Emeriti Connection

Issue No. 29 - March 2024

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Mary Emery Hall, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)

Where Is This?

What is this "hand-like tree"?

Scroll to bottom for location & info

Inside Insights:

Reflections from our Executive Director

Three-quarters of the way through my first year serving as your Executive Director, I continue to be amazed at how dynamic an organization this is! The Emeriti Association offers a host of interesting programs in keeping with our role as the organizational, social, and intellectual home for emeriti faculty from all of UC’s colleges and disciplines. For example, the Emeriti Association’s recent Spring Arts Festival was a wonderful event with invited art exhibits organized by Emerita Cynthia Lockhart, incredible music provided by members of the Seven Hills Symphony headed by our Emeriti Association President Sally Moomaw, and a Silent Auction to raise funds for our endowed scholarship. In fact, you can still participate in the fundraiser auction! 

We have raised over $1,400 so far through this year’s silent auction, which is only the second auction we’ve held and the first to use a new online format.  We initially closed the auction to complete transactions for bidders who participated while at the festival. But we have reopened the auction for new bids on remaining items. You can view the current auction items and place a bid to purchase and/or make a monetary donation to the scholarship fund by clicking here or by using the QR code below. If you prefer to see them in person, the auction items are on display in the Faculty Enrichment Center (FEC) on the 5th floor of Langsam Library.  Using an electronic platform expands our reach beyond the festival event day and location.  The auction will run from now through March 28th.  Bids and monetary donations to the scholarship must be placed online.  Winning bidders must collect their purchased item from the FEC; unfortunately, we are not able to deliver items to winning bidders.

Looking ahead, the Emeriti Chamber Ensemble, consisting of Emerita Sally Moomaw (cello), Emeritus Edmund Choi (violin), and UC Senior Research retiree Charles Moomaw (oboe/bassoon), will perform chamber music for the UC Faculty Awards ceremony on April 2.  And on May 1, the Provost’s office will join the Association in welcoming the past year’s cohort of newly named emeriti at our annual Recognition Dinner.

While an online auction platform allows emeriti to participate in the fundraiser even if they no longer reside in greater Cincinnati or cannot get to campus, there are other ways emeriti can engage with the Emeriti Association remotely. Reading and responding to this newsletter is one way to engage; another is to attend our monthly luncheon lectures via Zoom. The Zoom link is typically posted in the newsletter, calendar, and reminder emails that we send to you.

Surely there are other ways that the Emeriti Association can interact with our more distant colleagues. We are open to your suggestions! Would you be interested in forming an Emeriti Association chapter that organizes activities in your geographical area? Would you like us to offer more virtual opportunities to socialize? Drop us a line to share your ideas. You can email them to me directly at Pamela.Person@uc.edu. I look forward to hearing from you!

Pam

Pam Person

Executive Director

UC Emeriti Association & Center

pamela.person@uc.edu

You can also text spring-arts to (513) 995-1975  to access the silent auction.

We welcome these colleagues to the community of Emeriti as ratified by the UC Board of Trustees on February 27, 2024:

News & Announcements

January 11th was John McNay Day

Contributed by Sally Moomaw

On January 11 the UC Faculty Senate held a moving tribute for Dr. John T. McNay Jr., one of the university’s most dedicated and respected faculty members, who was posthumously awarded the title Professor Emeritus. John died on October 27, 2023.

Dr. Tamika Odum, Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate, opened the ceremony by reading a Proclamation from Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval naming January 11, 2024, John McDay Day. The Mayor extolled John’s many services to the university and the community. Dr. Odum announced that the Senate will recognize John McNay Day annually as an opportunity for faculty service.

Eric Palmer, Executive Director of UC’s AAUP, read an official Letter of Condolence from the Ohio House of Representatives. It was initiated by Representative Jessica Miranda from the 28^th district in Hamilton County and signed by seven representatives.

Dr. Linda Rouillard, Chair of the Ohio Faculty Council (OFC), which represents the Faculty Senates of all Ohio four-year state universities, spoke next. She described John as a precious example to follow due to his scholarship, service, and ability to “see the big picture.” She announced a new OFC award – the John McNay Leadership Award.

A representative from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown delivered the Senator's letter which described John as a brilliant and dedicated activist and friend who chronicled the impact of collective bargaining. Senator Brown stated, “John made Ohio a better place.”

Rachel Richardson, one of John’s former students, described John as a great instructor who inspired her as an undergraduate and mentored her through graduate school and law school. John's influence continues to guide her.



Dr. Sue Sipple was John’s office neighbor for many years at UC Blue Ash (UCBA). She described John’s constant service to students, the university, and shared governance with no workload adjustment despite lifelong health problems. One of his favorite quotes was from John Wooden: “Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do.”

UCBA announced the creation of the John McNay Memorial "Young Scholars" Fund for a UCBA student who continues their education to pursue a baccalaureate degree.

Those who knew John well recalled his affinity for solving problems over a beer. In this spirit, the official speeches and commendations were followed by a beer toast offered by Dr. Rich Miller, former Chair of the UC Faculty Senate. Rich highlighted how John valued people who spoke with their conscience and stated, “John just wanted people to be treated fairly.”

Following the toast, many people in the audience used the open microphone to share their thoughts. These included Sara Kilpartick, Executive Director of the Ohio AAUP Conference, and Dr. Sally Moomaw, President of the UC Emeriti Association. John’s family was there to accept the many awards.

Emeritus Performs

Grammy-Winning Piano Concerto

Rising star Jessie Montgomery won the 2024 Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for her work Rounds, commissioned by Awadagin Pratt and featured on his album Still Point. The recording is a collaboration between pianist/conductor Pratt, Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, and Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry, with works by six newly commissioned composers, based on T.S. Eliot’s poem Four Quartets.

Awadagin Pratt, Professor Emeritus, College-Conservatory of Music, says of Rounds, “Audiences love it. It features high energy that surrounds an incredibly beautiful calm section.” It also includes a cadenza during which Pratt improvises, so each performance is a unique experience. Pratt laughs as he relates an anecdote of how the composer and pianist collaborate: At its second-ever performance, Pratt came to a passage marked forte. “I was playing it pretty loud, but leaving room for fortissimo,” he recalled. “Jessie said, ‘What happened at that spot?’ And I told her I was leaving some space to go up. She said, ‘It should be head-banging there.’ And I said, ‘Then you should have put “Head-banging” in the score.’” Pratt has been the exclusive performer of Rounds thus far for close to 100 performances. One review, noting his multiple standing ovations: “Pratt achieves the work’s alluring effect with preeminent skill.”

After two decades as Professor of Piano and Artist-in-Residence at CCM, Pratt is now Professor of Piano at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  A musical prodigy, Awadagin won the Naumburg (Germany) International Piano Competition. He remains the only graduate of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University to earn diplomas in three performance areas — violin, piano, and conducting — and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins. He has performed at the White House for two Presidents, Clinton and Obama.

In the introductory paragraph of the biography on his website, Pratt is described this way: "Through his kaleidoscopic career as a pianist, conductor, educator, and curator of memorable musical moments, Awadagin Pratt is actively inventing the artistic world he longs to live in — a world that shines light on rich voices of the past and present, amplifies the diverse talents of today’s brightest creative minds, and paves the way for a new generation of inventive musical artists."

Sample Pratt's performance here.

Déjà Vu: Creativity Repeats Itself

Contributed by Lynn Davis

For the fourth year, the Kennedy Heights Arts Center is teaming up with Juneteenth Cincinnati to present Voices of Freedom, a visual and performing arts series examining Black history from a contemporary perspective. The centerpiece of the project is a multi-disciplinary and intergenerational exhibition at the KHAC titled Déjà Vu: Creativity Repeats Itself.  Five young adult artists pair up with five seasoned artists, representing five different forms of art. Ewaniki Hawkins (co-curator with Brandon Hawkins, Soul Palette Art) says, “We are excited to share works of art from local artists who are at different stages in their careers and to present artworks from emerging novice creatives alongside established veteran artists.”

One of the veterans is fiber artist Cynthia Lockhart (Emerita, DAAP). Nature, fashion, music, dance, travel, African and cultural arts infuse her textiles. An individual of fabulous fashion and lively charisma, Cynthia speaks with passion and encouragement, “I believe that an artist is called to create and to inspire others.” Cynthia’s own career benefited from the attention of more established artists. Lockhart was teaching Fashion Design in DAAP when she was invited to join the board at Arts Consortium (at the time, the only arts organization for African Americans). Artist Thomas R. Phelps there tapped her to do an art show: “That was my start as an artist … he opened a realm of possibilities for me.”

Emerita Cynthia Lockhart

9th-grader Addison Maxberry

Paired with Lockhart at the Déjà Vu exhibition is 15-year-old fiber artist Addison Maxberry. Addison is an A student who loves math (9th grade algebra) and social studies. Her creativity is expressed in textiles, producing artwork as well as the sweaters she wears. When she learned with whom she would be partnered, she was thrilled if a bit intimidated by Lockhart’s reputation. Addison is participating in Soul Palette’s seven-month youth program. As part of this program, the 7th-12th graders are exploring different visual arts in venues around the city, while being mentored by practicing artists guiding their talent and inspiring their reverence for the Black art community.

Addison is also inspired by her mother, Adoria Maxberry, and grandmother, Linda Ricks, both Xavier graduates and educators. Adoria, who has a master’s from DAAP, is an arts educator and civic leader. The founder of Most OutGROWING, she facilitates art experiences to help others grow spiritually, mentally and creatively. As an artist, she has created nearly a dozen murals for community spaces, promoting social justice with hope and inspiration. Adoria and her husband Bryan encourage their children to shine in the face of adversity, bringing positivity to changing the world. To the Maxberrys, leaving a legacy and honoring those who came before is important.

Photo: Adoria and Addison Maxberry displayed their artwork at the Emeriti Association’s Spring Arts Festival on March 2. Photo credit/ Lynn Davis

Déjà Vu: Creativity Repeats Itself is on view through March to April 13, 2024. Gallery hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 pm to 5 pm and by appointment. Witness this unique showcase launched by Soul Palette’s visual arts youth program with support from United Way and Proctor & Gamble.  More information at kennedyarts.org.

KHAC Photos/ Shawndale Thomas

Beyond 100: Louis Witten

Contributed by Joanna Mitro

Living to 100 and beyond is an accomplishment that few people achieve. Emeritus Professor of Physics Louis Witten, who turns 103 on April 13, 2024, currently lives independently in a senior living community near Baltimore. He has had an extraordinary life and career.

Witten grew up in Baltimore and graduated from high school at the age of 16. He attended Johns Hopkins University to study civil engineering, graduating in 1941. In 1942 he was drafted into the Army, and during his 4-year service he was trained in meteorology and electronics and worked in weather radar. This is how he became interested in studying physics and intrigued with “modern physics” such as Einstein’s theories. He started graduate studies in physics at Johns Hopkins University in 1948 and earned his PhD in physics in 1951 (yes, only 3 years later!). After post-doctoral study, he went to work at the research laboratory of the Martin-Marietta Company (which later evolved into Lockheed-Martin).

In 1968, he was recruited to come to the University of Cincinnati to become the head of the Physics Department. At the time the Physics Department consisted almost exclusively of faculty members who had no knowledge of Maxwell's equations, of electromagnetic fields, of the Special Theory of Relativity, or of Quantum Theory. The mention of Einstein's name had until recently been forbidden. The department head before Witten arrived had started an improvement but had become weary of the attempt. Witten was Department Head for only four years, but he jump-started the modernization of the curriculum during his headship. (The photo above is courtesy of AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection.)

Witten retired in 1991. In those days the University required its faculty members to retire at the age of 70. He was permitted to maintain an office but he stopped teaching (and stopped getting paid). His interest in physics remained strong and he continued to do research and to publish; his most recent publication is dated in 2020. His first wife, whom he married in 1949 and with whom he had 4 children, passed away in 1987. He remarried in 1992. In 2014, he and his wife decided the house was too large for them to maintain and moved to Gainesville, Florida. Gainesville is the home of the University of Florida and his wife had a son on the medical faculty of the University. During the first 3 years, Witten was awarded a Courtesy Professorship at the University. It came with the use of an office, a computer, and a parking permit.

Witten’s second wife passed away in 2022. Because two of his children live in Maryland, he moved to an apartment in the Ring House, an independent living facility in Rockville, MD. He has two meals daily in the dining room: breakfast and dinner. They have group activities, some of which he attends. He uses a Rollator (a walker with a seat) to walk around. He listens to lectures given by the Great Courses Company. At the moment they are about music and soon will change to history. 

His advice to fellow retirees: Develop strong interests.

Learn something new.

Louis Witten has had a long and productive career. He points out, if one Googles him, the first sentence will read "He is the father of Edward Witten." If one Googles Edward, one will read, "He is the son of Louis Witten."

Here are father and son together, in Lou's apartment.

Undergraduate Mentoring

The Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase

is Seeking Reviewers

The Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase is an annual event where students from across the university communicate original research and scholarly work in the form of virtual and in-person presentations. The Showcase is an important professional development opportunity for students and is commonly used to satisfy course and capstone requirements.

The 2024 Showcase will run from April 15-19, 2024 (the last week of classes).

Presentation reviewers are incredibly important to the success of this event. Reviewers provide presenters an attentive audience and valuable feedback. They also help identify presentations deserving of Excellence in Research Communication awards. Organizers aim to provide two professional reviews and one peer review for every presentation in the Showcase.

Emeriti can be professional reviewers. Can you help by reviewing 3-6 presentations? Here are the opportunities:

Video Reviews (virtual, asynchronous): April 15-19

Poster Reviews (in-person): Tuesday, April 16

• 10 am – noon 
• 2 pm – 4 pm

Podium Reviews (in-person): Tuesday, April 16

• 9 am -10 am
• 1 pm – 2 pm

Capstone Competition Reviews (3-minute presentations, virtual in Zoom): Thursday, April 18

• 11 am – 12 pm
• 1 pm – 2 pm

Lunch and parking are provided for in-person reviewers.

For more information on what to expect, the organizers provide a brief training video.

To participate as a reviewer, please sign in HERE. (And if you participate, we'd love to hear about your experience! Please email Mentoring Committee chairperson Joanna Mitro to report.)

Age-Friendly University

Emeriti Association President Sally Moomaw transmitted the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Working Group's white paper to the administration in January. While other priorities take precedence over the administration's consideration of joining the AFU network, we wait for a response.

In the meantime, the AFU Working Group will be trying to keep "the buzz" alive, talking about the initiative around campus and aiming to find faculty or staff members who are invested in related projects or ideas. If you or one of your colleagues knows of individuals or groups we should contact, please email Joanna Mitro. You may also request a copy of the white paper.

Luncheon Speaker Series

In Case You Missed It

Our Luncheon Speaker Series has had two speakers so far in 2024.

On January 25, Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director Emerita of the Cincinnati Ballet, spoke to us on "The Value of Physicality: A Personal Point Of View and a Studied-Science Perspective."

Movement and physicality have been part of Morgan's life since her early youth as a ballet student, and characterized her career as a professional ballet dancer. Following her retirement from professional dancing, she briefly tried other career paths, and worked as a choreographer before coming to Cincinnati to be Artistic Director (AD) of the Cincinnati Ballet. But after the Ballet asked her to take on a second role, as CEO (in addition to being AD), she found herself spending much of her time seated at a desk. The lack of movement took a toll on her body and led to physical problems.

It took a re-commitment to an exercise program, the help of a trainer, and programmed reminders to get up from her desk at frequent intervals during the day, to reverse those physical issues.

Now in retirement, she has dedicated herself to helping Cincinnatians stay healthy and active as they age – maintaining balance, flexibility, and strength. She led the audience in a short period of flowing movements to illustrate the pleasure of physical activity. Afterward, she encouraged the group to share how they incorporate movement into their own lives. The list was quite varied, including walking, jogging, Pilates, yoga, dancing, water aerobics, and orienteering.

On February 22, Biomedical Engineering Professor Emeritus David Butler presented a very informative lecture "Appreciating the Human Knee as We Age: How Biomedical Engineering Is Used to Understand Normal Knee Function, Injury and Accurate Diagnosis, Effective and Novel Treatments, and Prevention of Further Injury."

Butler talked about his work with colleagues at Children's Hospital to develop new ways to treat knee injuries. By describing how the knee works, and how its tendons, ligaments, and cartilage can be damaged, Butler helped the audience understand how common injuries like ACL tears occur and are treated, and how damage to the miniscus happens and why it cannot heal. Work continues on "functional tissue engineering" to try to develop biological replacements for damaged parts of the knee. Many of the questions at the conclusion of the talk asked about how to avoid knee injuries and which forms of exercise are safest and most effective. (Butler likes swimming and biking.)

Upcoming Speakers

March 28th: Ming Tang, Professor, Director of Extended Reality Lab, “Medical Uses of Virtual Reality”

Professor Tang is a Registered Architect, NCARB, LEED AP, and the Director of the Extended Reality lab (XR-Lab). His multi-disciplinary research includes virtual reality & augmented reality, digital twin, machine learning, computational design, digital fabrication, Building Information Modeling, performance-driven design, human behavior simulation, and human-computer interaction.

April 25th: Jun Bai, Asst. Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Systems, “Artificial Intelligence”

Most lectures on Thursdays, noon to 1 pm.

Light luncheon provided at 11:30 am

in the Faculty Enrichment Center, Langsam Library

Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person.

Watch for announcements with more details as future events approach and plan to join us!

Do you have ideas for a speaker or a topic you'd like to hear?

Your ideas are welcome as we plan for next year's topics.

Contact Tim Sale, Luncheon Speakers Committee, chair.



With Health & Wellness in Mind....

Walking is the best medicine! Hippocrates

Contributed by Jennifer Pearce

Walking is one of the easiest ways to be physically active. Walking is inexpensive; walking does not require any special skills. It also does not require a gym membership or expensive equipment; you can walk almost anywhere and at any time (CDC, 2023). Walking is also safe – with a doctor’s okay – for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions, and those who are more than 20% overweight (Lopez-Jimenez, 2022).

Every step counts…

Most adults should try for at least 30 minutes of brisk walking at least five days a week to meet the recommended goal…of 150 minutes (2.5 hours)/week (CDC, 2023).

A reminder of the benefits of walking...

Walking reduces the risk of certain cancers such as colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, liver, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Walking lowers your risk factors for cardiovascular disease, decreases body weight and fat stores, decreases blood sugar levels, modestly improves your lipid profile and reduces chronic stress (Meouchi, 2023).

In addition, there are also mental health benefits, such as stress and anxiety reduction; lowering the risk for depression and improving mood; improving sleep and energy levels; cognition and creativity; as well as lowering the risk of dementia & Alzheimer’s; and improving overall quality of life (Piercy, et al., 2018).

Take action…

Every step counts. Every minute counts. Anything is better than sitting (López-Jiménez, 2022). Research has shown that a person could gain two hours of life for each hour of regular exercise (Lee, 2022). That quick stroll around the block should seem a little more worthwhile now, doesn’t it?

Walk With Us For Fitness

The Health & Wellness Committee has an even better idea! Take a leisurely walk with us, Walking for Fitness, every Wednesday, at 9 am, beginning the first Wednesday in April, weather permitting. In addition to Hamilton County Great Parks, this year we are adding a stroll through another scenic park, Eden Park, beginning at the Hinkle Floral Trail and ending our walk around Mirror Lake.

Arts & Culture

[Committee: Sally Moomaw (chair), Terry Milligan, Craig Vogel,

Cynthia Lockhart, Mary Henderson-Stucky]

In Case You Missed It

The Emeriti Association's

Spring Arts Festival

Saturday, March 2 along the DAAP Grand Staircase

Joanna Mitro, Pam Person,

Joan Murdock & Lee Person

at the Auction tables

Woodwind Duet with Cat

Dana Kolovson, Barbara Taggart-Milberg

Enjoying hors d'oeuvres and the "show"

Jonathan Kamholtz & photographic art "Captive"

"Flying" photographic art

by Howard Jackson

Charlie Moomaw

& Liz Kiscaden

Renee Hearn & jewelry

Fiber artworks

by Cynthia Lockhart

Crystal Arnold &

"H Major" painting

Silent Auction Fundraiser for Scholarship

Online bidding continues through March 28 at 1pm

100% of the proceeds from the Silent Auction and/or your cash donation will benefit the UC Emeriti Association’s Endowed Scholarship Fund for first-generation underrepresented college-bound students.

Artists participating in our Spring Arts Festival have generously donated works of art which, with other unique and desirable items, are on view at the auction website.

You may make a bid on an item or purchase it outright.



Enticing items are still available!

For example, "Ancestors of Dance" (pictured above left) by renowned Cincinnati photographic artist Tina Gutierrez.

Or "Oranges on a Table," an original acrylic painting on canvas (pictured right), by Pendleton Studios artist and musician Crystal Huie Arnold.

To view and purchase or bid on items or to make a cash donation to the endowed scholarship fund:

3 Ways to Access the Auction



1.Go to the website: https://snwbl.it/GMwHyC , or

2.Scan the QR code at right, or

3.Text the word spring-arts to (513) 995-1975

DAAP Reed Gallery

Current & Emeriti Faculty Art Showcase

Exhibit Continues March - April 4th

Sunday - Thursday 10 am - 5 pm

Reception: Thursday, March 28, 5-7 pm

The Showcase celebrates the artistic talents of faculty from all disciplines and colleges of the university. This juried exhibition of current and retired UC faculty explores a variety of materials and techniques of making.

Go see the beautiful and stunning work of your colleagues at the Aronoff’s Reed Gallery this month.  But if you can’t visit in person, view their artwork online at the website DAAP Reed Gallery.

Jeanne Bowman, What's In the Garden?, fiber reactive dyes on cotton

Frank Herrmann, Tree Trunk/ Haiku-4 (The Dubrovnik Tree), acrylic and digital photo

Thomas Tomsick, Rosy-Fingered Dawn, oil on canvas

Participating Artists include (Emeriti listed in red): 

Eric Anderson, James J. Augsburger, Avery Blair-Wilson, Jeanne Bowman, Hans Breiter, Denise Burge, Brooke Crowley, Neil Daigle Orians, Brian Derico, Maureen France, Francoise Harper, David Hartz, Frank Herrmann, Karen Monzel Hughes, Howard Jackson, Jonathan Kamholtz, Matthew Klooster, Cynthia Lockhart, Karen Machleit, Anca Matyiku, Emily Miraldi, Yevgen Nazarenko, Brigid O’Kane, Hye Yeon Park, Elizabeth Payne, Meera Rastogi, Michael Romanos, Darrell Rudmann, Thomas Tomsick, Nicole Trimble, Thomas Umfrid, Emily Van Walleghen, Georg F. Weber, Mary Sue Weinstein, and John Wolfer

Jewish Music & Culture Festival

Performers and experts gather in Cincinnati in March 2024

Under the direction of Dr. Aik Khai Pung, Associate Professor of Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), the Jewish Music Festival will encompass six concerts from March 12th to March 26th. The festival is a collaboration of institutions, musicians, educators, scholars, and students throughout the Cincinnati area and from as far away as Israel.

We note two (of several) productions with UC connections:

March 17 – Seven Hills Symphony, with CCM conductor Dr. Aik Khai Pung and musicians Emeritus Ed Choi, Emerita Sally Moomaw and CCM alum Charles Moomaw, will perform music honoring Israeli composer Marc Lavry. They will be joined by NKU violin professor Dr. William Herzog playing Ernest Bloch’s deeply moving Baal Shem Suite. 3 pm, Mayerson Jewish Community Center.

March 26 –  Closing the festival, the entertaining “Jews on Broadway Cabaret” will be performed by CCM students in two concerts, 7 pm and 9 pm, both at Memorial Hall.

For the complete concert schedule and ticket information, visit

Cincinnati Arts and Cultural Exchange.

The Arts & Culture Committee identifies local arts and cultural activities to recommend to emeriti, and sponsors interesting and stimulating artistic and cultural occasions that emeriti are invited to enjoy together to gain deeper appreciation.

The Arts & Culture Committee welcomes new members.

Contact Sally.Moomaw@uc.edu

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

[Committee: George Babcock, Howard Jackson, Terry Milligan, Sally Moomaw, and Joan Murdock, chair]

The Social Activities Committee

sponsors ongoing events for socializing and enjoying each other’s company.

P.O.E.T.S. Club Enjoys Cincinnati's Brew Pubs

Phooey On Everything! Tomorrow's Saturday!

Final Friday of each month at 5 pm

Feel free to bring guests ...

Newly-named Emeriti ... First Round on Us!

We hope to see you then!

The P.O.E.T.S. Club enjoyed the mild winter Final Fridays at:

January 26 – Esoteric Brewing Co., Walnut Hills

February 23 – Braxton Brewery, Covington

Pictured: Charlie Moomaw, Terry Milligan, Ralph Katerberg

Coming Up Next

Friday, March 29, 2024 at 5 pm



Big Ash Brewing

5230 Beechmont Avenue,

Cincinnati's first self-service brewery.

(This is the Skytop Pavilion where the infamous

El Rancho Rankin used to be.)

Recommendations? Contact George.Babcock@uc.edu

The Health & Wellness Committee

Invites You to Join Them

Do you choose activities that support staying healthy as you age? Explore new research, programs, and practices designed to promote successful living past retirement? Do you like to find and share information (books and news stories) that can improve lives of your older friends, colleagues and family members?

Then the Health & Wellness Committee is your cup of tea. The Committee welcomes new members.

Our Health & Wellness Committee plans and schedules many events designed to promote the well-being of emeriti, including the Walks for Fitness, the Book Club, and presentations like last fall's discussion of Senior Living Options and last summer's Pickleball demonstration.

The Committee also addresses the needs of pre-retirees, presenting a 30-minute talk on “Psychosocial Aspects of Retirement” integrated with the University’s Human Resources/AAUP workshops for faculty considering retirement. Psychosocial aspects of retirement are an often overlooked, but important, domain.

We want to do even more. Interested in getting involved? Contact Committee chair Bob Conyne.

Service Committee

Plan on joining us for the annual

UC Serves Day, Friday, May 17, 2024.

UC Serves is a demonstration of the university's commitment to urban impact and investment in faculty and staff development. Join us for this day of intentional, focused service to the communities surrounding the University of Cincinnati campuses.

The Service Committee aims to encourage volunteer activity among emeriti by providing information about volunteer opportunities and by discovering and highlighting the exemplary volunteer activities that emeriti are doing in the community. The committee seeks to establish partnerships with non-profit community organizations and UC groups to create service activities for emeriti.

Chairperson Jennifer Pearce is leading this committee and is recruiting new members to help. Are you engaged in community service? Do you have ideas about service projects we might promote? Ideas to encourage volunteering?

Contact Jennifer.Pearce@uc.edu.



As a child, Professor Emeritus and UC Alum Russell McMahon remembers President John F. Kennedy announcing the creation of the Peace Corps. When a returned Peace Corps volunteer visited his grade school (he was in the 5^th or 6^th grade), he was sure that this was something he wanted to do, even though a Peace Corps assignment was described as “the toughest job you will ever love.” Right after graduating from UC in 1976, he joined the Peace Corps and went to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He taught math and science (in French) in a small village high school in the middle of the country. Besides learning French, he also learned a little Lingala and Chiluba which were regional languages.

The Peace Corps stint marked the beginning of Russ’s teaching career. When he returned to the US, he started teaching at Hughes High School and began working on a master’s in education degree at UC. Later he taught at Lockland High School and Colerain High School with some real-world IT experience in-between at Cincom (a software company founded by Tom Nies, a UC alum) and the former Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company. In 1995 he began teaching as an adjunct at UC Blue Ash (then Raymond Walters College), and in 1999 was hired to teach in the Information Engineering Technology (IET) program at UC’s College of Applied Science (OCAS). When OCAS was dissolved, that program transitioned into the School of Information Technology (SoIT) in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH).

The proclivity that drew Russ to the Peace Corps experience continued to motivate his endeavors. During his sabbatical in 2014, he spent 6 months working at three universities in Africa -- the University of Rwanda (UR, Nyagatare, Rwanda), Mount Kenya University (MKU, Thika, Kenya), and Nelson Mandela University (NMU, Port Elizabeth, South Africa) -- doing IT curriculum development and giving talks on creative problem solving. His work at NMU led to the opportunity to create a study abroad class. In 2017 and 2018, he took UC students to South Africa for week, and in 2020 took a group of students to New Zealand in January (just before Covid). 

Russ with students in New Zealand in 2020. They are outside the Weta Studios (famous for its work on the Lord of the Ring movies).

Russ with UC professors Richard Beck and Chencheng Li and IT students at a bungee jump off Africa's highest bridge, while visiting Nelson Mandela University in South Africa (2017).

In February 2019, Russ worked at Miras University in Kazakhstan for 6 weeks as a Fulbright Specialist. While there he taught the faculty how to use improvisation techniques to help with their own teaching and how to be better communicators. After returning to UC, he conducted a series of seminars for Miras English majors and their teachers using improvisation techniques to help students improve their communication skills and teamwork skills. He also used some lateral thinking puzzles to try to get students to think about other possible solutions to problems. In June of 2023, he returned to Kazakhstan with a UC colleague as part of an American Councils for International Education UniCEN grant to teach cybersecurity to four partner universities and went back this past November to complete the training and conduct an assessment.

In 2022 during another sabbatical, he worked at Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for 5 months (Feb-June) as a Fulbright Scholar. He advised TUIT on the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation and did an initial review to see if any of their programs were ready for an ABET visit. He returned at the end of February to give a talk at a conference held at TUIT and help with their first ever ABET visit preparation which will be in the fall of 2024.

Photos from Russ's trip to Uzbekistan in 2022. At left, Russ is stirring a pot of Sumalak, a traditional dish made from wheat germ in the spring. It cooks for about 24 hours. Above, Russ with his family at a feast in Tashkent. He says, "They love their meats!"

Throughout the years of his career, the attraction of the Peace Corps stayed with him. Russ always felt that he would like to return to the Peace Corps. Several years ago, he learned about Peace Corps Response (PCR). PCR assignments are shorter than the normal 2-year Peace Corps commitment. Service ranges from 3-12 months. More than a year ago he had scrolled through a list of potential volunteer positions and came across the one for the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). The position was for someone with data analytics and computing curriculum development background. This past October, he noticed that the position was still posted so he decided to apply. He completed the application a few days before the end date for submission and was interviewed on Oct 24. Six days later he was offered the position provided he passed the medical requirements.

The medical requirements are quite extensive, and one can be disqualified if the Peace Corps medical team deems a candidate as not-medically healthy enough to serve. The requirements include a thorough dental, eye, mental, and physical examination and vaccinations needed for country of service. Since he was traveling back to Kazakhstan for a month in the middle of November and due to the Christmas holiday, it took a bit longer for him to get all the needed paperwork submitted. On January 25, he was notified that he had met all the medical requirements and on February 2 he received his flight information: He will depart on March 28 for the Philippines and the “toughest job you will ever love.”

On his LinkedIn page, Russ wrote, “Can’t (think) of a better way to begin my new career.” When asked, “What is your new career?” He replied, “Helping universities develop and expand their IT curriculum to better serve the next generation.”

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC

The OLLI Connection

Contributed by Cate O'Hara, OLLI Director



The Arts & Culture Connection

While OLLI at UC offers a range of programming, from art to zoology, those touching on the creative arts remain perennial favorites. 

Looking ahead to the OLLI Spring term, April 22-June 14, you will find multi-week courses and one-time presentations on the following topics:

·       Photography for hobbyists and more serious photographers

·       Music of all sorts: classical, popular, opera, Great American Songbook, rock

·       Hands-on art and craft: multimedia/found objects, paper craft, origami, ambigrams

·       Film and television

·       Writing: poetry and fiction

·       Art history, including museum and gallery tours

·       English Country Dance

You are invited to try out the following online Arts and Culture classes for free this month, using the links provided:

·       The Great American Songbook, March 11 and March 18, 9:30-10:45 am. Zoom link.

·       More Mining the Golden Age of Broadway, March 11, 11 am-12:15 pm. Zoom link.

OLLI at UC offers noncredit enrichment courses and social opportunities for adults age 50 and better, both in person and online. Classes are led by retired and current educators, professionals from many fields, and passionate hobbyists. To find out more about participating as a lifelong learner or educator, please visit www.uc.edu/ollii.

Photo: Maestro John Morris Russell speaking to an OLLI class.

Editor’s Note: In our October 25th issue, we posted a notice of the death of Professor Emerita Hilda Smith. We now include the following from an obituary written by her colleagues:

Hilda L. Smith, 82, died on October 24, 2023. Coming from a poor, working-class background, she never ceased to be amazed at where she ended up. After her MA in History at the University of Missouri, she obtained her PhD in 1975 at the University of Chicago. She marveled that legal historian Charles Gray took a chance on her, a “hillbilly” (her words) from Springfield, Missouri with no credentials other than her exceptional, defiant mind. After teaching and serving as a humanities administrator at the University of Maryland, she joined the University of Cincinnati's History Department in 1987 as Director of Women’s Studies and faculty member specializing in Early Modern England and Women’s History.

When her first book, Reason’s Disciplines, came out (1983), the state of women’s history was in its infancy. And so much of it was not great – the horrid way women were tacked on to the male narrative. Reason’s Disciplines was different, finely researched, contextualized, and keenly argued. It analyzed the prose and poetry of fifteen English women writers, all professing rationalist, feminist perspectives well before Mary Wollstonecraft.



Her second book, All Men and Both Sexes: Gender, Politics, and the False Universal in England, 1640-1832 (2002), was equally profound and pathbreaking by demonstrating how the “false universal” contributed to the marginalization of women in history. Hilda showed that language like “human,” and “people,” which we assume to be inclusive, in fact excluded women, boys, and non-whites. If we now ask who “we” means (We the People, etc.), it is partly due to Hilda’s work.

With her irreverent, fearless, razor-sharp mind, Hilda upended many long-held positions in the field of Early Modern British History and Women’s Studies. She considered herself an intellectual historian, who increasingly explored the social history of ideas. Hilda never tired of emphasizing that, just like men, women were apprentices, worked their way up, and entered a broad range of jobs – including ship builders and printers – or were master tradeswomen and business owners.

Hilda’s fierce advocacy for her graduate students and younger colleagues made her a beloved and strong mentor. Hilda was funny, loving, shrewd, and challenging. She spoke her mind and was a generous but also unpredictable friend. She honored none of the little polite niceties of the academic world. With her “hillbilly” upbringing, she was the ultimate outsider, and this is certainly the way she cast herself. Hilda was an inspiration, a good friend, and a splendid colleague in British Studies and women's history. We miss her, and the world is a little dimmer without her. 

Sigrun Haude, Walter C. Langsam Professor of European History

Department of History, University of Cincinnati

Melissa Zook, Germaine Seelye Oesterle Professor of History

Director, Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts, Purdue University

Judith Frankel (nee Topelberg) was born August 20, 1930 and passed away at the age of 93 on December 24, 2023. Following a master's degree in experimental psychology from New York University, Dr. Frankel earned her doctorate at Ohio State University in 1958. As a psychologist, she served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services (CECH) in the Department of Educational Foundations.

In 1993, the Chicago Tribune published an interview highlighting Dr. Frankel’s research, “Long Way From ‘50s, But Not Far Enough.”  Frankel entered her profession when a traditional mother stayed home and took care of the family, but “I was not a traditional mother. I had a supportive husband and combined work and family." She wrote her doctorate thesis on the effects on preschool children's behavior when their mothers work. She continued her interest in family relations as editor of "The Employed Mother and the Family Context," a powerful collection of research on the lifestyles of employed mothers, the impact of maternal employment on the family and the underlying social issues that shape the lives of employed women and their children.

Professor Frankel was esteemed for her honesty, progressive ideals, feminist perspective, and intellect. She was appreciated as a teacher, a guide, an advisor, and a friend. As one of her students observed, “She was warm with a wicked sense of humor. A person concerned for the welfare of those in her ambit. A truly good remarkable human.” 

Judith was predeceased by her husband Dr. Robert I. Frankel and her sisters. She is survived by her children Karen (Douglas Carrel), Desha (Tess) and Lois (David Hart), her grandchildren Shanah Eith, Maya Frankel, Jessica Carrel and Eleanor Hart, and great grandchild Mila Eith. 

Edward J. Bradel, 79, was born in 1944 in Pennsylvania and died at his home in Concrete, Washington, on January 23rd, 2024. Ed earned a degree in Biology from Otterbein University (1966), having begun work as a research technician at Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, in 1965. He completed his Master’s in Anatomical Pathology (1972) and his Doctorate (1982) at the Ohio State University. He was awarded a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health and conducted research in Biochemical Neuropathology at OSU.

Dr. Bradel began his career at the University of Cincinnati in 1987 at Blue Ash College, where he served as Biology Department Chair. He was well-regarded by his students and considered a mentor by multiple faculty members. Professor Emeritus Bradel began the last adventure of his life when he retired in 2013 and moved to Washington state. Ed was considered an expert in just about any subject by his family, friends and colleagues. He had a “second family” at the Birdsview Brewery where he was known as “Professor Ed.” 

Ed is survived by his son, Jared (Natasha) and grandchildren Alexander and Elizabeth. Services were held at a local park followed by a celebration of life at the Birdsview Brewery in Concrete, Washington.

The Brewery shared the following post and photo:

With heavy hearts we mourn the loss of a long time customer and more importantly a dear dear friend, Ed Bradel (better known around here as Professor Ed). We’ve had countless discussions about different life topics and pondered many questions over beers with Ed. ... one more question, “Do they have any Pilsner or IPA up there for you Ed?” Our hearts are a little heavier, the brewery a little quieter and a whole lot less knowledgeable without you Ed. Cheers to the Professor.

Michelle Ann Gibson, 62, passed away on February 14, 2024. She was born on Christmas day 1961 in Columbia, MO. She attended Hutchinson (KS) Community College, earned a BA from Salisbury State University, and completed a PhD in English from Ohio University. She came to the University of Cincinnati to teach writing, poetry, and gender/sexuality studies in the departments of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Throughout her professional life, she published numerous works of poetry and LGBTQ studies, and she mentored generations of students. Advancing multiple sclerosis led to her retirement from teaching in 2012, but many former students and colleagues kept in close contact with Michelle throughout her life. In addition, she maintained long-lasting friendships in Northside and the Twin Towers retirement community. 

Michelle is survived by her parents George (Marie) Gibson and Ann Wegner Kelsey, her wife (Professor Emerita) Deb Meem, her sisters Julie (Eric) Wilson and Jennifer (John) Jeffrey, her stepchildren Chris (April) and Becky (Cole Hundley) Johnson, and grandchildren Annabelle and Max Johnson.

Michelle will be remembered for her kindness, her way with words, her intelligence, and her committed activism on behalf of LGBTQ folx and other oppressed people. Surely the world’s light is diminished by her passing. Because she believed in change, both rhetorical and social, she put forward this prescription for writers and for the world: “Revise! Revise! Revise!” 

A memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Spring Grove Funeral Homes (Main). Please visit www.springgrove.org for more information. Donations may be made to the Myelin Repair Foundation (www.myelinrepair.org) or Friends of WGSS (www.giveto.uc.edu, search WGSS).

James L. Lessard, 80, of Cincinnati, died February 10th, 2024. A native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Jim was the fourth of seven children. He studied chemistry and biology at Marquette University, where he obtained his PhD in biochemistry in 1972. 

Dr. Lessard went on to a postdoctoral fellowship at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology and joined Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1971 where he rose to the rank of Professor in the UC Department of Pediatrics. In addition to his research on the muscle development and function, he enjoyed a long career of service and leadership including service as the Director of the UC Graduate Program in Molecular and Development Biology, the interim director of the Division of Development Biology from 1995 to 2000 and the Associate Director until 2010. Jim also oversaw a monoclonal antibody core facility from 1981 to 2002 that generated many useful reagents for members of the research community worldwide. 

Retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2012, Jim continued to work part time until recently (50+ years overall). He is fondly remembered by colleagues and former trainees for his commitment to the highest quality of research and training for graduate students and fellows. Jim was deeply grateful to those who enabled his career and took great satisfaction from the success of those he mentored. In addition to science, Jim loved ice skating, skiing, golfing, dancing, reading and enjoying quality time with his wife Joan, their family and friends. 

Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor may be made to Cincinnati Children's Research Center.

Janelle M. Schierling, born February 24, 1950, in Columbus, Indiana, passed away at home in Summerville, South Carolina, on February 18, 2024, just short of her 74th birthday.

Janelle graduated with a BS degree, cum laude, in 1972 from West Virginia University.  She earned an MS degree from the Ohio State University in 1981 and an EdD from the University of Cincinnati in 1987. Dr. Schierling served as a faculty member, including two stints as chair, of the Dental Hygiene Department at UC’s Blue Ash campus from 1979 to 2011. Professor Schierling was an active member of the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association (President, 1983-84) and the Cincinnati Dental Hygienists’ Association (President, 1993-94). In 2012, she received the Dental Hygienist of the Year award. She was granted emeritus status following her retirement in 2011.

Janelle is remembered as an outstanding educator, mentor and leader. Biz McClure, Professor of Dental Hygiene, recalled, “She was not only a role model to the students, she was a wonderful role model and mentor to all new faculty.”  Janelle was known for her kindness, love of travel, and her adventurous spirit. She is survived by her son, three granddaughters, and two siblings.

A memorial service will be held on March 16 in Daniel Island, South Carolina. Memorial contributions in honor of Dr. Janelle Schierling, a thirty-plus-year survivor of breast cancer, may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (give.bcrf.org). Read her full obituary here.

Help us pay tribute to our deceased emeriti colleagues. If you know of any emeriti who have passed since our last issue, please send information to:  

Lynn.Davis@uc.edu

Emeriti Endowed Scholarship Fund

Supporting Gen-1

The twenty-one-member Board of the Emeriti Association has pledged to establish an endowed fund for the Emeriti Scholarship for underrepresented, first-generation undergraduate students at UC. 

We ask you to partner with us to grow the endowment principle to $125,000.  This will enable us to create a sustainable $5000 scholarship to be awarded yearly. We are making great progress: by early March, the market value of the fund was $79,000.

Together we can help make their dreams come true …

Pushing the limits: How one UC student set out for success

From ordinary to extraordinary: That’s the path Matt Santiago (Class of 2025) has taken since coming to UC. “To be perfectly frank, I didn’t do much in high school,” Santiago says. That changed almost from the moment Santiago set foot on campus. He was still in his orientation when his eyes were opened to the talents of his peers and the opportunities offered at the Lindner College of Business. As if on cue, his competitive instincts kicked in. …

Santiago says he would not have come to UC from his hometown of Dublin, Ohio, if not for scholarship awards, which have covered the cost of his tuition. “Words cannot describe how these scholarships have impacted me,” he says.

Read more about Matt’s endeavors at UC, like the Management Leadership program for high-achieving individuals from underrepresented communities, and the university sponsored trip to New York City to meet Lindner graduates that “made me fall in love with the college.” 

Details: Fund Name and Number

“University of Cincinnati Emeriti Association

Endowed Scholarship Fund” (S201318)

• Make a gift at: foundation.uc.edu/give

After the funds load, in the “Search Funds by Name” field,

Enter “Emeriti Scholarship”

• If you are 70 1⁄2, you may wish to transfer (not withdraw) directly to the UC Foundation all or part of your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), naming this scholarship fund, and save on your taxes.  A QCD is also called an IRA Charitable Rollover. rmd/qcd/rollover

UC Foundation can work with you and your financial advisors to prepare necessary documents.    

Contact: Michael D. Zenz, Executive Director for Principal Giving,

513-558-4619, zenzmd@foundation.uc.edu

We Appreciate Our Donors!

The UC Foundation provides the following list of those who have made donations to the Emeriti Endowed Scholarship Fund as of March 4, 2024.  We express our heartfelt appreciation for your support. Please let us know if you have made a donation but don’t see your name here.  We will add you to our donor list in our next newsletter! (Contact emeriti@uc.edu)

One of the artist’s imposing sculptures evocative of nature, Figura Prima (bronze, 1993) marks the front entrance to Mary Emery Hall. It is a part of a series of similar forms called “Hand-Like Trees.”

The Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz could trace her lineage back to Genghis Khan. At least, that was the family legend. She grew up on an estate east of Warsaw, where her privileged and carefree childhood ended abruptly when German tanks arrived in the autumn of 1939. Yet she managed to launch a highly successful career in Communist Poland, eventually gaining an international reputation for her evocative textile sculptures of biomorphic forms. Her notable works involve serial human figures, often with stunted limbs or lacking heads.

The sense of uniformity in her works evokes the loss of identity in the face of an overwhelming cultural collective—a reference to her time spent living under a communist regime. Abakanowicz has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Award for Distinction in Sculpture from the New York Sculpture Center in 1993 and the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts in 1999. Several of her pieces are now part of permanent installations, including large-scale public works such as Agora in Grant Park, Chicago. [Photo below]

The artist stands amid the 106 figures of Agora (iron, 2005-06) in Grant Park, Chicago.

Magdalena Abakanowicz lived and worked in Warsaw until her death in 2017 at the age of 86.

Emeriti Association & Center

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Who We Are

President | Sally Moomaw | moomawsc@ucmail.uc.edu

Vice President| George Babcock | babcocgf@ucmail.uc.edu

Secretary | Kathryn Lorenz | lorenzkm@ucmail.uc.edu

Treasurer | Tim Sale | salejt@ucmail.uc.edu

Executive Director| Pamela Person | personp@ucmail.uc.edu

Editorial & Communications Team

Chair | Joanna Mitro | mitroj@ucmail.uc.edu

Editor | Lynn Davis | davislk@ucmail.uc.edu

Reviewer | Jonathan Kamholtz | kamholj@ucmail.uc.edu

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Issue No. 29 - March 2024