orleans City Business included Lupo in its “Ones to Watch: Health Care” section in April. Association board. He has helped turn out record numbers of alumni in New York for a wide range of events. In January 2014, he was named to WILL PALFREY (A&S ’76) announces the Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for Marketing & Advertising. He is publication The Paradise of the Parakeet: A director of consumer insights for Razorfish. Personal Journey to the Obscure Caribbean Commonwealth Island of Dominica, a travel book based on his first trip to the Caribbean in 2010. Palfrey, a defense industry logistician, lived abroad for eight years (in Germany, Italy OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS and England) and has traveled to 40 countries. The Emeritus Club honored ROBERT M. “BOB” DEVLIN (A&S ’64) Nadine Ramsey (NC ’77, L ’80) was elected to as the Outstanding Alumni Award recipient of the class of 1964 on the New Orleans City Council in March. May 16, 2014, at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. Devlin graduated with a degree in economics and later served in AVID A. BEYER (A&S ’78, B ’79) was named a the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Reserve. He is chair and 2014 “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times. Beyer founder of Curragh Capital Partners, an investment firm headquar- is managing partner of the Tampa, Fla., office tered in New York City. He was also principal owner and a director of Quarles & Brady and is a member of the of Forethought Financial Group, a life insurance and financial services company, and franchise and distribution team. He has served president and CEO of American General Corp. Under his leadership, American General, multiple terms as chair of the Florida Bar’s the third largest insurance company in the United States, saw its assets grow from $43 Franchise Law Committee. billion to more than $125 billion. A member of the Board of Tulane, Devlin served as chair of the Endowment A solo exhibition of photo-based oil paintings Committee, during which the university’s endowment surpassed $1 billion for the first with narrative text by SHERRY KARVER (A&S time in its history. Devlin and his wife, Kate Bareis Devlin, are members of the Paul ’78) was on display at the Martha Schneider Tulane Society. Gallery in Chicago from May 9–June 28, 2014.
32 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Dispatch Susan Murphy
1980s ROBIN TRUPP (B ’80, L ’80) received the 2014 Florida Litigation Attorney of the Year award from Corporate INTL. Trupp is a shareholder in the litigation department of Greenspoon Marder’s Tampa, Fla., and West Palm Beach, Fla., offices.
ELLEN HIRSCHHORN COHEN (NC ’81) says, “I’m living the ‘Pura Vida’ in Silicon Valley.” She sells enterprise software with Loqate, and is involved in cycling, triathlons and philanthropy.
ALAN G. BRACKETT (A&S ’82, L ’84), a member of Delta Tau Delta while at Tulane, was elected to the board of the North-American Interfrater- nity Conference. Brackett is the managing mem- ber of Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett. He and his wife, Linda, are parents of Austin, a sophomore at the College of Charleston. ation d JOHN PELZER (L ’83) has been reappointed for another one-year term as chair of the Board foun of Legal Specialization and Education of the arthur c
Florida Bar. He is a shareholder in the litigation a M . . department at Greenspoon Marder’s Cypress T Creek, Fla., office.
DAVID “DEBO” BARRON (A&S ’84) was elected president judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County, Pa., and began serving his 10-year term in January.
NADIA FOLIC (NC ’84) is a travel agent with
Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Fort Lauderdale, Catherine & D. John the from photo Fla., and an actress. She performed as Verna- dette in The Dixie Swim Club with the Actors JUST IN TIME When she got a phone call last year from the MacArthur Foundation, Community Theatre of Davie, Fla., in February. statistician Susan Murphy (G ’83) thought the call was for a recommendation for one of her students. But instead she learned that she had received a “genius grant,” a no- KENNETH BESSERMAN (A&S ’88) is general strings-attached stipend of $625,000 paid out over five years that allows her to follow counsel for the Texas Restaurant Association in her own creative vision. Austin, Texas. Murphy is developing evidence for “just in time” personalized interventions in col- FREDERICK M. AZAR (M ’89) was named presi- laboration with clinicians who are treating individuals with chronic disorders such as dent of the American Academy of Orthopaedic addiction, mental illness, autism and obesity in young children. Surgeons this March. Azar is chief of staff at “These are conditions that confound our entire society. How do we help these indi- Campbell Clinic, which has locations through- viduals, when there is no magic bullet?” Murphy ponders. “Every illness is different.” out Tennessee and Mississippi. He is a professor Murphy has developed a formal model of the treatment decision-making process at the University of Tennessee–Campbell and and an innovative design for clinical trials that allow researchers to test the efficacy serves as the team physician for professional of adaptive interventions. Murphy’s Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized and amateur athletic programs. Trial (SMART) is a means for learning how to best dynamically adapt treatment to each individual’s response over time. WILLIAM J. KELLY III (A&S ’89) has started a By translating statistical theory into powerful tools for evaluating and tailoring new law firm in Denver called Kelly & Walker. complex medical therapies, Murphy is poised to have a significant impact on the field of personalized medicine. 1990s “How can we help you help yourself? One approach is to use your mobile phone to CARL PARSONS (E ’91) is a senior mechanical provide support,” says Murphy, who is the H. E. Robbins Professor of Statistics at the engineer at Campos Engineering. Parsons has University of Michigan. more than 20 years of experience in HVAC and For someone who has a psychological and biological addiction, the clinician could plumbing design, commissioning and project suggest strategies via the mobile phone to help manage a craving, which the individual management. can access anytime to help stay on target. When a person feels suicidal, a panic button JONATHAN GARVEY PYKE (A&S ’92) is director could be pressed that would send an alert to a loved one. of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the Being a MacArthur Fellow is a strong endorsement of her work, says Murphy, and University of North Carolina–Charlotte. she hopes that this recognition will help her continue to form high quality collabora- tions with clinical researchers. REBECCA SANCHEZ (NC ’92) is featured in the “It came at a great time for me,” she says, “since the NIH and the NSF have had to book Social Skills Assessment Through Games: restrict funds, and it’s gotten harder to obtain research support.”—FRAN SIMON The New Best Practice. She is a researcher at
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 33 Dispatch Jeff L. Rosenheim
3C Institute, developing programs to improve social and emotional learning.
W. BRETT MASON (L ’93, ’94) joined the litigation practice group in the Baton Rouge, La., office of Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann as special counsel to serve clients in the transportation, oil and gas, environmental, maritime and energy industries. He is a former president and current board member of the Port of New Orleans Propeller Club.
ROBERT BRUDER (A ’94) was promoted to vice president of HKS, an internationally recognized architectural firm. Bruder has more than 20 years of experience in commercial, education, retail, government, hospitality and residential design.
DAVID KANGER (E ’95, ’96) and CHATRIAN REYNOLDS KANGER (NC ’01, PHTM ’03) announce the birth of Alyse Marguerite on Jan. 12, 2014.
CHRISTA HAYDEN SHARPE (NC ’96) and her husband, Ben, moved back to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where she was promoted to field office director of International Justice Mission Cambodia, a nonprofit human rights agency that equips local public justice systems in developing nations to protect people from violence. She has served with IJM for the past eight years in Cambodia and Washington, D.C.
JOSHUA E. LIEBMAN (TC ’98) was promoted to partner at Novack and Macey, a business and commercial litigation firm based in Chicago. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, intellectual property and professional negli-
PHOTO BY JUDY COOPER/NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART OF MUSEUM ORLEANS COOPER/NEW JUDY BY PHOTO gence defense. Liebman serves on the Jewish Council for Youth Services’ board of directors. PHOTOGRAPHIC MIND Jeff L. Rosenheim (G ’86) knew from the time he was in elementary He lives in Chicago with his wife, Beata, and school that he wanted to be an archivist and work in a museum. Then, he collected post- their son. cards, shells and stamps, and dabbled in photography. He has been fortunate to combine his passions for both collecting and photography in his career. TIMOTHY J. SMITH (A&S ’98) has been promoted After receiving his Master of Fine Arts at Tulane, Rosenheim worked at The Historic to associate professor of anthropology with New Orleans Collection, before moving to New York. Rosenheim has been a curator at the tenure at Appalachian State University (UNC). Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for 26 years. He is curator in charge of the Depart- ment of Photographs at the Met, where he supervises a staff of 12 people. Rosenheim and his 2000s colleagues develop about 10 shows each year. STALEY HEATLY (L ’00) and his wife, Meg, wel- “Photography has come of age,” says Rosenehim. “It has gone from a medium that was comed their fourth child, Ian, in June 2013. Ian joins Oliver, 8, Maya, 6, and Stella, 3. Heatly has begrudgingly accepted to a mature art form. … It’s been a great trajectory and, for me, it served as district attorney for The 46th Judicial began at Tulane.” District Court in Texas since 2006. This March Photography, invented just 20 years before the American Civil War, is the focus of the he went on a speaking tour in Ecuador focusing exhibition, “Photography and the American Civil War,” that Rosenheim curated and recently on family violence. was on display at the Met. It then traveled to the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, S.C., and to the New Orleans Museum of Art. Rosenheim is author of the show’s catalogue, which JESSICA M. LEPLER (NC ’00) announces the features some 250 photographs made during the war. The timely book, coinciding with the publication of The Many Panics of 1837: People, sesquicentennial of this pivotal period in American history, is available through the Met. Politics and the Creation of a Transatlantic To select the work for the exhibition, Rosenheim scoured records from photography his- Financial Crisis by Cambridge University Press. torians, Civil War specialists, military newspapers, the Library of Congress, art museums and Lepler is an assistant professor of history at the websites developed by individuals uploading family portraits. University of New Hampshire. The Civil War created an incredible demand for photography, he says. “The first thing any soldier did was to get his uniform and then have a picture taken. … This was the test of DEREK BARDELL (G ’01, ’02) was inducted into the American spirit, and people wanted to record the moment in a very specific way. These the University of New Orleans chapter of Pi photographs convey the poignancy and the extraordinary emotional tenor of the war.” Gamma Mu International Social Sciences Honor Rosenheim’s plans for the future include an exhibition of occupational portraits— Society. He received a Higher One Grant to con- photographs showing individuals with the tools of their trades.— F.S. vene a Financial Literacy Boot Camp Confer- ence at Delgado Community College in April.
34 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE CURING HIV Nathalia Katz Holt (PHTM ’04, ’09) wrote Cured: How the Berlin Patients Defeated HIV and Forever Changed Medical Science. The book reveals the science behind the cure of HIV and the implications for the 34 million people currently infected. She is a fellow at the Ragon Institute in Cambridge, Mass.
FAREWELL
PATRICK CHARLES (UC ’01) received a master’s John Clemmer, emeritus professor of art, of Barnette E. Adams Jr. (M ’47) of Beaumont, of interdisciplinary studies degree from Virginia Milwaukee on April 11, 2014. Texas, on Jan. 19, 2014. State University last year. Mary Lou Thomason Payne (N ’28, G ’31) of Robert D. Allen (E ’47) of Baton Rouge, La., on YAEL EZRA FOSTER (NC ’01) and EVAN FOSTER Irondale, Ala., on Aug. 21, 2013. Jan. 8, 2014. (TC ’01) announce the birth of Eli Charles on Feb. 7, 2014. Eli joins his sister, Leah, 4, and Martha Brumby Sheldon (NC ’35, SW ’56) of James L. Kotch (E ’47) of Wayne, Pa., on March his brother, Micah, 3. Evan Foster was recently Metairie, La., on Feb. 11, 2014. 2, 2013. promoted to special counsel at Saul Ewing. The family lives in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Shirley Odom Heebe (NC ’37) of Metairie, La., John P. Whelan (B ’47, ’49) of New Orleans on on March 20, 2014. Jan. 10, 2013. ANA BATISTA BORDEN (A ’02) is a licensed architect and LEED AP BD+C with her own New Orleans–based practice, Ana M Batista Borden, Pearl Hershberg Wirtenberg (NC ’39) of Edward H. Arnold Jr. (E ’48, B ’79) of New Architect. Her specialties include an array of Montville, N.J., on April 15, 2013. Orleans on Jan. 1, 2014. programs and providing watercolor renderings. Eugenie Murrhee Suter (NC ’40) of Pompano Robert E. Bermudez (B ’48, SW ’68, PHTM ’80) JOHN FALLER (TC ’02) and his wife, Eleni, Beach, Fla., on Jan. 30, 2014. of New Orleans on March 3, 2014. announce the birth of Alexander Wesley on Dec. 23, 2013, in New Orleans. Tatjana Hofstra Eustis (NC ’42) of New Orleans Warren C. de Brueys (A&S ’48, L ’50) of on March 24, 2014. Covington, La., on Dec. 21, 2013. TONY GIANNASI (E ’04), a certified cicerone, left a successful career in software engineering Randolph B. Robert (B ’42) of Dublin, Ohio, on Richard R. Mehrhof (B ’48) of Augusta, Ga., on and is now the craft brand manager for Carter March 1, 2014. Jan. 17, 2014. Distributing in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he resides with his wife, KATIE GIANNASI (N ’00, L Jane Dart Maunsell (NC ’43) of St. Francisville, Walter W. Rody (E ’48) of Mobile, Ala., on ’05), a commercial contracting attorney at Husch La., on Dec. 22, 2013. Dec. 19, 2013. Blackwell, and their two boys. Melvin I. Schwartzman (L ’43) of Irving, Texas, Paul W. Schmid (E ’48) of Gainesville, Ga., on JENNIFER STIVRINS (NC ’03) is a partner with the on Dec. 25, 2013. Feb. 14, 2014. law firm Kissel Hirsch & Wilmer in Tarrytown, N.Y. She has been with the firm since 2006 and practices insurance coverage and monitoring in James E. Pridgen (M ’43) of San Antonio on Arthur M. Adolph Jr. (B ’49) of Metairie, La., on connection with media and professional lines. Dec. 24, 2013. Jan. 29, 2014.
ELIZABETH “LIZ” LEOTY CRADDOCK (L ’05) is Allen R. Fontenot Sr. (L ’44) of New Orleans on William E. Aicklen Jr. (E ’49) of New Orleans on staff director of the Senate Energy and Natural Feb. 3, 2014. March 8, 2014. Resources Committee, which oversees energy and environmental issues under the direction John Laurens II (M ’44, ’49) of Spartanburg, Ralph C. Bailey (M ’49) of Nacogdoches, Texas, of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. S.C., on Jan. 3, 2014. on March 12, 2014.
ASHLEIGH B. RANNEY (A ’05) received an MBA Yvonne R. Stohlman (NC ’44) of Hope Mills, Mike J. Balen Jr. (A&S ’49) of Mandeville, La., from Columbia Business School in May. N.C., on Nov. 29, 2013. on Jan. 31, 2014.
SHAILENDRA KULKARNI (L ’07) joined the Coats Barbara Faulk Harkey (NC ’45) of Monroe, La., Robert J. Bannon (B ’49) of Metairie, La., on Rose Louisiana Office in the construction/surety on April 8, 2013. Dec. 24, 2013. practice area, where he focuses on construc- tion and surety litigation, insurance coverage Lawrence H. Hickman (A&S ’45) of Dublin, Ga., Harold M. Clement (B ’49) of Picayune, Miss., evaluation and litigation, construction industry contracts and complex civil litigation. He is the on Jan. 6, 2014. on March 12, 2014. legal affairs officer of the Surety Association of Louisiana, and a frequent speaker on construc- F. William Van Kirk (B ’45) of Covington, La., Alfred J. Diamond (E ’49) of New Orleans on tion and surety topics in the New Orleans area. on March 19, 2014. Jan. 17, 2014.
RAYMOND T. WAID (L ’07) is an associate in the John R. Bensen (E ’46) of Cape Canaveral, Fla., Millicant May Hamer (NC ’49) of Baton Rouge, maritime, oilfield and insurance practice at on Jan. 26, 2014. La., on April 11, 2013. Liskow & Lewis’ New Orleans office. His practice focuses on marine and energy cases involving Mailand Bevill Card (NC ’46) of Minneapolis David B. Harwell (G ’49) of Grand Prairie, Texas, property damage, personal injury, cargo, pollu- on Oct. 23, 2013. on Feb. 1, 2014. tion, contract disputes and regulatory issues. Robert W. Craycraft (B ’46) of Friendship, Ohio, Stanley McDermott Jr. (A&S ’49, L ’51) of 2010s on Jan. 2, 2014. Metairie, La., on Jan. 3, 2014. JONATHAN LIU (PHTM ’10) was appointed to a project management position at Whole Foods Market’s global headquarters in Austin, Texas, Ami Sear Opat (NC ’46) of Centennial, Colo., Ralph J. Morris (B ’49) of Hattiesburg, Miss., on where he is in charge of leading medium to large on Oct. 25, 2013. Jan. 1, 2014. payment system projects as well as establishing and maintaining effective working relationships Tess Levy Schornstein (NC ’46, SW ’56) of Ruth Fike Pittman (SW ’49) of St. Petersburg, with vendors and business partners of WFM. Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 23, 2014. Fla., on Dec. 20, 2013.
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 35 HALL OF FAMER Women’s basketball standout Keisha Brown (UC ’94, SW ’01) died on April 7, 2014, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Brown was head coach of the women’s basketball team at Alma (Mich.) College from 2009 until this year. She was elected to the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
FAREWELL
Jackie Lolan Bartlett (NC ’50) of New Orleans on Earl W. Dopp (A&S ’57) of Beloit, Wis., on Virginia Nazro Fisher (NC ’61) of McKinney, Jan. 3, 2014. Feb. 5, 2014. Texas, on Jan. 16, 2014.
Robert Bernhard Jr. (A&S ’50, M ’52) of Vestavia, George J. Farha (M ’57) of Wichita, Kan., on John A. Hart Jr. (M ’61) of Friendswood, Texas, on Ala., on Jan. 25, 2014. Jan. 7, 2014. Jan. 21, 2014.
Emma Morphy Freeman (NC ’50) of New Orleans Lucinda Beattie Lautenschlaeger (NC ’57) of New Dean Baker Ellithorpe (M ’62) of New Orleans on on Jan. 1, 2014. Orleans on Jan. 20. 2014. Feb. 9, 2014.
George G. Lambousy (E ’50) of La Marque, Texas, William A. Sanders (E ’57) of Charlotte, N.C., on Robert A. Rappold (A&S ’62) of Colorado Springs, on Feb. 6, 2014. Jan. 30, 2014. Colo., on Jan. 18, 2014.
Bettie Stoner Pendley (NC ’50) of New Orleans on Bernard L. Kelley (UC ’58) of Covington, La., on Gary Le Freeman (G ’63) of Indianapolis on Feb. 19, 2014. Jan. 3, 2014. Jan. 6, 2014.
Joseph M. Rault Jr. (L ’50) of Metairie, La., on Albert J. Luke Jr. (A&S ’58) of Metairie, La., on Lee T. Nesbitt Jr. (A&S ’63, M ’66) of New Orleans Feb. 2, 2014. Jan. 20, 2014. on March 22, 2014.
James Huggins Kennedy (A ’51) of Gulfport, Miss., Lee F. Murphy Jr. (L ’58) of Covington, La., on Aretta J. Rathmell (M ’63) of Springfield, Ill., on on March 1, 2014. Feb. 11, 2014. Dec. 26, 2013.
Burl R. Sammons (A ’51) of Baton Rouge, La., on Charles M. Osborne (A&S ’58, L ’60) of Asheville, Earl M. Wheeler (G ’63, ’69) of Hattiesburg, Miss., Jan. 31, 2014. N.C., on Feb. 2, 2014. on March 24, 2014.
Martha Bush Chandler (L ’52) of Shreveport, La., Walter H. Wainright (B ’58) of Metairie, La., on Robert B. Baker (L ’64) of Sisters, Ore., on Dec. on Dec. 21, 2013. Aug. 20, 2013. 7, 2013.
Irvin Clayton (M ’52) of Fort Worth, Texas, on Harford Field Jr. (B ’59) of Saraland, Ala., on Joseph L. Dover (G ’64) of Metairie, La., on Jan. 2, 2014. May 4, 2013. March 13, 2014.
Donald E. Harris (A&S ’52) of Dayton, Ohio, on John M. McCollam (L ’59) of New Orleans on Marguerite A. McBride (SW ’64) of Houston on Feb. 1, 2014. Jan. 13, 2014. Jan. 1, 2014.
Manuel O. Delgado Jr. (B ’53) of New Orleans on Edward F. Shaver Jr. (M ’59) of Charlotte, N.C., Harvey B. Rifkin (M ’64) of St. Francisville, Jan. 27, 2014. on Feb. 18, 2014. La., on Feb. 4, 2014.
Shirley Fred Strauss (NC ’53) of Cammack Village, Hermione Smith Swindoll (PHTM ’59) of Orville Z. Tyler III (B ’64) of Mount Pleasant, Ark., on Jan. 31, 2014. Collierville, Tenn., on June 19, 2013. S.C., on Jan. 6, 2014.
Daniel V. Blackstock (A&S ’54, L ’56) of Chico, Wayne Tschirn (E ’59) of Metairie, La., on Dec. Jay B. V. Butler Jr. (M ’65) of Bend, Ore., on Calif., on Feb. 1, 2014. 27, 2013. Aug. 19, 2013.
David L. Perkins Sr. (A ’54) of Lafayette, La., on Randall L. Williams (B ’59) of Pensacola, Fla., on Joyce Fondren Elbrecht (G ’65, ’67) of Ithaca, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2014. Jan. 16, 2014. on Jan. 25, 2014.
Nancy Swenson Kriebel (A&S ’55) of Brookston, John H. Bohlke Jr. (A ’60) of New Orleans on Robert W. Richart (L ’65) of Joplin, Mo., on Ind., on Jan. 14, 2014. Jan. 26, 2014. Jan. 6, 2014.
Breck Cabell Jr. (A&S ’56) of Brandon, Miss., on Henry A. Meisler (UC ’60) of Kenner, La., on Russell M. Cornelius (B ’66) of Metairie, La., on Jan. 27, 2014. Jan. 7, 2014. March 12, 2014.
Richard W. Calhoun (A&S ’56, M ’59) of Lake Brooks L. Rosen (B ’60) of Little Rock, Ark., on Aubry E. Dupuy Jr. (A&S ’66) of Slidell, La., on Charles, La., on Jan. 29, 2014. Dec. 31, 2013. Dec. 25, 2013.
Roland D. Jackson (M ’56) of The Hills, Texas, on Alexander Rexer Tamke (L ’60) of Newport, R.I., Michael A. Rosenbloom (A&S ’66) of Melville, March 6, 2014. on Dec. 31, 2013. N.Y., on March 9, 2014.
Walter H. Pace Jr. (E ’56, ’59) of Houston on Ralph T. Troy (L ’60) of Hendersonville, N.C., on Donald E. Theriot (A&S ’66, L ’69) of Pass Feb. 23, 2013. Jan. 26, 2014. Christian, Miss., on March 20, 2014.
Gerard W. Barousse (B ’57) of New Orleans on Raye Ann Vargas (NC ’60) of Metairie, La., on Patricia Murphy Fernandez Johnson (SW ’67) of March 17, 2014. Feb. 17, 2014. New Orleans on Feb. 7, 2014.
Allen B. Coleman (A&S ’57) of New Orleans on Paul D. Ware (M ’60) of Shreveport, La., on Elmer E. Wendel Jr. (UC ’67) of Mandeville, La., Nov. 26, 2013. Feb. 18, 2014. on Feb. 10, 2014.
36 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE Tribute Tom Langston
Steven D. Crow (M ’69) of Richardson, Texas, on UNFLAPPABLE GENTLEMAN Dec. 22, 2013. My friend and colleague for over 20 years, political science profes- Robert N. Downer (M ’70) of Xenia, Ohio, on sor Thomas Langston, died on Jan. 11, 2014. April 15, 2014, in New Orleans, after a long battle with cancer. Donald K. Hanks (G ’70) of Carson City, Nev., on At a gathering on May 2 in Rogers March 12, 2014. Memorial Chapel, Tom’s family, friends, students, departmental Clara Lopez Campbell D’Aquilla (G ’71) of Biloxi, and university colleagues and Miss., on Jan. 9, 2014. members of the Tulane admin- istration expressed their high David T. Magrish (A&S ’71) of Wexford, Pa., on regard for him, as a scholar, a Jan. 18, 2013. mentor and a person. Their eulo- gies told the story of a man of Danny J. Moore (G ’72) of Tullahoma, Tenn., on great integrity, wry humor and Feb. 11, 2014. perseverance through all manner Melvin J. Stevens (UC ’72) of Slidell, La., on of challenges—from leading his March 7, 2014. department as chair through three terms to competing in cycling, David P. Wellen (A&S ’72) of Middletown, Md., running and combined “Iron Man” on Feb. 17, 2014. trials to facing the physical and mental struggles of his illness and Andrew T. Whitley (B ’72) of New Orleans on its treatments. Feb. 10, 2014. Eminently sensible and no nonsense in his approach to the Richard A. Sharpstein (A&S ’72, L ’75) of Miami on travails of academic life, Tom was Dec. 1, 2013. our resident “grownup”—even for those of us in the department Richard S. Feldman (L ’73, ’74) of Albany, N.Y., who arrived with him as “newbie” on Feb. 16, 2014. (another Tom term) assistant professors and grew up together Charles David Freeman (SW ’73) of Vicksburg, in academia. Former colleagues marc jenny Miss., on Feb. 21, 2014. who wrote lovely notes at hearing the sad news of Tom’s death unvaryingly commented that he was a “gentleman” and Wayne J. Naimoli (E ’73) of Hopkinsville, Ky., on “unflappable.” (Although I remember a few moments of light flappability when I played Feb. 22, 2014. golf with him, during a brief moment when I planned to cultivate golf playing as a route to executive-level professional bonding and preparation for a genteelly imagined retire- James D. Roussel (E ’73) of Arabi, La., on ment, a plan since abandoned.) March 11, 2014. I will miss Tom’s sage counsel on university matters, and will miss laughing together Valentine Scheurich III (L ’73) of New Orleans on at the fits of preening, pique and peculiarity so pervasive in and endemic to our shared Jan. 12, 2014. profession. I’m so grateful for all the time I knew him.—Nancy Maveety, professor of political science. Allen Broussard Sr. (B ’74) of Chantilly, Va., on Dec. 7, 2013. Karl Wiedemann (A&S ’84) of New Orleans on Morgan C. Brooks (NC ’98) of Niagara Falls, N.Y., David O. Crumley (A&S ’74) of Marrero, La., on Jan. 8, 2014. on Feb. 1, 2014. March 11, 2014. Sudipta Das (G ’85, ’89) of Metairie, La., on Anne L. Bassett (SW ’00) of Golden Meadow, La., Linda M. Lupean (PHTM ’74) of Pottstown, Pa., Feb. 18, 2014. on Jan. 6, 2014. on Jan. 11, 2014. Vianne T. Stone McKinney (A ’85) of New Orleans Ryan Loskarn (’00) of Washington, D.C., on James R. Burnett (M ’79) of Texarkana, Texas, on on Feb. 15, 2014. Jan. 23, 2014. Feb. 23, 2014. Ellen R. Trosclair (B ’86) of Harvey, La., on Douglas W. Drawhorn (PHTM ’03) of Port Neches, Donna Langland Hansen (UC ’81) of Slidell, La., Jan. 6, 2014. Texas, on Jan. 23, 2014. on March 15, 2014. (G ’87, ’94) of New Orleans on Genevieve Cecilia Vieito (PHTM ’81) of Murray, Lesley A. Baker Paula F. Blackwell (UC ’06) of Metairie, La., on Ky., on Sept. 7, 2013. Feb. 3, 2014. Feb. 8, 2014.
Lawrence K. Griffith (L ’83) of New York on Gary J. Bloom (UC ’91) of Covington, La., on Harold E. Armour (’10) of New Orleans on Dec. 17, 2013. Dec. 20, 2013. Jan. 19, 2014.
Perry B. McSherry (G ’84) of Ruckersville, Va., on Eric M. Dusang (B ’95) of Metairie, La., on Ariel M. St. Etienne (B ’12) of Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 11, 2014. March, 3, 2014. on Dec. 31, 2013.
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 37 MAKK SCHOLARSHIP FUND Friends, family and business associates of the late Andrew Makk (B ’92) have created an endowed scholarship fund to honor his memory. Energy Capital Partners and Andrew’s wife, Catherine Newstadt Makk (N ’93), set an ambitious goal to raise $250,000 over three years. The fund exceeded the goal in just four months, reaching over $275,000.
WAVEMAKERS Doctors Greenbaums’ in Love Newcomb House sally asher sally
It’s another case of love at first sight. Dr. William Waring remembers the day he met his late wife, Dr. Nell Pape Waring (M ’51). It was July 1, 1951. Right away he knew there was something different about this charming young doctor. He was smitten. Nell Pape was starting a residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where William Waring was chief of residents. He asked the new resident out for a picnic, and she said yes. Jerry Greenbaum (B ’62) was so in love with his college sweetheart, Zimple and They were married the following year. Barbara Axelrod (NC ’63), he would have promised her anything— Broadway During 60 years together, the couple except to name a building in her honor at Tulane University. Scheduled to open in raised five sons and both had distinguished “Are you kidding me? I didn’t think I would even be able to afford a fall 2014, the Barbara medical careers. house to live in at the time,” Greenbaum said. Greenbaum House at William Waring spent a long and successful But now some 55 years later, thanks to his lead gift, Tulane’s newest Newcomb Lawn is near completion at the career in the Tulane School of Medicine De- student residence hall will be named the Barbara Greenbaum House corner of Zimple and partment of Pediatrics as a prominent figure in at Newcomb Lawn. Broadway streets. the treatment of children’s pulmonary disease. And how does his wife of more than 50 years feel about the honor? And Nell Pape Waring, who quit her Johns “She fought it like crazy,” Greenbaum laughed. “To this day Barbara Hopkins residency to devote her time to her would be relieved if they named it something else.” family, after a 22-year hiatus from medicine But Greenbaum says the honor is long overdue. He credits Barbara entered the residency program at Charity Hos- with helping him grow the family’s business from a six-employee liquor pital in New Orleans, where she specialized in store in Atlanta to CentraArchy and Affiliates, which employs 2,500 allergy and immunology. She became board and includes upscale restaurants such as Chophouse New Orleans, certified in allergy and immunology and retail alcohol beverage outlets and industrial real estate companies pediatrics and built a respected practice in throughout the Southeast. Doctors in New Orleans for more than 30 years. “She has always been my sounding board, helping me make the the Family Dr. William Waring Four of the Warings’ five sons are Tulane hard decisions over my 50-plus years in business,” said Greenbaum. cherishes the wedding graduates. “It’s time Barbara got the recognition she deserves.” portrait of the late After Nell’s death in 2012, William searched The new residence hall will house 256 students as well as a faculty Dr. Nell Pape Waring, his wife for 60 years. for a way to memorialize her. He established member and his or her family who will host dinners, lectures and oth- the Dr. Nell Pape Waring Endowed Scholar- er activities to foster an intellectual community and faculty-student ship Fund, which supports medical students interaction. at Tulane University School of Medicine. The building will include a demonstration kitchen for cooking The gift celebrates the couple’s lifelong love. classes, a 35-seat classroom, a large living room and study and social —Kirby Messinger lounges.—Mike Strecker
38 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE MUSIC RISING The School of Liberal Arts at Tulane launched the innovative Music Rising at Tulane website in April. The first-of-its-kind resource gathers a wide variety of educational materials on the musical cultures of the Gulf South at musicrising.tulane.edu.
WAVEMAKERS In Scott’s Honor
Back in the Classroom Scott Cowen (center) is at home leading
sally asher sally a seminar.
From special events across the nation, to gifts, while extraordinary by any standard, studies and extracurricular activities. endowed funds in his name, members of are typical of the generosity and commitment Another major initiative establishes The the Tulane community have rallied to- of the Glazers, Bergers and Corasanitis in Distinguished University Chair, which gether to honor President Scott Cowen’s 16 ensuring that more students can realize the Cowen will fill for a term. Spearheaded by the years of service. dream of a Tulane education. Edward G. Schleider Educational Founda- Since the announcement of his retirement “Scholarships change lives—not only the tion, Forest City Enterprises and members last June, Tulane supporters have come to- lives of scholarship recipients themselves but of the Board of Tulane, the $5 million en- gether to raise funds for a variety of programs the lives of so many individuals these students dowed chair permanently recognizes Cowen’s to commemorate Cowen’s tenure, while fueling will encounter throughout their lives,” Cowen long and successful tenure as president. university initiatives he’s passionate about. adds. “This is particularly true for Tulane Cowen will carry the title effective July The outpouring of generosity from alumni students, whose education is specifically 1 and be formally invested in the chair after and friends nationwide has been tremendous, designed to prepare them to make a real taking a sabbatical. says Yvette Jones, executive vice president for difference in the world.” This is the largest Distinguished Univer- university relations and development. sity Chair in the history of Tulane. Chairs of “Our most loyal donors have jumped at the this caliber are the most elite professional opportunity to be a part of the collective ef- appointments a university can make and are fort to honor Scott,” she says. “This shows how reserved for individuals who have made sig- profoundly appreciative we all are for Scott’s “Scholarships nificant contributions in their field. incredible vision and leadership.” “This is fitting for one of the most engaged One outcome of the support will be the change lives.” academic leaders in the world,” says Jones. creation of 60 endowed scholarship funds total- “We are fortunate that Scott will continue to ing $6 million for students who will be known inspire and educate our students.” as “Cowen Scholars.” Three Tulane families —Scott Cowen Earlier this year, an anonymous donor gave were essential to providing matching funds for Tulane $3 million, part of a $6.1 million total such a large undertaking: Jill and Avie Glazer, gift, to endow two Scott and Marjorie Cowen Louellen and Darryl Berger, and Valerie The Cowen Scholars will be a cohort of Chairs in Latin American Social Sciences. and Michael Corasaniti, who each provided students chosen for their talent, hunger “I look forward most to returning to the lead gifts for the challenges to raise scholarship for community service and potential for classroom and interacting with students,” says support for the Cowen Scholars. extraordinary success at Tulane and through- Cowen. “To have the chance again to teach on “I am humbled and deeply honored to be out their lives. Each Cowen Scholar will a regular basis is taking me back to my first recognized in this way,” says Cowen. “These receive scholarship support toward their love.”—Erika Herran
TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 39 ANGUS LIND A 1966 graduate of Tulane, Angus Lind spent more than three decades as a columnist for The Times-Picayune.
NEW ORLEANS
also—which is a good thing. Here’s my theory: Always a food town, never has food and the restaurant scene been covered by the media as it is today. The New Orleans Advocate and The Times-Picayune both have excellent restaurant critics and food writers that are widely read. There are magazines dedicated to local food— Louisiana Cookin’ for example—that provide colorful news about restaurants and recipes. And then there’s the cable TV scene. After the Food Network’s Guy Fieri of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” visited Katie’s Restaurant & Bar in Mid-City not long ago and the segment appeared on TV, the impact was immediate. Katie’s was slammed not only with locals, but out-of-towners who had seen the show, according to owner Scott Craig. mark andresen mark Viewers and readers pay attention to all the reviews, stars and beans bestowed on restau- Gourmet Heaven rants. New Orleans is a food destination for tourists and business people, not to mention by Angus Lind fans of the big-time sports events it hosts, like Super Bowls—and more people nationwide These days restaurants are popping up in food-crazed New Orleans faster food critics follow what’s happening here. than the critics can keep up with them. With over 1,400 So if you’re a foodie and into all this, you restaurants to Here’s an almost daily conversation refrain: “Have you been to …? dine in, what’s need to know the history, the genesis of this Ohmygod. Fabulous. You’ve got to go.” not to love? phenomenon. Until 1972, the city had never Sure I do. But I’ve got a list—not a bucket list—call it a feed bucket list had a newspaper restaurant critic. That all that gets longer and longer and as much as I try I’m not putting a dent in it. changed that year when The States-Item, then I live near the Tulane campus, just off Magazine Street near Audubon the afternoon newspaper, hired Richard H. Park. The New York Times reported at the end of 2013 that the number of res- Collin to write a column about restaurants. taurants on the three miles of Magazine was pushing 70—incidentally what I was a young S-I staff reporter and I I am doing age-wise. Maybe that could be my goal: 70 restaurants at age 70. watched Collin’s column take off. So did his Other things may be in decline, but my appetite is not one of them. guidebook, The New Orleans Underground Food and restaurant conversation has never been on the back burner Gourmet. The book marked the first time in the Crescent City. What Ella Brennan, the grande dame of Commander’s restaurants had been rated—and berated— Palace, told me almost 20 years ago hasn’t changed: “There used to be this and was enormously popular. It boosted the girl who worked for us, and she used to say, ‘Food in New Orleans is like sex— restaurant scene and became the talk of the everybody’s interested.’ town as much for his recommendations as “Why is it so popular? Because it has taste. If you go to eat in most cities, his sometimes-scathing opinions. even in France, the food in New Orleans is better,” Brennan said. “French Of a would-be fine dining establishment techniques are the basis for almost all good cooking, but it’s very subtle. New on St. Charles Avenue, he said: “serves unin- Orleans food hits you over the head and makes you say, ‘Wow! It has taste teresting food at expensive prices on plates and aftertaste, and it’s not subtle.’” that look as if they were arranged for bad Well, let’s just say that we have not only been hit over the head, we have hotel banquets.” been pummeled by seductive old tastes revised and reinvented and bold, in- Of a West Bank eatery known as Marco Polo: genious new tastes we’ve never before experienced. Since Katrina, a lot of “A combination of two cuisines that deserve new younger faces, including many affluent singles, have moved into the better: Italian and Chinese. The food is equally city. Eating out has not only become more popular—it has spawned a wide bad from either menu. Poor Marco Polo! Little variety of restaurants that either do not offer typical New Orleans fare or did he dream that on his return to Italy from have mixed and matched perhaps Mexican or Thai or Japanese cuisine with China in 1295 that someone would build a mon- some Louisiana flavors and favorites. ument like this in 20th century New Orleans.” Around Katrina, there were some 800 restaurants in the city. Today Collin’s ultimate compliment was to label we’re talking about 1,400—and they’re not all on the tourist circuit. a dish “platonic.” To foodies, that about So longtime denizens citywide are buying into this eat-out program describes the current restaurant scene.
40 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE bringing it all home september 6, 2014
visit yulmanstadium.com for details on all opening week events!
dedications • pep rally/food/fun/fireworks • stadium grand opening georgia tech vs. tulane • tailgate village opens • debut of football float MAGAZINE TUlane Office of University Publications 31 McAlister Drive, Drawer 1 New Orleans, LA 70118-5624
Wish You Were Here Second-line send-off. sally asher sally