A Fond Farewell As this issue was about to go to press, we learned of Chancellor John V. Lombardi’s appointment to the presidency of Louisiana State University. The 23rd leader of the campus since 1863, Lombardi will be remembered for presiding over numerous accomplishments, including rebuilding the faculty ranks with noted scholars and researchers, reinvigorating the campus’s fundraising efforts, spearheading a new building campaign, and spurring excellence in student recruitment. * Chancellor Lombardi overturned “New Dirt” on campus, both literally and figuratively, in his quest to elevate teaching and research. His straight-talking style is embodied in the slogan he coined upon coming in 2002 to UMass Amherst: “Money Matters, Performance Counts, Time is the Enemy.” He led by example, inspiring donors, academics, students, and staff with his can-do attitude. The task of selecting a new chancellor falls to President Jack M. Wilson and the UMass Board of Trustees. Trustees have been gathering names of experienced leaders to consider for appointment as interim chancellor in Amherst; President Wilson will recommend a candidate to the board this summer. Trustee Jennifer C. Braceras ‘89 is expected to head the search committee for a permanent chancellor in Amherst with the committee’s work to begin in earnest this fall. — Carol Cambo, Editor * See the fall UMass Amherst magazine in November 2007 for a full review of Chancellor Lombardi’s legacy as part of the Annual Report of Donors and Volunteers 2006-2007.

Praise for Family Issue
As a Family Court Judge and 1972 graduate, I applaud your absolutely wonderful issue of "Our Families, Our Selves," which I thought was the best issue I've ever read of the alumni magazine. I read each of the articles avidly & was so impressed. This issue was not only interesting, informative, and engaging, but provided a service in that it will result in making people think about issues important to nearly all of us. Great work & thank you.

Judith S. Claire ’72
Family Court Judge, Chautauqua County Family Court
Mayville, New York

 

Your family issue of UMass is wonderful.  I am 92 and particularly appreciated Pierek’s article on aging.

Harry D. Pratt Sr. ’36
Simpsonville, South Carolina

Animal Rights and Wrongs
UMass alumni reflect the dichotomies in our larger society and world.  I was so uplifted, as an animal rights supporter, by the story in the last issue of this magazine about the young woman who is rescuing the bears that are cruelly taken from their slain mothers and tortured for entertainment in India, and consulting with the Indian government on the retraining of the people who make a meager living from this cruel practice. My joy was short lived, when I also read about a young woman who is dedicating her life to a pharmaceutical company by participating in the cruel and antiquated use of animals in laboratories.  It calls to mind how rescuers go out of their way around the world to save beached pilot whales, only to have them rounded up and viciously slaughtered by adults and children who live on a North Atlantic island for "tradition."

C. G. Varno ’80
Skaneateles, New York

More Future Superstars on Campus
Just a note to follow up on the article about the Bruce Springsteen appearance on campus (Bruce Springsteen: 1973). In the early 80's I lived in Field Dorm in Orchard Hill. A friend came in late one night and said he just got back from an on-campus concert somewhere in the agricultural area venue (I forgot the name). He loved the show. I asked him who was it. He responded “U-2,” and the rest is history.

Stephen M. Hart ’83
Auburn, Maine

Retired Staff Matter, Too
The masthead of UMass Amherst magazine indicates “The magazine for alumni and friends.” It seems to me that it would be more fitting, and accurate, to indicate that it's "The magazine for retired staff and faculty, alumni, and other friends.'

Indeed, this presumably is consistent with the mailing list.

While not the cause of the century(!), neither is it an insignificant issue (no pun intended)."

Robert N. Brooks
Amherst
Office of Student Affairs, 1964-1999

We Missed the Boat on the Pulda Sisters
I was disappointed to see that you left out the Pulda sisters in your picture "Sporty Sisters" in your Summer 2007 issue. Dana Pulda ’08 and Julie Pulda ’10 are both members of the women's rowing team (the A-10 Champions for the last 10 years). Their mom Kathy ’73, ’06G is also a UMass grad.

Linda Mulvihill
Absecon, New Jersey

We Value All Families
Your family issue is so disappointingly heterosexist that I've re-titled it "Your Families, Your Selves." Besides Badgett's essay (more about research than real people) and one reference to same-sex households in Krause's essay, gay families are glaringly under-covered – particularly when you consider this moment in U.S. social history. Even Moscardelli fails to mention how the term "family values" was insidiously manufactured and used as political code for "hetero" values. If one knew nothing about it and read this issue, it would appear that same sex families (with or without children) were still a theoretical idea or experiment.

Newsflash: Northampton is famously knows as the Lesbian Capital of America. Was there not one same sex family from that community who could have been given a voice in this discussion?

David Brown ’92 
New York, New York

Missing Mac
It's a sad day for this old forester.  I have just read of the death of Professor Emeritus William (Mac) Macconnell.  Most of my fondest memories of UMASS are of Mac's classes, field trips, and sharing a beer at Barcelotti's once in a while.  He made forestry come alive for me and I'm sure other students of the fifties.  One of my first classes with Mac had many short quizzes on which I was receiving grades of 88.  After about the fourth one I told Mac I didn't believe he knew any grade but 88.  Mac gave me a slight grin and the next quiz came back with an 87.  It dawned on me he was prodding for a bit more effort.  Mac was not only a good teacher but a teller of some of life's stories; the timber cruiser who always carried a pistol hoping to run into a bear, the homeless boy who wandered into a logging camp and found a home taking care of the horses, the dishonest logger "who was so crooked he had to screw his socks on in the morning" and a few others I think I'll not repeat in an open letter.  Thanks a lot, Mac for all you taught me, including to always sozzle the oolong formosa three times.

Robert Duckworth ’57
Tucker, Georgia

Play Ball!
The 1967 season certainly was a memorable one, capped off by a thrilling world-series.  As the “Ball Game” article mentions the cold weather at Fenway, I thought of several other northern cities that have ballparks with retractable roofs and heat:  Seattle and Milwaukee and Minnesota (dome).

Here in Phoenix, the ballpark has a retractable roof and cooling system because of the oppressive sunshine and heat.  The Phoenix ballpark does not have a heating system.  I guess time would tell if Boston area fans will have a baseball park with a retractable roof and heating system.  But as you know, in April and May, many times Boston has colder temperatures than even Anchorage, Alaska.  This is due to Boston being near the cold north Atlantic.

How’s this for a headline:  A new stadium for the Red Sox will be built in the suburbs of Boston and the team keep same name and increase the capacity.

George Taseos
Phoenix, Arizona

Department of Corrections
Thank you very much for the Kelley legacy article (“The Kelleys: A UMass Amherst Legacy Family,” page 51, Spring 2007). My family and I enjoyed the article, and we are all proud of the Kelley family–UMass Amherst relationship. However, there were omissions in the article, such as mention of my mother, Mary O’Rourke Kelley, a 1950 graduate, and my brother, Kevin Kelley ’91. Another brother, Mike, attended from 1977-1979. I should also mention that my father, Jack Kelley, attended UMass for one year, but had to leave when the war started. He was needed at home to help farm the land to support the war effort. My father Jack is the one seen on the horse in the article; he is the son of John Kelley, not Patrick as stated in the caption. Patrick was Jack’s grandfather and the original owner of the Kelley farm.

Both of my parents have passed on now, but I know they would have been very happy and proud to see the Kelley legacy story in the magazine.

Patricia (Kelley) Lewis
South Deerfield

In a story about W. Brian O’Connor in the spring issue (“Scientist, Advisor, Mentor, Friend,” page 12) we incorrectly reported that O’Connor is preparing to retire. We apologize for this error.

A UMass Amherst Family
The recent issue of the UMass Alumni magazine carried an interesting article about alumni families and legacies. Though we may not claim the largest family or legacy in today’s Alumni Association, we can claim a legacy that spans all three phases of development in the Amherst campus. As active Life Members of the Association, we are proud to trace our legacy to Massachusetts Agricultural College 1903 and 1908. Family members have graduated from Mass Aggie, Mass State, and UMass Amherst. It was a challenge to compile this family tree. Thanks for providing the impetus to put it all on paper. We’ll be interested to see if other alums submit family stories to you. We enjoy receiving the magazine so that we can keep in touch with UMass Amherst happenings. Thank you for your efforts.

Theoren L. Warner MAC 1908
Daughter Louise MAC ‘37
Daughter Elizabeth MSC ‘39
Married Rexford Avery MSC ‘39
Son Edward C. MAC ‘43
Married Mary E. Martin MSC ‘44
Granddaughters
Sarah Warner Stone UMass ‘97
Jennifer Warner UMass ‘06

Frederick C. Warner MAC 1909
(brother of Theoren)

Raymond W. Warner MAC 1914
(brother of Theoren and Frederick)
Son Charles UMass ‘47
Married Jacqueline Marien UMass ‘48
Daughter Kimberly UMass ‘77
Daughter Kathryn UMass ‘82
Son David UMass ‘80
Married Maria Montenegro UMass ‘80
Daughter Mildred UMass ‘50
Married Robert Byrne UMass ‘51
Son Jeffrey UMass ‘77
Daughter Teresa UMass ‘74
Daughter Linda UMass ‘82

Henry T. Martin MAC 1903
Son Henry F. Martin MSC ‘43
Daughter Mary E. Martin MSC ‘44
Married Edward C. Warner MSC ‘43

Clarence F. Clark MAC 1922
(brother-in-law of Theoren Warner)
Married Frances Martin MAC ‘23
Daughter Mary Martin Warner ‘44

Edward C. Warner ‘43
Hilton Head, South Carolina