Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start constructing that summer reading list. So why not start with some back issues of the Reed Magazine?
The September ’12 issue featured a profile of new president, John Kroger. While John is not a chemist, another Reedie is a president. Chantal Sudbrack ’97, president of the national alumni board, can be found on p. 11 (Meet Your Alumni Board) alongside other board members. Chantal also writes periodically in the Empire of the Griffin blog.
Prof. Kevan Shokat ’86
A much longer profile (“The Molecular Assassin”, p. 20) follows Prof. Kevan Shokat ’86 through his day at UC San Francisco’ Mission Bay biosciences campus. Kevan, as the article states (and his colleagues worldwide will affirm) “is a rock star: a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Eli Lilly Award winner, Sloane Fellow, and Searle Scholar”. But what comes across in the article is not so much “rock star”, as “driven scientist”. This article bears multiple readings. [A correction to “Thirty years after Chemistry 101 and well into his own career”. That line should have read 110, not 101. The intro chem sequence was changed long after Kevan’s graduation.]
The story of the Reed Griffin’s appearance at the Rose Parade appears on the magazine’s last page (“Griffin Infiltrates Rose Parade (Reed magazine)”). Several Reedies from the ’92 and ’93 classes — Jon-Paul Davis, Lars Fjelstad, Ben Lund, Martha Richards, Dan Schafer and Rob “driving force” Mack — as well as director of alumni relations, Mike Teskey, are mentioned. (also see Where Do Gryphons Roost in the Rain?)
The Class Notes section reports on … PacifiKen II, a gathering of chemists from three universities. The event was held at Timberline Lodge and celebrated the 70th birthday and scientific achievements of UC Berkeley bioinorganic chemistry professor Ken Raymond ’64 … and professor Steve Neshyba ’81, U. Puget Sound, who wrote to say, “I’m happily finishing up my last year as chair of faculty senate.” This will open up more time for teaching, research, family activities, and, perhaps most important of all, Morris dancing in the Puget Sound Revels … 
Chantal Sudbrack ’97 announced the winners of the class of 1997 spirit award … Ann Erickson ’03, is a postdoc at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel and married to an Israeli scientist. They met at Stanford while Ann was working on her PhD in applied physics and they hope to return to the Bay area … Ryan Cooper ’08 is a writer/web editor for the Political Animal blog in the Washington Monthly.
In Memoriam told of the passing of three Reed chemists …
Ersel Arthur Evans ’47 (deceased Nov. 9, 2011 in Seattle, Washington) Ersel came to Reed after serving in the Naval Air Corps during World War II and earned a BA in chemistry. He completed a PhD in chemistry with a minor in metallurgical engineering at Oregon State University. In 1951, he went to work for General Electric at Hanford, Washington. He was technical director of the Hanford Engineering Development Laboratories for over a decade and was an authority on ceramic and materials research and the development of nuclear reactor fuels. He directed major research and engineering programs, projects involving uranium, thorium, and plutonium fuels research and production, and developed materials for applications in aerospace, alternative energy, and medicine. During his career, he received the Westinghouse Order of Merit, the American Nuclear Society Exceptional Service Award, and the Walker Cister Medal. He was a fellow in the American Nuclear Society, the American Institute of Chemists, the American Society of Metals, and the American Ceramic Society. “I have been blessed with remarkably inspiring, helpful coworkers in graduate school and my professional career,” Ersel wrote. “But most of my fondest memories and greatest respect go back to Reed. Dr. [Arthur] Scott [chemistry and acting president 1923-79] and many others, staff and students, had a profound effect on me in an amazing variety of ways, inspiring from the front, rather than prodding from the rear.” He is survived by his son and predeceased by his daughter.
Kenneth Ivory Evans ’47 (deceased April 9, 2012, in Portland, from complications from Parkinson’s disease) Ken was a chemistry major at Reed and earned an MA in science education from the University of Oregon. “Reed taught me how to think and evaluate ideas and situations, and to keep open to ideas of all people,” he wrote. He taught science and math primarily in high schools in Milwaukie, Oregon, and also served as a vice principal at one of the schools. During summers, he worked as a chemist at National Lead, sold real estate, and directed summer school. He enjoyed golf, fishing, chess, and crossword puzzles. He and Phyllis Mickels married in 1942 and raised a son. He later married Grace Magnuson; they were together for 55 years. Ken and Grace were involved in their church, Hinson Baptist, where they taught classes. Ken left “a legacy of honor and humility” and demonstrated a love of learning. Survivors include Grace, his s0n, three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two sisters, and two brothers.
Thomas Shigeru Fujita ’56 (deceased February 11, 2012, in Portland) In 1942, when Tom was 11 years old, the federal government ordered him and his family — including brother Donald J. Fujita ’65 — to leave their home in Milwaukie, Oregon, and move to the relocation center established for nikkei (Americans with Japanese ancestry) in Minidoka, Idaho. After the war, Tom returned to Portland, graduated from Lincoln High School, and earned a BA in chemistry from Reed. He went on to study at the University of Washington, earning an MS in organic chemistry. In 1959, he began his 40-year career at Oregon Health & Science University, where he taught advanced organic chemistry and worked primarily with J.H. Fellman as a research chemist in neurochemistry, studying acetylcholine esterase, the chief enzyme destroying acetylcholine (the primary neurotransmitter in the human nervous system). He also worked with R.T. Jones in molecular biochemistry. In addition, he did quality control and research and development for Cooper Laboratories. Ron McClard, Arthur F. Scott Professor of Chemistry at Reed [1984-], wrote, “Tom worked in my lab at Reed College: back in the ’80s and he was the most persistently cheerful person I’ve ever known, and a very fine chemist as well. He also taught me to appreciate the superb pine mushroom [matsutake] with which he supplied me regularly. Tom seemed to be friends with virtually everybody.” Tom was married to Kay (Kuntz), a piano teacher and calligrapher; they had four sons. Says Kay, “Tom was an amazing person, so intelligent, and always learning and studying, up to the end.” Outside of his work as a chemist, Tom enjoyed fishing. He was a member of the Portland Darts Club and Portland Chess Club and was skilled in social card games and track racing. He also collected original prints by world-class artists and supported the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Portland Opera Association, the American Chemical Society, and the American Civil Liberties Union. He had a passion for jazz and wrote of “one of the great moments in jazz history” that occurred when Dizzy Gillespie stepped on his toe at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco in 1966. “Embodying compassion and generosity, Tom shared his love and wisdom with all he encountered.” Survivors include Kay, their sons, five grandchildren, his brother, and four sisters.