Uncle Jack, I have never told you this, but you are a very positive male role model for me, along with Uncle Keith and Grandpa Hugh. You are kind and understanding and you do not judge me. I know you accept me for who I am.
Do you remember in high-school when you helped me with my science project? I laugh when I think about this because I never understood what you were talking about. Now I think about it and it is even funnier. An MIT professor, one of the smartest men in the world, trying to help me with my science project!
I love you Uncle Jack!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Letter from Greg and Sandra McRae
Dear Jack:
I have just heard the news as both Sandra and I have been in Australia for the last month away from regular email contact. We are thinking of you and Carolyn at this difficult time -- you are in our prayers. The reason for the trip to Australia was to see my younger brother who is going through a similar experience. There is no question that you and my brother have the key ingredients for survival: an indomitable spirit, fearlessness in facing the unknown, first rate medical care, a loving family and above all a sense of humor.
When I next see you I have a present -- a sample of Victorian brown coal that I collected during a recent visit to Morwell. Now I know that you are one of the world's experts on coal and have probably seen more than enough lumps of coal but there are two reasons for the gift. The first is symbolic. Under pressure the wet soggy mess can be turned into a sparkling diamond, from adversity can come real rewards. The second reason is more pragmatic, the world needs your help in dealing with the energy/climate problem -- coal is going to be an integral part of the solution. Your research in the past is once again at the cutting edge. Jack, we need you to get well soon.
I will be returning to the U.S. from my sabbatical in Norway at the end of September and hope that I can come and visit. At the very least we both have important upcoming birthdays to celebrate on October 16. In the meantime you and your family are in our thoughts. Please do not hesitate to contact either me or Sandra if there is anything we can do to help out.
Your friends
Greg and Sandra
I have just heard the news as both Sandra and I have been in Australia for the last month away from regular email contact. We are thinking of you and Carolyn at this difficult time -- you are in our prayers. The reason for the trip to Australia was to see my younger brother who is going through a similar experience. There is no question that you and my brother have the key ingredients for survival: an indomitable spirit, fearlessness in facing the unknown, first rate medical care, a loving family and above all a sense of humor.
When I next see you I have a present -- a sample of Victorian brown coal that I collected during a recent visit to Morwell. Now I know that you are one of the world's experts on coal and have probably seen more than enough lumps of coal but there are two reasons for the gift. The first is symbolic. Under pressure the wet soggy mess can be turned into a sparkling diamond, from adversity can come real rewards. The second reason is more pragmatic, the world needs your help in dealing with the energy/climate problem -- coal is going to be an integral part of the solution. Your research in the past is once again at the cutting edge. Jack, we need you to get well soon.
I will be returning to the U.S. from my sabbatical in Norway at the end of September and hope that I can come and visit. At the very least we both have important upcoming birthdays to celebrate on October 16. In the meantime you and your family are in our thoughts. Please do not hesitate to contact either me or Sandra if there is anything we can do to help out.
Your friends
Greg and Sandra
Letter from Karen Gleason
Dear Jack,
From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to offer you my sincere thanks to you for being an absolutely amazing mentor and role model to me at the start of my MIT faculty career. Despite all your success and all the competing demands on your time, you freely offered your advice, support, and humor and never made me feel that affirmative action was not the only reason the department hired me. The NSF grant for diamond synthesis that you wrote with Herb and myself was really a turning point in my career. I always admired how deeply you care about science, and not just its hype (exactly how many fullerene models do you have?) and how strongly you could articulate your point with few words and without contentiousness. Your legacy as a faculty member still insprires me even though we are no longer in the same suite. Over the past few years I have enjoyed commiserating with you on occasion about the trials and tribulations of being an entrepeneur. I will always remember that you told me that the easiest way to make a small forture with a materials company was to start with a large fortune. I am still looking for the second easiest way! If there is anything at all that I could do that would help with the challenge you currently face, please do not hesitate to ask.
With my highest regards,
Karen
From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to offer you my sincere thanks to you for being an absolutely amazing mentor and role model to me at the start of my MIT faculty career. Despite all your success and all the competing demands on your time, you freely offered your advice, support, and humor and never made me feel that affirmative action was not the only reason the department hired me. The NSF grant for diamond synthesis that you wrote with Herb and myself was really a turning point in my career. I always admired how deeply you care about science, and not just its hype (exactly how many fullerene models do you have?) and how strongly you could articulate your point with few words and without contentiousness. Your legacy as a faculty member still insprires me even though we are no longer in the same suite. Over the past few years I have enjoyed commiserating with you on occasion about the trials and tribulations of being an entrepeneur. I will always remember that you told me that the easiest way to make a small forture with a materials company was to start with a large fortune. I am still looking for the second easiest way! If there is anything at all that I could do that would help with the challenge you currently face, please do not hesitate to ask.
With my highest regards,
Karen
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