Alumni News from Reed Magazine, March 2015

Two features in the March issue of the Reed Magazine caught my eye. First, Interstellar Odyssey (p. 24) mined what was once my favorite literary vein: science fiction. If I remember correctly, my first big read was Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (I had just seen the film). Of the top of my head, I can’t recall SF stories with strong chemistry themes, but I’m sure they are out there. Any thoughts on that?

A second notable feature, The Pacifist Menace (p. 30), profiled Reed’s declining fortunes during World War I. Much is made of President William Trufant Foster‘s unsuccessful tangles with Portland’s pro-war leaders, exemplified by the Oregonian. We are reminded once again that the loftiest of principles, when unpopular, rarely prove a match for the mob.

Chemistry news stories were few in number, but high in interest. A story about the new Software Design Studio (p. 8) mentioned Prof. John Hancock‘s [1955-89] early experiments with the so-called DIMWIT system for molecular analysis. Built in the days before cheap transistors and integrated circuits, DIMWIT relied on mechanical relays that Hancock had obtained from confiscated pinball machines.

We were also told that mountaineer, chemist, and environmental advocate Arlene Blum ’66 would be the recipient of the Thomas Lamb Eliot award (Peak Chemist Takes Eliot Award, p. 10). The award, which was presented this month at the annual Reunions, recognizes “distinguished and sustained achievement  by a Reed grad.” You can learn more about the award and Arlene’s life at Arlene Blum ’66 – A Life of Mountains and Molecules.

Class Notes treated us to several stories about chemistry alumni, as well as the offspring of famous Portland chemists. In the latter category, Ava Kamb ’18 (a Reed biology major as of this writing) was revealed to be the granddaughter of Linda Pauling Kamb ’54 and great-granddaughter of Ava and Linus Pauling. In the alumni corner, we learned that Bev Karplus Hartline ’71 and husband Frederick have relocated to Butte, Montana. “We frequent the nearby wilderness areas and hot springs.” … Ann Barr-Gillespie ’82, Peter Barr-Gillespie ’83, and Scott Gillespie ’84 were in Portland recently to attend the wedding of classmate Jane Ensign Roberts ’83 … Michael Levine ’87 (or is it ’85?) has started his own patent practice in Portland, Enterprise Patent, and is no longer working at Stoel Rives (note Michael’s Reed thesis title: “Modifying ethylene methanedisulfonate: Attempted synthesis of 3-(1-benzoyloxybenzylidene) 1,5,2,4-dioxadithiepane-2,2,4,4-tetraoxide, or, Why I won’t live past sixty“) … Philip Wilk ’95 and wife Sarah were there to greet the stork when it delivered daughter Catherine last August … and Kristen Grauer-Gray ’07 is back in school, except this time as a student. After six years of teaching high school science, Kristen has set her sights on something different: “I’m studying for a master’s in environmental biology at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland. Kuopio reminds me of a much colder version of Portland: rainy, surrounded by forest, and perfect for bike commuters.” Do you have something for Class Notes? Send it to reed.magazine@reed.edu.

Finally, In Memoriam noted the passing of two Reedies with ties to the Reed chemistry program:

  • Charles Deeks ’43 passed away on June 21, 2014 in Eugene. Charlie was a Portland native and Grant high school graduate, and even though he was a biology major at Reed, his life was informed by chemistry and chemists. He grew up near Marshall Cronyn ’40 [chemistry 1952-89] and followed in Marsh’s wake to enroll at Reed. After graduating from medical school in 1949, Charlie returned to Reed in 1952-3 to study atomic energy with Prof. Arthur Scott [chemistry 1923-79]. Charlie would later work for the Navy on issues connected with biological and chemical defense.
  • Another Portland native and Grant high school graduate, Robert Gillespie ’55, passed away on October 11, 2014. Bob majored in math at Reed and he raised two sons who became Reed graduates: Scott Gillespie ’84 (psychology) and Peter Barr-Gillespie ’81 (chemistry).
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