Emeriti Connection

Issue No. 26 - August 2023

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Clifton Court Hall - Five-Story Atrium and Grand Staircase

LNM Architects / KZF Design

Where Is This?

Where will you find a World War I aviator and tank on campus?

Scroll to bottom for location

and explore early UC beginnings.

Photos/Elyce Feliz

Letter from Our Board President

Dear Emeriti,

Summer has been a busy time behind the scenes for the Emeriti Association’s leadership as we selected our new Executive Director and planned for late summer and autumn events. Fortunately, there were opportunities for socializing at our P.O.E.T.S. Club brewery get-togethers on the final Friday of each month. June’s destination was Dead Low Brewing on Kellogg, and in July we visited Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, where we had our largest crowd yet – 17 – including folks from our large group of new June emeriti!  I hope you can join us on August 25 at Unwind in Hyde Park, a foray into the world of wine.

Our planning scheduled two special events for August to kick off the new academic year. The Emeriti-sponsored bus tour of Cincinnati for new faculty took place on Thursday, August 17. Our tour guide was Joe Girandola, President and CEO of the Art Academy of Cincinnati and a former associate dean at DAAP. A catered lunch at the Faculty Enrichment Center followed the tour. 

Coming up on Thursday, August 24, our 2023-24 luncheon speaker series debuts with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. Many thanks to Tim Sale for securing him as a speaker. That event will be at Lindner CoB, room 1220-25. Lunch is served at 11:30 with Mayor Pureval speaking from 12–1 on the topic of “Asian Americans in Politics.” Provost Val Ferme will attend and help us welcome the Mayor. If you plan to have lunch with us before the talk, please take a moment to RSVP to emeriti@uc.edu.

We hope to see you this fall as popular events continue and new ones unfold. Be sure to look for your monthly Emeriti Calendar to keep up-to-date on our activities!

Sincerely,

Sally

Sally Moomaw

President, UC Emeriti Association

sally.moomaw@uc.edu



Pamela Person is named Executive Director

of the UC Emeriti Association & Center

Please join us in welcoming Pamela Person to the Emeriti Association following a long affiliation with the University. She served for 10 years as Director of the Center for First Year Experience, where she guided UC’s 11 undergraduate colleges to create and improve first-year-experience courses and programs. This included resource development, outcomes assessment, curriculum development, course design, experiential learning, and peer education. Through her efforts she earned a national award – Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate, presented by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and Cengage. She built the Learning Communities program from a startup into one of the largest in the country.

Pam also served as the first permanent Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, established to support student applications for prestigious national and international scholarships and fellowships.  Her most recent position was Director of Community Innovations in the Office of Education and Community Partnerships, CECH, where she collaborated with UC’s Institutional Research Office to create dashboards for CPS Strong, developed the College-going Experience Project, and managed grant activities.

Pam is an excellent communicator. Her experience leading groups, supervising students, designing and assessing programs, authoring papers and presentations, and her intimate knowledge of UC’s administrative and budgetary infrastructure will be valuable assets as we begin our work together.

We are excited to welcome Pam to our Emeriti community.

Contact: Pamela.Person@uc.edu

News & Announcements

Clifton Court Hall

Grand Opening Tuesday, Sept 19, 3-5 pm

Classroom Building To Serve UC's Biggest College

Clifton Court Hall

 Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing+Brand

UC College of Arts and Sciences faculty are moving into offices and labs in the new Clifton Court Hall. Seven schools/departments are designated for the $93 million structure, now the university’s largest classroom building.

Clifton Court Hall’s innovative spaces include a digital animation studio, a lecture hall with adjustable seating for small group work, and a fifth-floor room whose floor to ceiling windows overlook Bearcat Commons.

The 185,000-square-foot building’s open grand atrium and window-well staircases are designed to connect the heart of west campus to Clifton Avenue.

Read more: UC News, May 25, 2023

Opening Ceremony and Tour information.

Special Report:

Foreign Travel

Health Insurance Issues

Our emeriti colleagues at Emory University, Atlanta, have prepared an important report and tips for travel insurance on international trips.  We believe you will find this helpful as you consider your travel insurance needs for healthcare, as Medicare offers only very limited coverage.

Emory’s report focuses on emergency medical care during international travel because that is the type of insurance that is most needed by those covered by Medicare.

Topics include consideration of foreign travel insurance for:

• Organized Tours and Cruises
• Foreign Travel on your Own
• Insurance for Extended International Trips
• Travel Assistance in Coping with Unforeseen Events
• Travel Insurance Brokerage & Comparison Websites

Access the report: Foreign Travel Health Insurance

Passes are available to:

• Cincinnati Art Museum Special Exhibitions (admit 4)
• Cincinnati Museum Center (2 adults and 4 children)
• Harriet Beecher Stowe House (admit 2)
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum (youth, 0-15 - no limit)
• Great Parks of Hamilton County (1 car, good for 3 days)
• American Sign Museum (admit 2, 12 and under always free)
• Taft Museum of Art (2 adults)

The Discovery Pass is one of the services offered by our great local library.

The Emeriti Association's Mentoring Committee Partners with UC's Gen-1 Program

Contributed by Joanna Mitro, Mentoring Committee chair

Gen-1 is a groundbreaking University of Cincinnati program that is the nations’ first living-learning community to focus on first-generation college students. The 1MPACT House is a residence hall providing students with a structured environment in which to live, learn, and work. On several occasions in the past, emeriti have done cooking programs with this group.

On August 13, Gen-1's new cohort of first-year (first-generation) students moved into the 1MPACT House residence hall to participate in their Early Arrival Program. The goals of this program include building a supportive peer network, introducing campus resources, trouble-shooting issues with financial aid and registration, and identifying important transferrable skills. This year for the first time, the Emeriti Association's Mentoring Committee was invited to participate by presenting a 45-minute workshop touching on the learning outcomes of "Establish relationships with college faculty and staff" and "Understand academic expectations and college culture."

On August 15, emeriti John Cuppoletti, Joanna Mitro, Sally Moomaw, and Pam Rankey presented a workshop that covered: addressing and emailing faculty, preparing for an office hour visit, discussing grades, requesting a letter of recommendation, and inquiring about research opportunities/discussing career plans. Among us, we had so much collective experience on these topics that it was hard to squeeze it all into just 45 minutes!

Later this fall we will schedule another cooking program with the Gen-1 students at the 1MPACT House. Watch your email for your invitation to participate.

Age-Friendly University

Maple Knoll Village Celebrates Its Affiliation

with UC: the "Perfect Pair"

As part of their search for age-friendly practices at UC, the Emeriti Association's Age-Friendly University Working Group discovered the University's formal affiliation with the Maple Knoll Village Retirement Community in Springdale. Maple Knoll residents and UC students benefit through intergenerational sharing of history, technology, and care-coping skills. The research and experiential learning that occur as part of this collaboration respond to the needs of our aging society and allow students to experience the complexity and richness of aging.

On July 17, UC renewed its formal affiliation with the Maple Knoll Village Retirement Community (MKV) for an additional five years. The celebration of this event, with speeches, refreshments, and signing of the official affiliation document, took place on the Maple Knoll Village campus, with Interim Dean of the College of Nursing Gordon Gilespie signing for UC. Maple Knoll Village resident and UC emeritus Tom Wagner represented the affiliation’s governing board. Maple Knoll Communities President Tim McGowan signed on behalf of Maple Knoll Village.

The partnership between UC and MKV has its roots in an over 30-year history of working together in nursing, medical, and pharmacy education and practice. In 2012 UC and MKV signed a research agreement to pursue technological innovations to impact geriatric care. A “smart house” on the Maple Knoll campus was outfitted with telehealth robots and patient simulators and became the testing ground for projects designed to detect falls, prevent medication errors, improve diabetes management, and make life easier for the aging population. The success of this collaboration led to a formal affiliation agreement between Maple Knoll Communities and the entire University of Cincinnati in 2015. This first three-year agreement was renewed for 5 years in 2018 and continued throughout the pandemic.

This affiliation allows UC to develop and test technology aimed at creating environments that can improve the physical and mental status of older adults through self-care and independence. Maple Knoll serves as an incubator for students' innovations and inventions to be tested and evaluated before launching them in real life settings. Projects have extended to encompass employee health and wellness as well. A current project involves the use of drones in telehealth. 

Affiliation Vision Statement:  We will shape the future of healthcare and promote the best lifestyle possible for older adults.

Affiliation Mission Statement: Create a nationally recognized interdisciplinary learning partnership for students, faculty, practitioners, employees, and researchers that strives to enhance the quality of care and services for older adults. We will further the missions of the University of Cincinnati and Maple Knoll Communities by fostering a sustainable program of innovation, research, and practice.

UC Researchers Strive to Slow Age-Related Cognitive Decline

The Age-Friendly University Working Group continues to compile examples of age-friendly activities at UC to include in the white paper under preparation. Recently, OLLI Director and Working Group member Cate O'Hara alerted us to UC's Cognitive Aging Program.

The Cognitive Aging Program is a clinical research program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience in the College of Medicine. Their clinicians see patients who are concerned about age-related cognitive changes, and conduct clinical trials on dietary and lifestyle interventions that may prevent or delay the progression of cognitive decline to dementia and that may improve memory in people with mild cognitive impairment. For instance, Dr. Robert Krikorian has done studies that showed blueberry supplementation improves memory and executive function in older adults with complaints of mild neurological deficits. More recent projects investigate the effect of carbohydrate restriction (ketogenic diets) on older adults with mild memory decline, and for Parkinson's patients with memory decline. They also conduct studies to identify risks and mechanisms associated with age-related cognitive decline.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience also houses the Geriatric Psychiatry Program. Geriatric psychiatry is a specialty area that focuses on mental health associated with aging, says Michael Keys, MD, professor and director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Program. This program provides inpatient and outpatient clinical services with the UCHealth system and maintains a fellowship program that provides comprehensive geropsychiatry training to early career physicians seeking to specialize in geriatric care.

As life span increases (global life expectancy was 34 years in 1913 and 72 years in 2022), aging has become what the International Monetary Fund refers to as the "most formidable demographic challenge facing the world." Understanding the experience of aging and developing techniques to maintain health and quality of life ("healthy aging") are becoming a focus of medicine and government. The Cognitive Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry Programs are part of this response.

Strategies for Successful Cognitive Aging

Free to Emeriti

Supporting our own individual healthy aging should be of personal interest to Emeriti Association members. With this in mind, OLLI has graciously opened the following program to all emeriti:

#2806 Best Strategies for Successful Cognitive Aging 

Friday, November 3, 9:30 am-12 pm (Ohio Living Llanfair) $0

LIMIT 100

Understanding how we age in terms of our memory and cognition is a central concern for seniors. We all need to understand the vulnerabilities and strengths of how our brains and sense of self age. We will review normal aging, basic cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, what to do with cognitive concerns when they appear in ourselves or loved ones, and the supports and changes in lifestyle that may be warranted. We will focus on ways to promote adaptive aging, including overall health, diet, exercise, and socialization.

Moderators: Janie Taylor, PsyD, and Amanda Stein, PhD, faculty with the Cognitive Aging Program at the UC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuro Science. Dr. Michael Keys is a geriatric psychiatrist and Program Director for the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program at UC.

The program is in person at Ohio Living Llanfair, 1701 Llanfair Avenue in College Hill. Follow the “OLLI” signs from the parking lot. No registration necessary.

Luncheon Speaker Series

Our Luncheon Speaker Series for 2023-2024 kicks off in August:

Asian American Identity

in Modern Politics

Aftab Pureval (JD, UC 2008)

Mayor of the City of Cincinnati

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Lite Lunch Served at 11:30 am

Presentation from 12:00 - 1:00 pm

In-Person Venue:

Carl H. Lindner College of Business, Room 1220/1225

Virtual Venue: Zoom

https://ucincinnati.zoom.us/j/91907751003pwd=aWVBa1l1ajBSaUpQQ2NZWmxFdHBIUT09

Meeting ID: 919 0775 1003

Passcode: 349265

Please Join Us in Person or Virtually

To attend in person, please

RSVP to emeriti@uc.edu by Monday, August 21

Aftab Pureval is the 70th Mayor of Cincinnati. He was born and raised in southwest Ohio, the son of first-generation Americans. He is making history as Cincinnati’s first Asian American Mayor. Prior to his term as Mayor, he served as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts from 2016 to 2021 and was the first Democrat to hold this office in over 100 years. 

We program August through April

(with a break in December).

Most lectures on Thursdays, noon to 1 pm.

Light luncheon provided at 11:30 am.

Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person.

COMING UP THIS FALL

Tuesday, September 26

Carrie Harms, Warehouse Director, Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub

"Sustainability: The Role of the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub"

Thursday, October 26

Henry Fenichel, Professor Emeritus of Physics

"Survival of the Holocaust During World War II"

Thursday, November 16

Daniel Durbin, Professor Emeritus of Architectural Engineering

"My Experiences in Antarctica"

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

Your ideas are welcome.

Contact Tim Sale, Luncheon Speakers Committee, chair. 

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

Arts & Culture Committee

A Tradition Continued

Annual Queen City Tour for New Faculty

At Bellvue Park’s Ransohoff Overlook with tour leader Joe Girandola (7th from left).

On Thursday, August 17, a diverse group of new faculty, accompanied by emeriti, boarded a tour bus bound to see the many prominent arts and cultural landmarks of Cincinnati, including the Art Museum, Museum Center, Music Hall, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Aronoff Center, Contemporary Art Museum, Dayton Street in the West End—once known as "Millionaires' Row"—as well as the Incline District in Price Hill, Hyde Park and O’Bryonville, Findlay Market, and of course the city’s centerpiece, Fountain Square.

The tour continues a tradition that many current emeriti fondly remember from their own days as new faculty when the late Professor Daniel Ransohoff, renowned Cincinnati historian, led these tours.  After many years in abeyance, former vice-mayor Jim Tarbell led this bus tour last summer, following the achievement of the late Bert Huether to revive this memorable UC tradition.

This year we welcome Joe Girandola as the group’s guide. Girandola, a former associate dean at DAAP, serves as president of the Art Academy of Cincinnati. He views the AAC’s site at 1212 Jackson St (SITE1212) as a laboratory for creative artists to make a social impact via the AAC’s community engagement programs: “Art makes a difference and artists are the change agents.”

This year’s tour was created through the energetic work of our president Sally Moomaw and our Arts & Culture Committee in coordination with Sarah Clift, Associate Director of the Faculty Enrichment Center, and the New Faculty Orientation team.

The beautiful morning began at the Overlook named in honor of Daniel Ransohoff and culminated with a luncheon held at the Faculty Enrichment Center, Langsam Library.

One "tourist" summed up the experience, “This was a wonderful tour with a great tour guide. Now I know what places I want to visit over the next few weeks.”

The Arts & Culture Committee encourages you to experience these events of artistic exploration and innovation:

Studio Kroner presents

BEYOND THE MATERIAL: Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary 

• Opening Reception: 6-9 pm, Thursday, September 7 

• Artist Talk & Reception: 1-2 pm, Saturday, September 16 

• Closing Reception: 2-5 pm, Saturday, October 7 

130 West Court Street, Cincinnati 45202

www.StudioKroner.com/beyond-the-material

Fiber artist Cynthia Lockhart draws inspiration from nature, fashion, music, dance, travel, and cultural arts. Her vibrant textiles embrace diversity and tell captivating stories. Her achievements are recognized  worldwide and include a place in the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.

Sculptor Mark Wiesner transforms mundane materials, most notably cardboard, infusing them with technical rigor, humor, and poetic form. His ability to reimagine materials has gained recognition locally and internationally, including the Singulart gallery based in Paris, France.

Gallery owner Paul Kroner enthuses, "Lockhart and Wiesner redefine the boundaries of art and inspire us to see the beauty and potential in everyday objects." 

Lockhart, Wiesner and Kroner are all DAAP alumni. Cynthia Lockhart is Professor Emerita, DAAP.

Sculpture Park

Art Fair

Saturday, September 23

Sunday, September 24

Pyramid Hill's annual Art Fair brings together over 70 artists to sell their one-of-a-kind handmade creations amongst the monumental sculptures that dot the gorgeous Park. 

Grab lunch in the beer garden and listen to live music at the Pavilion.

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, OH 45013

Located within the traditional lands of the Miami and Shawnee peoples,

along the Great Miami River.



Hamilton - The City of Sculpture

The Arts & Culture Committee welcomes new members.

Contact Sally.Moomaw@uc.edu

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

The Social Activities Committee

[George Babcock, Howard Jackson, Terry Milligan, Sally Moomaw,

and Joan Murdock, chair]

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

P.O.E.T.S. met in Norwood in May, enjoying 20 taps of award-winning beer at Hi-Wire Brewery in the revamped US Playing Card factory with its eye-popping murals and rooftop deck.

Summer took the party to Dead Low Brewing in the California neighborhood along the Ohio River in June.

The "Club" at Dead Low Brewing in June

July’s wet weather kept us indoors at the charming and scenic Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, nestled in the westernmost

county of Appalachia. 

A great turnout included newly-minted emeriti joining an eclectic gathering of first-timers and regulars.

NEXT

5 pm, Friday, August 25, 2023

Unwind Wine Bar

3435 Michigan Ave, Hyde Park

Located between Erie & Observatory on Michigan around the corner from the fire department off Hyde Park Square.

After two years exploring brewpubs, the POETS branch out to this Hyde Park upscale wine bar. Unwind features a stone-and-wood ambience, with wine scenes on the walls and bottles of wine everywhere.

A full bar, as well as a selection of domestic and imported beers, is available.  Light Fare (apps, flatbreads, cheese board) is offered.

Happy Hour: $5 off wine bottles and $2 off 6-oz "featured wine" glass

Feel free to bring guests ... especially newly-named emeriti!

We hope to see you then!

... Stay tuned ... More activities coming ...

Look for announcements of our annual



Fall Social Event & Winter Holiday Party

Health & Wellness Committee

Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 4-7 pm

Ault Park Pavilion | 5090 Observatory Circle 45208

Co-hosted by

UC Osher Center for Integrative Health & Cincinnati Parks Foundation

A wellness retreat to harness the healing power of nature led by Osher Center practitioners at beautiful Ault Park. Experiential sessions include yoga, tai chi, mindful walking, and sound immersion, followed by a light picnic dinner in the park.

Cost and Registration information

MINDFULNESS PROGRAM

Consider Adding a Practice to Your Routine

Following her presentation to Emertiti last spring, Dr. Barbara Walker, UC Integrative Health & Performance Psychologist and Associate Professor, invites emeriti to join her practice on Mindfulness.

Emeriti are invited to "tune in" to her program:

Mindful Mondays, 8:30 - 9 am

This is a free, guided meditation session held via Microsoft Teams.

Use the link below to add this to your calendar.

Sponsored by

UC College of Medicine's

Osher Center for Integrative Health

HANDS-ONLY CPR & AED

Techniques that Save Lives



Regina M. Menninger, RN, BSN, Trauma Prevention and Outreach Coordinator with UC Health’s Trauma Center, led a demonstration of Hands-Only CPR and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) this past May 2023. Emeriti in attendance appreciated learning when and how to employ these life-saving interventions and having the opportunity to vigorously practice on “test dummies.”

In response to requests for information from those unable to attend, Gina has generously provided her instructions (in pdf format) available here.

Gina also conducts training sessions on “Help Stop the Bleed and Save a Life.”

You can contact Gina at:  Regina.Menninger@UCHealth.com

Health & Wellness

BOOK CLUB

The Health & Wellness Book Club explores non-fiction and fiction books on topics supporting physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual well-being, and hosts both in-person and virtual discussions of selected books.

In May, the Book Club met and discussed the book:

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's

Longest Study of Happiness

by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Shulz, PhD

Andrea Wall, Health & Wellness Committee member, provides this review:

The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, by Drs. Waldinger and Schulz, is the fifth book deliberated by the H&W Book Club of the UC Emeriti Association. 

The book is based upon the longitudinal study The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1937 and has continued to this day.  Throughout the book, Drs. Waldinger and Schulz share the stories and responses to the questionnaires and interviews of the participants, their parents, spouses, and children. They acknowledge that each person is an individual, and as we live our lives, we are influenced by family, culture, geography, and the society we live in.  Applying what has been learned by following peoples’ lives over time in this study, as well as other longitudinal studies, the authors have developed a blueprint for determining what can lead to happiness.  The foundation for this blueprint is that what leads to a healthy and happy life is good, strong relationships. They use the qualitative results of research about the human experience to guide readers in their own pursuit of happiness. 

The H&W Book Club has previously read the following non-fiction and fiction books:

• Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
• Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life
• Three Things About Elsie
• Breaking The Age Code

The next book club discussion will be held this fall.

Health & Wellness

PICKLEBALL

Get into the “Swing of Things”

A Very Successful Program about America’s Fastest Growing Sport: Pickleball

Contributed by Bob Conyne, Chair, Health & Wellness Committee

UC emeriti came out to learn about Pickleball in an engaging program organized by the Health & Wellness committee on June 15, 2023 at the Corryville Community Recreation Center.

Our excellent presenters, Bill and Joan Hautz, shared useful information about Pickleball, including an overview of the game, its equipment, etiquette, places to play, and more. Following their presentation and demonstration, attendees had an opportunity to step onto the court themselves and put learning into action, trying out this game for a while.

The photos of the event that accompany these remarks can’t quite capture the informative and enjoyable time we all experienced. 

Bill Hautz and Pickleball wannabees

Emerita Kathy Lorenz leads off

How can you start playing?

One way is to go with a partner, or in a group, to the Sawyer Point (705 Pete Rose Way) pickleball courts during Group Play, M-SU, from 9-11 am, and M-F from 5-10 pm. Find one of the readily available and helpful “Pickleball Ambassadors” (they have a badge on their shirt) and allow them to introduce you to playing. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes (definitely not running shoes, but court shoes—check out options on-line), paddles will be available there—and get into the swing of things! 

Health & Wellness

WALKING for FITNESS Program

This Program, sponsored by the Health & Wellness Committee, aims to enhance a healthy lifestyle for improving or maintaining health and wellness.

The Walking for Fitness group walks outdoors in the spring and fall months.

• We walked the Harbor Trail in Winton Woods on Wednesdays in April and
• the Wetland Loop nature trail in Glenwood Gardens in May.

No walks were planned during the dog days of summer.

We resume in September and October at

Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Rd, Blue Ash, 45242.

Summit Park is located near UC Blue Ash between Plainfield Rd and Reed Hartman Hwy on Glendale Milford /Pfeiffer Rd.  

The former airport is a 130-acre park with walking trails, a dog park, pond, playground, observation tower, event space, restaurants, and a luxury apartment complex.



Summit Park Loop is a 3-mile loop with an elevation gain of about 91.8 ft and is rated as easy. Participants may choose to walk 1, 2 or the entire 3 mile loop.

Wednesdays at 9am

Summit Park Loop Trail

Meet outside the Dog Park

(black-fenced area northwest of the Observation Tower)

September 13, 20, 27

October 4, 11

Contact Jennifer.Pearce@uc.edu

for information.

Contributed by Joanna Mitro with Alvin Crawford

Dr. Alvin H. Crawford, retired Chief of Orthopaedics and founding director of the Spine Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), has had a distinguished and much-celebrated career as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and medical educator. He specialized in treating Scoliosis and is an authority on video-assisted Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and Neurofibromatosis in children (a genetic disorder often associated with scoliosis). Upon retirement to Emeritus in 2013, he was honored with endowed Chairs in his name in Pediatric Orthopaedics and Pediatric Spine Surgery, and the Crawford Spine Center was dedicated in his name.

In retirement, Dr. Crawford continues to work with medical residents to do research and write papers. Although he no longer does surgery or sees patients, he continues to do consultations. He also runs a “Pediatric Orthopaedic Boot Camp” for junior orthopaedic residents, stressing listening and observational skills for interacting with young patients and patients’ parents. In 2020 he started Black Men in Medicine Cincinnati (BMIMC), a mentoring program for African American male medical students -- an under-represented and at-risk group -- to counter the decline in Black male medical students and support their progress toward graduating from medical school.

With his medical career now less demanding, Dr. Crawford has more time for his original first love: music. He started playing the clarinet in the 7^th grade, and went to Tennessee State University as a music major on a full music scholarship with hopes of becoming a studio musician. While in college he changed course toward medicine, graduating Cum Laude in 1960 with degrees in Chemistry and Music. In 1964 he became the first African American to graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Despite the time and effort his long medical career required, his passion for music stayed with him throughout his life, and he continued to play in local community classical and jazz bands. 

As a retiree, he and his wife have more time to attend concerts, and he began to take classes at CCM in jazz improvisation and jazz history, as well as clarinet lessons through the CCM Prep Division from CSO bass clarinetist Ronald Aufmann. He performs with the Queen City Concert Band and the UC Community Band. He currently assists with the jazz history course taught by CCM Professor of Jazz Studies Craig Bailey. Dr. Crawford believes that his love of surgery and music have been mutually beneficial and helped him become better in both areas.

Another long-time passion of his has been tennis. An avid (and competitive) tennis player, he won the Armed Services Navy Junior Vet All-Services Tennis Championship in 1975, and he continued to play throughout his career. A recent injury to his Achilles tendon, though now healed, keeps him from attacking the ball as aggressively as he would like, so he no longer plays. As unfortunate as that sounds, Dr. Crawford appreciated the experience of being an orthopaedic patient hobbled by his leg in a cast, and would recommend all orthopaedic residents spend some time in a simulated cast and crutches as well, feeling “it would do much to develop empathy and compassion for their patients.”

An energetic and creative person, Alvin Crawford keeps busy and engaged in many arenas. To name a few: he is a member of the CCM Dean’s Advisory Council and a Trustee of the University of Cincinnati Foundation; he is a board member of Tennis for Charities, which sponsors the Western Southern ATP tennis championships in Cincinnati, and a member of the African American Capital Equity (AACE) group that is part owner of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball franchise; his autobiography The Bone Doctor's Concerto: Music, Surgery, and the Pieces in Between is scheduled to be published in October by the University of Cincinnati Press.

The OLLI Connection

Contributed by Cate O'Hara,

OLLI Director

Eight Moderate: UC Emeriti Teaching for OLLI

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC is gearing up for fall, with registration opening on August 15 and classes beginning September 18. Eight of our Emeriti colleagues are moderating classes this fall—both inside and outside their fields of study. Find out more about these programs at www.uc.edu/olli.

Robert Brackenbury, Professor Emeritus of Cancer Biology, is combining his scientific knowledge with his love of literature for the eight-week course “Rare Genetic Diseases Book Club” (course #1105), a look at how two families confronted incurable neurodegenerative diseases.

Over three weeks, Howard Tolley, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, goes in depth with “Race Matters: Black Lives in the Supreme Court, 1787-2023” (#1706), introducing the constitutional articles and amendments and federal laws involving African Americans.

Heather Arden, Professor Emerita of Medieval French Literature, will share her passion for music and the piano with the eight-week survey “Franz Schubert: The Greatest Songs” (#2202),  exploring how his music expresses his deepest feelings.

An evolutionary paleobiologist and paleoecologist, Arnie Miller, Professor Emeritus of  Geology, will spend six weeks looking at “Extinction and Humans” (#2205), exploring biodiversity, extinction, and the provocative idea of what would happen if humans disappeared.

David Butler, Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering, will bring together a panel of five elite athletes and a conditioning consultant for “Testing Our Limits: What Can We Learn from Elite Athletes?”(#2210) to describe both the physical and the mental challenges they face.

David Varady, Professor Emeritus of Planning, will present the timely talk  “Neighborhood Upgrading v. Gentrification: A Book Reviewer’s Perspective” (#2510/2511), looking at the hotly debated topcs of gentrification, affordable housing, and housing equity.

Paul Shortt, Professor Emeritus of Opera, Musical Theater, and Drama, will help you get your idea for a play onto paper over eight weeks with “Playwriting Principles and Workshop” (#2701), with practice in dialogue, characters, context, plot, action, and story arc.

Jim Steiner, Professor Emeritus of Pediatric Dentistry, dives into his passion for a particular Cincinnati neighborhood with a talk on “Mount Adams, A Fascinating History” (#2801), drawing on his research for two books on this iconic “suburb.”

Four of these moderators have been profiled in the 2nd Act feature of the Emeriti Connection newsletter: Arden, Brackenbury, Butler, and Steiner.

Find out more about all OLLI offerings at www.uc.edu/olli or 513-556-9186.

Norman Carl Thomas, 91, died May 25, 2023 at his home in Cincinnati. Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Norman grew up in Marquette, Michigan. 

Norman earned degrees in Political Science from the University of Michigan (BA 1953) and Princeton University (MA 1958, PhD 1959), where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.  A recipient of an NROTC scholarship, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and in the U.S. Navy Reserve for an additional decade. 

Dr. Thomas’s career in academia included the University of Michigan, Duke University, and the University of Cincinnati (1971-1998), where he was named the Charles Phelps Taft Professor of Political Science in 1980.  He was recognized for his teaching excellence and continued to share that gift by teaching at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn Murphy Thomas; three daughters, twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Thomas. 

Norman served as an elder and Clerk of the Session at the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming. Memorial donations may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming, the Russell Thomas Memorial Scholarship at Northern Michigan University (foundation.nmu.edu), or the PEO Foundation in care of M. Putman, 8548 Shenstone Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45255.

Walter Nathan Stone, MD, 91, passed away on June 21, 2023 in San Francisco. Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, he continued to consult and teach in northern California.

Dr. Stone was a Distinguished Fellow and past president of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). He served as a board member and treasurer of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes and published widely on self-psychological perspectives in group psychotherapy.

Walt was also an art collector, cribbage and bridge player, handball champion, soccer goalie, and an avid professional sports fan (never deserting his cherished Bengals and Reds).

Walt is survived by his wife, Esther Stone, four children, two stepchildren, twelve grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. The family suggests donations be made in Walt's memory to the AGPA, or the charity of your choice. As Walt loved to say, with a twinkle in his eye, "See you later, alligator."

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 davislk@ucmail.uc.edu

Emeriti Endowed Scholarship Fund

Stories of Inspiration

SUPPORTING UNDERREPRESENTED 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. 

Students at Block Party on

Sigma Sigma Commons

Together we can help make their dreams come true …

Making an Impact

Enrich your day with these heartwarming and inspiring stories:

Brothers with giving hearts support first-generation students

UC Alum is living the dream

UC Provost honors husband with scholarship for first-generation students

Partner With Us

We, the Board, 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 off to a good start ... at end of May 2023, the market value of the fund was $49,051. 

Ways of Giving

• Make a cash 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

• Create a Legacy Gift Plan through a gift from your existing Will, your Trust provisions, or a wide array of other possibilities. A Legacy Gift Plan can establish your legacy, support students, and help avoid future capital gains and inheritance taxes for you and your family. Gift Legacy

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

Contact: Rodney Parks, Executive Director, Principal Planning, Rodney.Parks@foundation.uc.edu

Details: Fund Name and Number

“University of Cincinnati Emeriti Association

Endowed Scholarship Fund” (S201318)

CCM’s Memorial Hall was built as a women’s dormitory in 1924 by architect Harry Hake. The facade of the building depicts symbols of World War I, memorializing those from the university who gave their lives in the conflict. Images of aviators and tanks are mixed with traditional Gothic gargoyles. 

memorial-dormitory

Memorial Dormitory, 

UC Archives and Rare Books Library

Memorial Hall, CCM Village

The renovated Memorial Hall opened in 1996 as a component of CCM Village, which includes the Corbett Center for the Performing Arts, Dieterle Vocal Arts Center, and Mary Emery Hall.  The facility supports music practice rooms and studios, many with original details like fireplaces and vaulted ceilings. 

Harry Hake, Sr. (1871-1955), Cincinnati architect, was educated at the Ohio Mechanics Institute (which merged with the College of Applied Science to become UC’s OMI-CAS and later CEAS). Hake opened his architectural practice in 1898, joined in 1925 by his son Harry Jr. (1902-1968), with grandson Harry III (1929-2019) joining in 1954.

The Harry Hake firm closed in 1978, following a remarkable eighty-year run during which “this firm, more than any other, has been responsible for determining the physical character of Cincinnati.”

The Hakes contributed to numerous University of Cincinnati buildings including:

• Taft Hall, College of Law, 1925 - partially replaced in late 1970s renovation.
• Blegen Library, 1930 - Art Deco motifs by UC professor/sculptor E. Bruce Haswell (who also created the Holmes Memorial Sundial).
• Tangeman University Center, 1937 - conceived by UC President Raymond Walters and designed with Harry Sr. and Jr.; interior re-made in 2004.
• McMicken Hall, 1949 - President Walters chose Hake to replace Samuel Hannaford’s gorgeous but deteriorating original 1894 structure. 
• Muntz Hall, 1967 - first UC building in Blue Ash, designed by Harry III.



Hake brought distinction to public and government buildings, like the Queen City Club, Crosley Field, Sabin Convention Center, and the Art Deco-inspired Ohio Supreme Court Building. Hake-designed office buildings, banks, libraries, hotels, and fire stations (including the Cincinnati Fire Museum) are abundant throughout the city and state.

Harry Hake’s iconic Cincinnati Bell Building (1930) is an Art Deco gem.  Located on the corner of Seventh and Elm Streets, the exterior features bas-relief figures of the classic elements Fire, Earth, Air and Water, while telephones and headphones march around the top of the building. Inside, bronze elevator doors feature Art Deco designs of operators, line workers, and sleek women conveying communication.

Photo/J. Miles Wolf

In 1949, the American Institute of Architects recognized Harry Hake Sr.: A long and honorable career has brought a notable sense of artistic distinction. He has opened the door of opportunity to many a beginner in the profession. Journal of the AIA, pg. 166, April 1949.

Emeriti Association & Center

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Be A Contributor!

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Contact the Editorial & Communications Team: 

Joanna.Mitro@uc.edu

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"University of Cincinnati Emeriti Association" on LinkedIn.

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

Emeriti Connection is produced by the Office of the Executive Director

assisted by the

Editorial & Communications Team.

 Contact us at emeriti@uc.edu

The UC Emeriti Association & Center

is supported by the

Office of the Provost for Academic Affairs.

University of Cincinnati Emeriti Association & Center

2412 Carl H. Lindner Hall

P.O. Box 210066

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0066

Issue No. 26 - August 2023