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Alumni News
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Louis D. Boshes (Photo by Joe Ziolkowski, Museum of Science and Industry)
Awards Banquet Honors 20 Who Make a Difference One of President Clinton's savviest and most effective advisers, a champion of the new math, a riot-control expert for the police during the Chicago Bulls' championships, a member of India's Parliament, an award-winning composer -- these were among the 20 alumni honored at the Northwestern Alumni Association's 67th Awards Banquet. Nearly 500 University faculty, administrators, families and friends gathered April 10 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel to join the celebration. The black-tie event included dinner and dancing to the tunes of the Stu Hirsh (Mu76, GMu82) Orchestra, courtesy of the NU Club of Chicago, co-sponsor of the event for the first time. "This select group of alumni represents areas of expertise and service as widespread as their geographical locations, but in their diversity and achievements they represent all that is Northwestern," said M. Catherine Jaros (KGSM73), president of the Northwestern Alumni Association. Neuroscientist Louis D. Boshes (WCAS31, M36, 38, GME40) received the NAA's highest award, the Alumni Medal. A physician, educator, scientist, author, historian and philanthropist, Boshes is internationally renowned in the fields of neurology and psychiatry. For nearly seven decades, he has also played a leading role in alumni activities for his alma mater, serving as class representative for both his undergraduate and medical school classes. Boshes taught at Northwestern University Medical School from 1938 to 1963. He is professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and continues to hold appointments as senior attending physician emeritus in neurology and psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Cook County Hospital and the Columbus-St. Joseph Hospitals. For Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, he and his colleagues created an award-winning scientific exhibit, Exploration of the Human Brain -- Learning and Learning Disabilities, and another exhibit, Founders of Neurology, for the University of Illinois at Chicago. Roland H. Lange (CB32) received the Alumni Service to Society Award, which recognizes the voluntary efforts of those contributing to the advancement of causes or the improvement of society. Lange retired as vice chair of the Hartford Insurance Group in 1970 and pursued a second career in public service. For 40 years, he has volunteered for the American Red Cross, helping to raise more than $100 million.
Merit Award Winners Eugene A. Bauer (M67) is a widely recognized leader in clinical and investigative dermatology. Simon J. Blattner (WCAS58) is co-chair and chief executive officer of Rittenhouse, a manufacturer of paper, ribbon and label products for printer applications. He is also an artist who creates handcrafted Japanese-style papers. Rahm I. Emanuel (GS85) served until 1998 as President Clinton's senior adviser for policy and strategy. He currently is managing director of the Chicago office of the investment firm Wasserstein and Perrella. William F. Malone (D55, GSESP73), a dentist, scientist, educator, editor and author, currently is chief of the dental staff at Delta Dental Plan of Illinois. Lola J. May (GSESP50, 65) has been a pioneer in mathematics education since the 1960s, when she led efforts to train teachers and parents in what is often called the new math. She is the author of several mathematics texts and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Howard A. McKee (L41), chair of the executive committee of Grand Premier Financial of Wauconda, Ill., has enjoyed a distinguished career in the banking industry. He is a recipient of a 50-year award from the Illinois Bankers Association. Patrick J. McNulty (UC89) joined the Chicago Police Department in 1970 and is now a district commander. He was instrumental in developing and implementing the department's plans to handle the 1996 Democratic National Convention and the celebration of the Chicago Bulls' NBA championships. Kuldip S. Nayar (GJ52) is a syndicated columnist, political commentator, author and member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament. Imprisoned by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 for protesting press censorship, he is an author of numerous books. George L. Nemhauser (GMcC59, 61), professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is a leading researcher and educator in the field of operations research. He is a known expert in discrete optimization, which is the study and solution of large-scale logistics problems. Jean Fox O'Barr (G65, 70) is the Margaret Taylor Smith Director of Women's Studies at Duke University, which is the first endowed directorship in women's studies in the United States. She was one of 25 women selected as subjects of a 1991 Ford and Exxon Foundation Study, "Women of Influence, Women of Vision." Augusta Read Thomas (Mu87) holds two prestigious appointments: associate professor of composition at the Eastman School of Music and composer in residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Among her numerous awards are the International Orpheus Prize for Opera and the ASCAP Rudolph Nissim Award. Joseph H. Wender (EB66), a partner at Goldman, Sachs and Co., is a highly regarded specialist in mergers. He has been involved in half of all major U.S. bank mergers over the past two decades.
Alumni Service Awards David L. Carney (GMcC68, 72), retired from AT&T Corp. as vice president of customer care for the consumer markets division, is committed to building bridges between industry and the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He has served on the McCormick Advisory Council since 1990. Nancy Witte Jacobs (Mu52) has been a board member of the Alumnae of Northwestern since 1975. In that time, she has served as vice president, chaired the Alumnae Award, scholarship, social and Waa-Mu committees, and served on many others. H. Donald Nelson (EB55, KGSM59), president and chief executive officer of United States Cellular Corp., serves on the Kellogg Graduate School of Management's Alumni Advisory Board and the Kellogg Dean's Advisory Board. He sponsors the Learning through Experience and Action Program. In 1996, Nelson received Kellogg's highest honor, the Schaffner Award. Roger T. Rydstrom (D59), co-founder and president of Elmhurst Dental Care, has been an active supporter of the Dental School for more than 20 years. He joined the Dental School Alumni Association Board in 1978 and served on many committees and as president (1981-82). Bambi Holzer Schatz (S79), a retirement plan consultant with PaineWebber, has supported the University through the Alumni Admission Council in Los Angeles, serving as its director since 1994. In that capacity, she recruited more than 50 new volunteers and significantly raised the visibility of the University in Southern California. Richard E. Wiley (SESP55, L58), a leading communications attorney with Wiley, Rein & Fielding, has served as president and vice president of the Northwestern School of Law Alumni Association and is currently a member of the Dean's Advisory Council of the School of Law. Northwestern President Henry Bienen expressed his admiration for the contributions of all the award winners, noting, "We come together to recognize 20 exceptional alumni whose talents were nurtured in this tradition of achievement, commitment and generosity of spirit."
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Council Offers Advice to Undergrad Women Mentoring pairs share stories and much more. Before the Council of One Hundred was founded in 1993, Northwestern's Office of Student Affairs gleaned information from exit interviews that paralleled disturbing findings elsewhere: University female undergraduates appeared to have a lower overall self-esteem than male students did. The council, established at the special request of former Northwestern President Arnold Weber, was and is but one part -- albeit a major one -- of an ongoing campaign to address the self-esteem issue. Over the years, the organization -- made up of successful women professionals who serve as role models and mentors to female undergraduates -- has played a key role at the University in the eyes of alumni and students alike. Council members now number 115 (despite the name) and include doctors, lawyers, businesspersons, authors, reporters, professors, actors and government officials. Each spring and fall, mentors and protégés come together on campus to participate in intensive career-advisory and life-choice panel discussions with students. Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) met Amy Friedman Rosenthal (SESP94) at the very first council meeting in 1993. The two hit if off immediately and after that often got together for lunch. "It was fun to watch Amy develop in her career" as program coordinator at the Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, says Kennedy. Rosenthal is equally enthusiastic. "Marilyn was sitting at one of the back tables with an empty seat next to her, so I sat down, and thank God I did," she said. "She was a career strategist, and being a senior in college, [I felt] a career strategist was an exciting person to talk to. She's been a true mentor to me." This year, Kennedy, a managing partner of Career Strategies in Wilmette, is chair of the Council of One Hundred. At last fall's meeting, she gave an insightful and humorous keynote address on different generations of women in the workplace: pre-baby boomers; boomers; what she calls the cuspers, who followed the boomers; and baby busters, or those born between 1965 and 1975. She noted that, for all the inherent potential for wrangling, cooperation among working women of all ages is more the norm than the exception. "What I see in the workplace," said Kennedy, "is cross-generational mentoring. Younger workers instruct older ones about technology, and the older ones teach younger workers about protocol and etiquette." The weather at the spring session may have been inclement, but those students and council members who have attended previous meetings brought nothing but sunshine with them. Meanwhile, the first-timers, made welcome by the veterans, launched into some useful networking. Keynote speaker Patricia Zigarmi (SESP69), vice president for business development at Blanchard Training and Development, exhibited 13 small sculptures of women of various ages and body types and exhorted attendees to challenge societal adherence to cultural ideals of body image. "I am passionate about this project," said Zigarmi. Nancy Lyons, Northwestern associate director of athletics, also spoke on compliance with the Title IX provisions of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which greatly opened up athletics for women at all levels.
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Katie Scanlon, left, was hired by Diane Dawson, president of Dawson Sales, Co., after an impressive internship. (Photo by Mary Hanlon) |
Role Models Council members reach out to women students. Some members of the Council of One Hundred are role models because of their leadership abilities. Others are considered trailblazers because of the original career paths they chose. Yet others inspire by their follow-through. All consider their work on behalf of Northwestern undergraduate women a pleasure and a privilege. Katie Scanlon (WCAS98) came to Dawson Sales Co. in Chicago as a paid intern, made a fabulous impression and was hired permanently after graduation. "It's exciting to see what Katie brings to us," said Diane Dawson (J76), a council member and president of the company. "Dawson Sales benefits by hiring a member of a generation brought up on computers and technology. Her Northwestern education has prepared her well." Dawson gets an equal charge by seeing the mentoring process become multigenerational. Scanlon, whom she selected as an intern, this year asked Karen Church, a Northwestern senior math major, to be an intern at the company for data entry one day a week. Nana Matoba (Mu91, GMu92) admires her mentor, pediatrician and council member Bonnie Typlin (WCAS70, M74), for forging her own career in medicine. Typlin "opened her pediatric practice [in 1980] at a time when females weren't doing that," said Matoba, who added that Typlin taught her how to assert herself. But it was Matoba's initiative that got the ball rolling. "Nana called me to volunteer in my office, and I hired her as a secretary," Typlin said. "She was willing to work anywhere in the office as long as she could be near the children and learn more about the profession. I am pleased to report that she is now enrolled at Northwestern Medical School." Another council member, Ruth Mullen Harenchar (M76), is on her fourth protégé -- each one an undergraduate engineering student -- and she stays in touch with them all. "They and I both feel that they get the most benefit from having a sympathetic, knowledgeable, but unbiased mentor once they are really out in the workplace," Harenchar said.
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Alumni Survey Results You Like Us, We Like You A high number of Northwestern alumni recall their student days fondly, but the number who stay connected with the University drops off significantly after graduation. Those are just two of the findings of a telephone survey of 1,600 alumni conducted earlier this year for the Northwestern Alumni Association. Specifically, 89 percent of alumni said their Northwestern experience was either excellent or very good. In a related statistic, 74 percent described themselves as either occasionally or highly involved with the University as students. However, only 54 percent described themselves as either somewhat or highly involved after graduation. But 44 percent said the NAA could make changes to its programs that would get them more involved. The survey, commissioned by the association, will establish a baseline to offer guidance for new programs and improvements to existing programs, said Northwestern Alumni Association President M. Catherine Jaros. "The survey data provide useful guidance as we refine our programming and planning for the coming years," she says. "The NAA strives to create enduring bonds between alumni and the University, and this information will help us in our efforts to do so." Other key findings:
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Steve Kramer (McC87) of the NU Club of Washington, D.C., helps rehab a house during the club's annual Christmas in April project. |
Club News In April, the NU Club of Albuquerque was treated to haute cuisine followed by a conducting demonstration with Bernard Dobroski (GMu81), dean of the School of Music. Dobroski frequently takes his show on the road, demonstrating the movements of a conductor. As he put it, "You will be able to conduct all the music in the Western World" by the end of the evening. Eric Sundquist, dean of the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, discussed "The Role of the Liberal Arts and Humanities" in January before the NU Club of Coachella Valley (Calif.). Sundquist focused on the need for Northwestern to recognize that the great works of the past, often controversial in their day, are vital to a liberal arts education and a prerequisite to understanding the world of the 21st century. In April, the NU Club of Dallas-Fort Worth hosted Donald P. Jacobs, dean and professor of banking at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, who shared insights into today's business education scene. David H. Zarefsky (S68, GS69, 74), dean of the School of Speech, traveled to Texas in March to address the NU Club of Houston on "Political Debate: Past, Present and Future." In February, the NU Club of Northwest Indiana cheered on the men's Wildcat basketball team as they faced off against Indiana University at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Musical theater students, including Kate Shindle (S99), 1998's Miss America, gave the NU Club of Phoenix a taste of Broadway in March with a musical revue. The program, narrated by Dominic Missimi, director of the music theater program, celebrated the accomplishments of Northwestern alumni performers, directors, composers and lyricists, such as Nancy Dussault (Mu57), Frank Galati (S65, GS67, 71), Brian D'Arcy James (S90), Carol Lawrence (S54), Tony Roberts (S61) and Inga Swenson (S54). In February, the NU Club of Tucson huddled with Rick Taylor, director of University athletics and recreation, at the Tucson Country Club, where all enjoyed brunch. Members of the NU Club of (Washington) D.C. donned work clothes in April and May to scrape, patch and paint for their Christmas in April philanthropy project, now in its fourth year. The club hosted University President Henry Bienen April 17, discussed British literature in June, attended a women's World Cup soccer match in July and cheered on the Women's National Basketball Association's Washington Mystics against the Cleveland Rockers in August. The John Evans Club visited Fisk Hall in March for a reception, tour and program. Medill dean Ken Bode and associate professor Jack Doppelt discussed "Medill at the Millennium," "Politics and the News Media: A View from Washington" and "Empty Polls: Why Don't Americans Vote?" The Medill Club of Boston held its annual celebration April 17 with Medill associate dean and associate professor Mary Ann Weston and assistant professor Carolyn Kitch. Members of the Medill Alumni Club of Chicago and their guests enjoyed a night at the theater in March, seeing No End of Blame. The production highlighted the producing talents of Lara Goetsch (J93), MACC founding member and co-chair. Other recent club events include a sports outing, an educational speaker panel and, in June, the club's second anniversary party. Continuing events include Tuesday night happy hours and Sunday Matinee Club film viewings. Members of the Medill Club of Los Angeles enjoyed a March performance of the classic dark comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace, at Northwestern alumnus Garry Marshall's (J56) Falcon Theatre in Burbank. In April, members heard from Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, co-producers/senior writers for The Sopranos, HBO's new offering of dark humor and intense drama. In July, Richard Schwarzlose, newswriting and ethics professor, spoke to students and parents about new Medill programs. The Medill Club of New York bowled its collective heart out in March and headed to the ballpark in July to see the New York Mets play the Chicago Cubs. Group members also did elementary school tutoring, enjoyed monthly Happy Hours and took a walking tour of famous authors' homes. Medill Club of San Francisco/Bay Area alums and guests attended a panel discussion on life after journalism in February, one month after the group celebrated its third anniversary. Northwestern University Entertainment Alliance/East has inaugurated Purple Sunday events to provide alumni with opportunities to perform for other alumni and friends. These events are open to actors, singers, writers, poets and comedians. Contact the group at its Web site (http://www.nuea.org) for more information. David Zarefsky (S68, GS69, 74), dean of the School of Speech, and playwright Jeff Baron (S74) were guests of honor last November at a reception preceding a performance of Baron's off-Broadway hit Visiting Mr. Green (see "Visiting Mr. Baron," Alumni News, Jan./Feb. 1999). Director/choreographer/ performer Mark Hoebee (S82) held a roundtable presentation and discussion in January on networking and making career changes. For three nights in August, Northwestern University Entertainment Alliance/West put on their third annual WILDCUTS showcase at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood. The showcase is for Northwestern actors who've been in Los Angeles for at least two years and who want practical exposure to industry agents, casting directors, producers, etc. Directed by Kyle Heffner (S79), the showcase ran to full houses each night. This year's guest directors were Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin (S60), who worked with the cast in front of an audience during workshop rehearsal on the Warner Bros. Studios lot. Guest hosts this year were actors Laura Innes (S79), Harry Lennix (S86) and Clancy Brown (S81). University College alumni can welcome new dean Richard Lorenzen to campus Oct. 16, during Homecoming Weekend. Alumni are encouraged to call 847-491-4340 or check the Web site (http://www.northwestern.edu/univcollege/activitiesandevents.html) for details about the tailgate party and group ticket purchase. University College's alumni board has developed a line of merchandise that includes a logo with UC's 1933 founding date and a lighted lamp with a theme taken from a Wieboldt Hall stained glass window. Plans are under way for UC's Career Forum 2000. Traditionally held in late February or early March, Career Forum provides an opportunity for UC alumni and current students to get advice about changing careers, using Northwestern career resources and networking with other UC students and alumni. To help plan Career Forum 2000, contact academic adviser Michael Miller at michaelm@northwestern.edu or call 312-503-0512. University College alumni are welcome to attend the alumni board's quarterly meetings or to join one of the board's committees. Meetings will be held Oct. 20 on the Chicago campus and Jan. 18 on the Evanston campus. The annual meeting and election of officers will be held April 21 on the Chicago campus. For more details, check the Web site or call 847-491-4340.
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Herb Peterson |
Marketing McGenius Herb Peterson (WCAS41) perfected an idea that turned into a winner for McDonald's. Did somebody say Egg McMuffin? Herb Peterson not only said it, he invented it. Peterson (WCAS41) owns the bragging rights to what has become one of the most popular selections on the McDonald's breakfast menu. Surprising as it might be to regular patrons of the golden arches, the Egg McMuffin was not always a staple of the menu. "It had always bothered me that we didn't open the stores until 10 or 11 a.m.," Peterson says. "We had high rent, and I thought we should have a breakfast product to open earlier. "I knew [Ray Kroc, the late McDonald Corp.'s founder,] liked eggs Benedict and I thought, 'Why not create a poor man's eggs Benedict?,' " he says. Hence, the birth of the Egg McMuffin. A kitchen was the last place that Peterson, who planned to go into art after graduation, expected to end up. After serving 38 months as a U.S. marine in the Pacific during World War II, he spent 16 years working in a Chicago advertising agency. As luck or Ronald McDonald would have it, Peterson was introduced to the hamburger-flipping industry via the agency. "I was able to pitch a campaign for the McDonald's account," he says. "During that time, Ray and I became good friends, and he tried to convince me to open my own McDonald's. I thought the idea was a good one. I'd be my own boss." In 1971, Peterson began working in his McDonald's kitchen to discover the right All-American combination of taste and haste for his creation. He found it with cheese, eggs, Canadian bacon and an English muffin. He also found a quick way to prepare the sandwich by developing a new cooking utensil -- a cluster of six Teflon-coated rings -- that could be placed on the grill to give eggs the round shape of the English muffin and the appearance of a poached egg. Peterson developed the Egg McMuffin at his franchise in Santa Barbara, Calif. The rest is McDonald's history. After his inspiration, Peterson started up six restaurants and moved up the McDonald's food chain. What would McDonald's be without Herb Peterson and his McMasterpiece of a McMuffin? Judging by the profit margins, the 52-year-old fast-food company would not want to find out. "In focus groups, the Egg McMuffin always has a high score," Peterson says. "I've never gotten a bad comment about the McMuffin. Breakfast items account for 22 cents out of every dollar that McDonald's makes nationwide. That's out of the $38 billion that McDonald's makes a year. That's a lot of breakfast." A breakfast for champions perhaps? Well, not exactly. Peterson agrees that McDonald's, the king of the fast-food industry, has never been known for the healthiness of its food. "We've suffered through the slings and arrows about calories, but the crowds keep coming," he says. Moreover, "the calories in an Egg McMuffin are lower than any of the hamburger meals' calories." Peterson's family also couldn't resist the call of Mickey D's. His only son, David, shares ownership of the franchises in Santa Barbara with his father. "As Ray Kroc used to say: 'He's got ketchup in his blood,' " Peterson says. -- Cherise Bathersfield (J99)
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Chapin Hall to Reunite Former Chapin Hall residents, particularly those from the classes of 1968, 1969 and 1970, are welcome to attend a reunion during Homecoming Weekend Oct. 15-17. To obtain details about the event or to add your name to the mailing list for future Woman's Educational Aid Association gatherings, contact Helen Gagel Squires (J68) at Helen@cmcusa.org or 847-328-4230. Chapin Hall, now the Humanities Residential College, was a cooperative living unit housing 60 women who did their own housekeeping and meal preparation for reduced room and board.
Saving 'Col. Dunham' Renowned neurosurgeon Loyal Davis (M18, GM 21, G23) always told his son that a complete doctor has interests other than medicine. With his first novel Yours D3, a work with World War II as its backdrop, Richard Davis (M51, GM56, GME59), a retired neurosurgeon, has followed this sound advice. Davis has had an interest in the personalities, tactics and the strategy of war since childhood. As a teenager in the years before World War II, he grew even more interested in the details of combat. "World War II had a real purpose," Davis says. "I had followed what Hitler was doing. You could see step by step how Germany was dominating Europe." Davis' father -- one of neurosurgery's pioneers, chair of Northwestern's department of surgery for 31 years and an international authority in his field -- encouraged his son's interest in history and current events and held frequent discussions about world affairs with him. In World War II, Richard Davis was part of a specialized U.S. Army training program and after graduation from Princeton University and Northwestern's Medical School, he served as a surgeon in the Korean conflict. In the following years, he was a neurosurgical resident and fellow under the aegis of his father. Later, Davis was appointed to the staff at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and to the medical school faculty. He practiced, taught and directed a research laboratory for 35 years until retiring in 1992. Leaving the field gave Davis the time to finally write about story ideas that had been in his mind for some time."After retirement, I had the time to research and write this novel," he says. Yours D3 (Alliance House, 1999) documents the coming of age, education and training of a young officer in the paratroopers, Lt. Col. Alex Dunham. It follows the evolution of a sensitive, yet hardened, combat leader through the battlefields of Europe and explores the meaning and price of leadership. The book's title originates from a series of notes and letters written by Dunham's father, whose rigid Victorian background limits his ability to communicate in a meaningful way with his family. "The title is a type of enigma," Davis says. "We know his father's series of notes and admonitions are well-intentioned, often critical, but young Dunham is at a loss to decipher the meaning of 'D3.' He imagines the signature could signify, 'I love you; good work, son; follow my advice,' or even his laundry number stamped on the collar of his shirts as a struggling intern." In the chilling battle scenes, Davis initially focuses more on Dunham's skill as a combat leader, but one with a certain reckless desire to be victorious at any cost. Later, however, Dunham becomes deeply affected by the violence, and as the war continues, the protagonist increasingly finds himself trying to cope with the deaths of his friends and fellow officers. "I tried to emphasize the cost of commitment and service as the novel reaches its conclusion," Davis says. For Davis, writing war stories has become much more than a pastime. It is now another career. "I found myself writing each page, each chapter, four or five times, trying to strive for excellence -- trying to accomplish in writing what I searched for in neurosurgery." -- Cherise Bathersfield (J99)
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Knud Rissel (KGSM92), left, and Sabine Goesch (KGSM92), indulge in some traditional German favorites, pretzels and beer, at Kellogg's international reunion in Koblenz. |
Professional Schools Update High-level lectures on European economic and political issues (with a healthy dose of fun) and German-inspired cultural events were major draws at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management's international reunion Feb. 26-28 at Kellogg's alliance school, the Otto Bleisheim Graduate School at the Koblenz School of Corporate Management in Germany. Students in the inaugural International Executive MBA class joined about 60 Kellogg alumni for the weekend. Speakers included Hans Tietmeyer, president of Germany's Bundesbank and a member of the newly formed European Central Bank Council, and Count Otto Lambsdorff, Germany's former minister of economic affairs and the former chairman of the country's Free Democratic Party. "It was a very historic occasion to bring the chairman of the Bundesbank and the former minister of economic affairs together in the same program," said Kellogg Dean Donald Jacobs, who was in Koblenz for the reunion. "Both of these gentlemen have had a great deal to do with leading the course of economic policy in Germany, so it was a privilege to listen to them reflect on the changes taking place in their country." Of course, the weekend included more than global economics. In fact, the reunion opened with a lively dinner at the German Bierhaus Maxamillions Braewiesen, during which alumni enjoyed heady brews, traditional German cuisine and the opportunity to socialize with other alumni living throughout Europe. The celebrations resumed after Saturday's lectures as reunion goers indulged in an evening of Rhine wine and dancing at the Grand Dienhard Winery in Koblenz. The festivities concluded with a hearty brunch and tour of Marksburg Castle, which overlooks the Rhine River. Built during the 12th and 13th centuries, Marksburg is the only castle in Germany to emerge unscathed after World Wars I and II. Meanwhile, back in the United States, more than 650 alumni gathered April 30-May 2 for Kellogg's annual alumni reunion weekend, held at the Leverone/Andersen complex and the James L. Allen Center on the Evanston campus. The event included a traditional Kellogg tailgate party, a career workshop, a panel discussion on the impact of the Internet and other new technologies, a reunion barbecue, an alumni expert roundtable, a semiformal gala and a golf outing. Robert Duncan, the Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Change and chair of the Organization Behavior Department, received the Faculty Choice Award, given annually by alumni in the reunion classes. At an April 9 ceremony attended by 250 alumni and friends, University President Henry Bienen and Dean David E. Van Zandt led the dedication of the Pritzker Legal Research Center at the Northwestern University School of Law. The dedication was in recognition of a $10 million gift from the Pritzker Foundation and was followed by a celebratory reception and dinner to kick off the law school's ambitious $60 million fundraising campaign. Van Zandt announced that additional commitments of $34 million had been raised toward the goal. "We have quietly been raising funds and are off to an excellent start as we begin the public phase of the campaign," he said. The law school campaign is being chaired by J. Landis Martin (L73), with Robert A. Helman (L56), Lael F. Johnson (L63) and Nina G. Stillman (L73) serving as co-chairs. Judd C. Leighton (L47) and Howard J. Trienens (L49) are honorary chairs. The dedication was preceded by a meeting of the Northwestern Law Board, a group of distinguished alumni who counsel the law school on its strategic programs. Led by chair Lael Johnson and co-chair Kathy Spear (L79), the board reviewed initiatives on admissions, placement, faculty hiring and the curriculum. The Law School also announced it will begin celebrating the millennium with over six decades of graduates during Reunion '99, Sept. 24-25. Alumni from around the world are expected to return to the Chicago campus to take part in classes, dinners and a new all-family event this fall. Reunion information can be found on the School of Law alumni Web site (http://www.law.northwestern.edu). The weather outside on Jan. 18-21 may have been freezing, but inside the telephone wires were burning as 43 students in the Medical School raised $137,178 in Alumni Fund phonathon pledges. The annual alumni giving total is expected to reach at least $500,000 this year, according to Ginny Darakjian, director of alumni affairs. "While the amount of alumni support we received in pledges continued to be strong, so did student enthusiasm for the phonathon," she said. "This year, the eagerness of student volunteers proved exceptional as they strove to find as many contributors as possible while competing for the gift incentives." For their time and energy, students received gift certificates to a local department store or to the campus bookstore. Teams with the highest pledges also won movie tickets or restaurant gift certificates. In March, the Medical School's admissions office hosted its first "Weekend in Chicago" for students who were accepted at Northwestern but had not committed to attending. The weekend gave them a chance to meet current students and faculty members in classroom and social settings to help with their decision. The same month, the Medical School Alumni Association sponsored tours of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's new Feinberg Pavilion and Galter Outpatient Pavilion, which is now home to the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation. On April 23-24, the school hosted Alumni Weekend 1999, attended by nearly 400. Friday events included a continuing medical education program on heart imaging by faculty members from the radiology department and cardiology division, a kickoff luncheon, campus tours and class dinners. A reception for the Nathan Smith Davis Club, a group named after the first dean, was held at the Casino, a social club. On Saturday, a breakfast preceded tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright House and Studio in Oak Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Capping off the day was a dinner dance at the Hotel InterContinental. Friends and family members of the class of 2001 gathered for Family Day on April 10. Former dean Harvey R. Colten and Jack F. Snarr, associate dean for student affairs, welcomed participants at a breakfast sponsored by the Medical School Alumni Association. Issues in medicine were discussed by four teachers of the preclinical curriculum. The day also included a Weinberg Medical Informatics Training Center demonstration, an anatomy and histology exhibit, and a discussion on patients, physicians and society.
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Angel Abcede, center, performs in the Sex Police ensemble with Aimee Tye, left, and Vanessa Thuvillion, right. |
Dancing As Fast As He Can Journalist and dancer Angel Abcede (J85) seeks to promote AIDS awareness with his dance troupe. When Angel Abcede (J85) entered Northwestern, he was used to straddling two worlds as an editor of his Honolulu high school's newspaper and as a performer in school musicals. In college, he majored in journalism, minored in theater and performed with the Graffiti Dancers, a campus dance company founded as an alternative troupe. Today, Abcede is still living a double life -- as an award-winning business writer for the Journal of Petroleum Marketing and as a dancer and executive director of the Sex Police, an educational dance company he co-founded in 1991. The Sex Police, which performs in the Chicago area, is a multicultural ensemble that promotes AIDS awareness among teenagers through hip-hop dance and lively skits. The vision behind Sex Police, Abcede says, was a "melding of the prevention goals with the discipline, artistry and emotional potential of dance." Sex Police has performed to enthusiastic and receptive audiences at high schools locally and throughout the Midwest. "I'd tell any school, if your students have not seen the Sex Police, get them in," says Sylvester Davis, a teacher at Chicago's Austin High School. The group, which has received numerous citations, participated in a 1997 conference on youth and AIDS prevention, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It also was featured in a documentary called Teens Uncensored, which aired nationwide on the UPN television network on World AIDS Day last Dec. 1. With the success of its performances, the Sex Police ensemble has expanded its programming beyond sex education and reached out to even younger audiences. A new program, Health and Safety Gladiators, teaches young children and preteens about smoking, the potential dangers of handguns, nutrition, physical fitness and drugs. In addition, Sex Police conducts dance classes for teens and a summer apprenticeship called Cadets (four of the 16 current Sex Police dancers started as Cadets). Meanwhile, Abcede is in his 15th year with the Joel Hall Dancers, an acclaimed Chicago jazz dance company that has performed in New York, Great Britain, Germany, Norway and, most memorably for Abcede, Russia. He marvels that dance can attract crowds of 3,000 per show in Russia. "You could feel the appreciation for your art in a magnitude that here you only see in a football stadium," he says. Another highlight of his dance career was being invited to choreograph a piece for the Dance Chicago Festival. Abcede's journalism career has flourished, as well. Recipient of a 1997 award from the American Society of Business Press Editors, Abcede recently concluded a long tenure with National Petroleum News to become a contributing editor for the Journal of Petroleum Marketing. Abcede, a Filipino-American, also writes a column for Gay Chicago magazine, in which he tackles, among other issues, stereotypes about Asian men. "When you have a diverse set of interests, like I've had, you realize it may take longer to master each skill or make a career in each area," Abcede says. "But in the end, your working life has a variety that makes every day interesting." -- Adrienne Onofri (J85)
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Be a Part of History Northwestern's Sesquicentennial needs your memories. In preparation for its Sesquicentennial celebration, Northwestern is preparing a book and a video on the first 150 years. Perhaps you held onto a picture of your roommate during a 1957 panty raid, old movies of your mother at a formal with Warren Beatty (S59) or your great-uncle's class photo. If you think it's a good piece of history, we'd like to borrow it. You might see it in the official Sesquicentennial book or video. Research is currently under way to publicize the history of African Americans and other minorities at Northwestern, so we are particularly interested in related items. Please call or send a brief description of your memento to Monica Metzler, Sesquicentennial director, Northwestern University, 555 Clark St., Evanston, Ill. 60208-2376; e-mail: m-metzler@northwestern.edu; telephone 847-467-7241. Include your return address. All materials will be returned.
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Diane Finnan |
Coach For Life Diane Finnan (SESP87) teaches basketball -- and many of life's lessons -- at a small New Jersey college. According to Diane Finnan (SESP87), being a good coach is "not just two hours on the practice court." It isn't even about the court sometimes. Finnan is well-practiced at listening to players' personal issues while drilling them on their jump shots. And with a master's degree from George Washington University in education and human development, she feels that her recent promotion to director of athletics at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., is a good fit. Formerly a center for the Wildcats' basketball team, Finnan played in the NCAA tournament in 1987 before moving on to GW and assisting the women's basketball program there. The transition was easy for her; coaching was a way to stay in the game without playing. "[Playing basketball in] college was enough for me," she says. After receiving her graduate degree, Finnan joined the coaching staff at Georgetown University the same year the women Hoyas made it to the NCAA's Sweet 16. When her mother became terminally ill with breast cancer, Finnan returned to her native New Jersey and quit coaching for a year. She started at Centenary in 1994 as director of marketing and institutional research, but being away from the court was not easy. In 1995, she became coach of Centenary's Cyclones. "I have a need to be out there," Finnan says. "It's just part of me." For the past three years as head women's basketball coach, Finnan was named Coach of the Year by the Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the team also won the WIAC championship those years. Finnan sees differences between playing at the Division I level at Northwestern and coaching Division III at Centenary. Overall, sports are not as strong a focus for her protégés as they were for the young women with whom Finnan played. In fact, four or five players from this year's Centenary team had never played basketball before. "It's a different kind of athlete," she says. "You can teach a bit more at this level." Clearly, however, the results are there. Her young charges catch the enthusiasm -- and the expertise -- quickly, thanks to their coach. "It's still very competitive," Finnan says. "They just need a little bit of extra help." -- Jenny Pritchett (J98)
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Alums Under Sail By Reynolds Dodson My wife, Susan, and I don't think of ourselves as cruise junkies. Perhaps unfairly, we've always associated cruises with people who overeat and gamble. But when our plans to get together with two former University classmates fell through last winter and we serendipitously received a Northwestern Alumni Association mailer touting the glories of a February cruise aboard a clipper ship in the Caribbean, we said, "What the heck, it'll beat staying home!" While we have been to the Caribbean before and even sailed there, we had never been on a clipper ship. That may be because there aren't too many around. A replica of those 19th-century "greyhounds of the seas," the Star Clipper is one of only a handful of the vessels now sailing the world. It's a 360-foot-long four-masted square-rigger that combines the beauty of sailing with the luxury of a mega-yacht. When we arrived in St. John's, Antigua (after losing our luggage en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico), we were greeted with cold rum punches and a cheery travel director who had been hired expressly to see to alumni needs. The ship, 226 feet tall at its topmast and with a bowsprit that hangs 46 feet over the water, dominated the tiny harbor. Those who have been to the Caribbean know that, while the numerous islands have their charm, the main attractions are weather and water. For the record, however, our ship docked over the week at Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and St. Bart's, among other spots. For me, the big pull was scuba diving. It has been 10 years since I was certified in Grand Cayman (my friends say I've been certifiable for much longer), and I was eager to get reacquainted with the sport. My wife, who prefers life at more reasonable barometric pressures, contented herself with sunning, reading and snorkeling. In the evenings, as the passengers sipped cocktails and crew members scampered precariously overhead in the rigging, we made the acquaintance of our fellow alumni. As it happened, only five Wildcats with their spouses signed up for this excursion. All were charming and brilliant, of course. The star of the trip was the ship. Built by a Swedish clippership enthusiast in 1991, the vessel outdoes its famous predecessors by having 36,000 square feet of Dacron sails (canvas is obsolete now), state-of-the-art anti-rolling tanks (they help keep the ship on an even keel) and a 1,350-horsepower diesel engine to provide electricity, desalinated water and a quick boost when Mother Nature isn't cooperating. It also contains enough luxuries to satisfy a QE2 passenger. All decks are trimmed in mahogany. The luxurious dining room is capable of handling all passengers and officers at one time, and each of its spacious cabins has double or twin beds, a television for videos, a telephone and a bath. The meals were sumptuous. Breakfasts and lunches were buffet; the evening meals were sit-down and consisted of several fine menu choices, plus wine. Talking to the passengers (many of whom were repeat customers), we learned that the Star Clipper and her sister ship, the Star Flyer, also cruise the Mediterranean and the Far East. In addition, for the real seadogs, three-week trans-Atlantic crossings are made twice a year by the clippers. Would we take such a cruise again? In a heartbeat. My wife's already talking about the Greek isles. "Fine," I say. "Let's sign up now. Only this time, I'll keep my bags by my side." Reynolds Dodson (WCAS60) is a self-employed writer living in Water Mill, N.Y.
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Jennie Waugh Callahan (ca. 1929) |
Jennie Waugh Callahan Jennie Waugh Callahan (GS29), 91, of Bronxville, N.Y., June 27, 1998. A pioneer in the world of broadcasting, Ms. Callahan was one of the first proponents of including children and young adults to enhance the creative content of radio and television programming. Ms. Callahan also utilized broadcasting to teach speech and dramatic skills to children and to provide college students with training in direction and production, which helped many of them find later success in television and radio. Her work in the field spurred the development of such entities as the Children's Television Workshop. An author as well as an educator, Ms. Callahan wrote two well-received books, which brought her distinction in professional broadcasting and education. Her first, Radio Workshop for Children, led to the establishment of the Film and Media Center at Hunter College, where she taught for 33 years. Her second book, Television in School, College and Community, furthered her mission to use television for educational and community improvement purposes. Ms. Callahan received her bachelor's degree from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Mo., her master's from Northwestern's School of Speech and her doctorate from the University of Berlin in Germany. She is survived by her son, North Callahan Jr., and her daughter, Mary Alice Covington.
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Frank R. Crisafulli |
Frank R. Crisafulli Frank R. Crisafulli (WCAS37), 82, of Evanston, Nov. 5, 1998. A professor of performance studies at Northwestern's School of Music from 1953 to 1998, Mr. Crisafulli performed as a trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for more than half a century and was one of the first members of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Brass Ensemble. A native of the city, Mr. Crisafulli began studying the trombone with his father, a trombonist for the Chicago Opera Company and the WGN radio orchestra, when he was in high school. While attending Northwestern, Mr. Crisafulli played with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In 1938, at the age of 24, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as assistant principal trombone and later that year became second trombone. In a year, he ascended to principal trombone, a position he maintained until 1955. "Mr. C," as he was known by his students, always had useful advice to offer students in their struggle to succeed in an artistic profession: pursue double majors, become teachers and, above all, keep practicing. Mr. Crisafulli is survived by his wife, Dorothy Kopp; sons Brian (GSESP66), Peter (Mu68, GMu70), Jeffrey and Michael; daughter-in-law Linda (Mu68, GMu69); three grandchildren; and his sister, Marie.
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Joseph Regenstein Jr. |
Joseph Regenstein Jr. Joseph Regenstein Jr. (McC46), 75, of Chicago, March 4. President of the Joseph and Helen Regenstein Foundation, Mr. Regenstein donated more than $105 million to various Chicago-area institutions after he took over the organization, established by his parents, in 1981. Mr. Regenstein was a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He served as chairman and president of Velsicol Chemical Corp. until 1965 and was chairman of the board for the Arvey Corp., a paper-products firm created by his grandfather, until his family sold the company in 1988. A booster of education, athletics and the outdoors, Mr. Regenstein provided funds for numerous community-centered projects. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, Mr. Regenstein supported a personal interest, a fruit and vegetable garden, now named after his family. His foundation also contributed to the construction of the Regenstein Hall of Music for Northwestern and the Joseph Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago. Other funding recipients included the Brookfield Zoo, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, and the Field Museum of Natural History. Mr. Regenstein is survived by his wife, Joan; their daughter, Susan Frank, and son, Joseph III; sisters Betsy Hartman and Ruth; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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