Mary Blajda, our long time bookkeeper, first in the Botany and then the Biology Department, retired in December 1997. Mary was known by generations of our students for her help in ordering supplies, and the joyful spirit she brought to the department office. We will all miss her, remembering the help she extended to so many of our graduate students.
Professor
Arthur Stern, a plant physiologist who came to the Botany Department in the
1960's with a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and taught several generations of
students in plant metabolism, retired in December 1997. As a member of first the Botany
and later the Biology Department, he served as our Honors Program representative and is currently playing
a critical role for the Biology Department in developing a program for the new Honors
College.
Professor Ted Sargent, currently the faculty member with the longest appointment in the Zoology/Biology Departments retired in December 1998. With John "Bud" Moner and Peter Webster, he was a mainstay of our large introductory biology course for many years. For an interview with Ted, see page 2 of this issue.