Lois Hottel Wood (daughter of Hoyt Hottel - Jack's MIT mentor)

This letter is from Professor Hottel's daughter. Prof. Hottel mentored and worked with Jack for many years. They co-authored a book together named New Energy Technology. It is a "go to" book in solving our current energy problems. Jack held the Hoyt Hottel Chair in the Chemical Engineering Department for several years prior to his MIT retirement.

The Letter:
Dear Jack and Carolyn,The world of MIT has not heard much from me since my dad's death in 1998 -- almost 10 years ago. But -- you are all still and forever in my hearts. I grew up in Dept 10, first in Bldg 2 (!) and then Bldg 12 – and the memories are legion. I got to the age where I ogled the grad students and even the young faculty – shameless wench – and Hoyt’s daughter to boot! I made huge numbers of good friends, some of whom I still contact. I think just about everyone at my wedding was from that world – I loved you all well, and have nothing but precious memories of my life at Tech. I visited a lot in the wondrous new Bldg 66 -- Daddy was SO proud of the way they wedged that in! -- but by that time I was ensconced in my own busy life. Four children and ten grandchildren – keeps me busy
!And the carpools! Living where the Hottels did – last stop! -- anyone in the family riding to MIT had quite an experience with the carpool crowd. Who else ever knew that route through all those back corners of Medford and Somerville and Cambridge? – none of which is even recognizable today! I was very very young -- a teen -- when I had my first job at Tech, and I so well remember those mornings in the car with you and Fritz and I can't remember who else -- cars weren't so big then, so maybe there were only four of us.
For 20 years, I worked as the director of communications (fancy title for editor) at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. I looked down my nose when I was first there -- MIT snob -- who ever heard of Thayer School? -- and left a long time later with a huge respect for that tiny school which did a good job of educating young engineers and some impressive research as well -- at a college I had also disdained, but now admire. John Kemeny, the mathematician from Princeton who became Dartmouth's president around 1970 turned the school around, and its academic standards are now high. Daddy never accepted that -- he had his opinion of Dartmouth and that was that! He grudgingly allowed that maybe I did a good job, but just barely -- and he was sure he could have done it better! What a great dad I had!
Just as I was retiring in 2004, a new dean arrived at Thayer School -- and it was Joe Helble! Needless to say, it didn't take long for us to get together -- Adel kept the secret from me, so I had no idea that Joe had any direct connection to any part of my life, but of course, he did. And, sadly, it was he who told me last week about your illness.Jack, I am so sorry. What a nightmare for you all.
I lost my husband, Myric, to cancer in June 2006, after 45 wonderful years in family medicine here in Lebanon, NH -- and I know how hard it is, not only for you but for Carolyn. Both of your lives are suddenly turned around, and the challenges are huge. For you, to suddenly have to focus on yourself and your physical well-being when I'm sure they were of little concern to you during your very busy life in teaching and research -- it must be awful.
I'm so sad to think of you being so ill – I hope the treatments are tolerable and have the best possible measure of success. I have such good memories of you and Carolyn at 27 Cambridge Street – my daughter Sarah lives in Arlington now, so I go by our old house frequently. And if you still live on Everett Avenue (is that an accurate memory? at 76, many are not!!), I guess I go by your house as well!My heart and prayers are with you both – and I wish you both the best that can come to you ---With my love
,Lois Hottel Wood

Professor Bill Green comments

Dear Jack,

Amanda and I have been following your progress on your blog; we are inspired by your resilience and are cherishing you in our thoughts and prayers.

I feel extremely lucky, both to have caught your eye when I first applied to work at MIT,and then to have had you as a mentor and collaborator as I started out as an assistant professor. After a long week dealing with the stresses that come with that job, it was such a relief to spend a few minutes in unhurried conversation with you, to feel your calm and thoughtful influence. And it was very reassuring to see in front of me someone who had dealt with the same stresses I was facing, both at work and at home, and had found a way to maintain a balance and a focus on what was really important. So I am very grateful for the moments I have been able to spend with you and for the example you set me.

I hope that, as you did for me, I may some day be able to help some new asst. prof. find his bearings.

If I may, I would like to stop by to visit. When would be a good time?

Peace and Love,
Bill

Prof. William H. Green
MIT Dept. of Chemical Engineering
(617)253-4580 Room 66-270

A poem from a friend

There is a brokenness
Out of which comes the unbroken
a shatteredness
Out of which blooms the unshatterable.
There is sorrow beyond all grief which leads to joy
and a fragility out of whose depth emerges strength.
There is a hollow space too vast for words
Through which we pass with each loss,
out of whose darkness we are sanctioned into being.
There is a cry deeper than all sound
Whose serrated edges cut the heart as we break open to the place inside
Which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.

A friend of mine sent me this beautiful poem. My thougths while reading this poem was to dwell on how our Lord heals the broken, becomes the light in our lives, and supplies all of our needs. Thanks be to Him, who alone is worthy to be praised. Let us all sing our praises to our Lord and our God.