Thanks

Sergeant Hoffman thank you.  As my coach in PAL you started me on a path that would include a scholarship for throwing baseballs. I recall how devastated I was when after practice my bicycle had been taken and how thrilled I was when you drove up a few hours later having recovered it.  You knew that that bike was my passport to the world.

At Central High school it was Fred Gill. He saw my talent and sent me to Saturday mourning classes at the Art museum.  Also during those years there was nurture from Spahr Hull, Norman Thomas and Beth Bowerman. Beth was the best big sister I could have had.  Al Whorle old friend and school mate.  You introduced me to X-country and track at Central and lots more on those ten mile walks to school each mourning.  You saw we run my first sub 5 minute mile.  I'm still running 55 years later.  Thank you.  

At Bucknell it was Blanchard Gummo whose patient support resulted in numerous prizes including the Phi Beta Kappa prize for creativity. In particular I appreciated his support in a 2 hour debate with Margaret Mead over her claim that painters like Vincent Van Gogh were a dime a dozen. Ivan Nye was a consultant to my early efforts at sociological practice on the Bucknell campus.

Then there are stories of Louie Kahn from my Penn architecture school days. While reviewing my design of a residence, he reminded me that it is not only important to know where you are going, but that you should have a way to get there. Can you say stairs? Apparently not. After working on that design project for 24 hour charrette. While at U of P I attended the Powelton Friends meeting and was even Clerk for a time. My room mate Norm took the time to teach me to drive and Phoebe a member of the meeting helped me get my drivers license. I used Phoebe's Fiat with the choke out so as not to stall. Driving changed my life. I've owned, driven and raced Porsches, had 2 Alfa's an Opel GT, a Honda Prelude, a BMW and now a Jag.  From that late start I've driven across country more than a half dozen times. The most recent to Seattle to visit our son Mark while he was helping to develop the XBOX. 

In Minneapolis there was instruction from Walter Quirt and my first meeting with Kenneth Boulding. In Ann Arbor I worked with Kenneth on committees of the Friends meeting . Yet, it was his explaining the quantum aspects of social science that for me still makes the difference. That added to the rigor and candor of Gene Litwak who opened his home to us. He was supportive of my sociological practice on the Ann Arbor campus that served as the model CAN used the late 60's to turn NASW upside down. Faye Soffen, thank you. You paved my way to graduate school at Ann Arbor. Through all the Ann Arbor years and beyond, there was the support of Kay Rebel who convinced everyone, including me, that I was special.

Back in Philadelphia I met Len Blumberg who was to become a mentor and strong advocate. He helped me to weather attacks from the advocates of the disease construction of alcoholism just as Litwak had alerted me to the fiction of the isolated nuclear family. Jack Buerkle was and is my dissertation chair. His wit and humor made it possible for me to survive the dissertation storms.

I thank all of the above for they made it possible for me to feel inside of me an invincible summer during the coldest and bleakest winters that too often are the result of an association with a profession resisting its future.