October 20, 2007
UPDATE
This is the first update in over a week. We have such a blog following that I thought I better update it so the emails and phone calls will be satisfied. We do appreciate all of you caring enough to follow our lives. I have lots of good news to share (that is what happens when it is spread out).
Last Sunday, Jack wanted to visit his office and pick up a couple of books that he wanted. This is the first time he has requested going anywhere since our events began. I was delighted to take him. Our dear friend, and Nano-C’s CEO, Viktor Veijins was there preparing for a meeting that evening. It was a delightful experience to see the smiles and embrace of two grown men. Jack did not stay long. After being in the car for some time in our short excursion, he had some balance difficulty after getting out of the car when we arrived home. It initially appeared that he was going to topple backwards somewhat. I was right behind him. I told him that I was at his back as I supported him with my hands. Jack immediately said, “the backing of a good wife is indispensable”. I replied that if it took all of this experience for him to understand that, we had made real progress. We both had a good laugh at his quick humor. He keeps me on my toes.
Jack’s treatments are drawing to a close. We have 7 more trips to MGH. His last treatment is October 30. We are both counting the days, me more than him, I think. I remarked recently about how we were almost finished and how much I was looking forward to that day, he said yes, but as long as we are doing this trek, we know we are doing something. I assured him that the treatment is not over, it just evolves into another phase. He continues to tolerate them very well. We have truly been blessed. His blood counts have remained unchanged so there has been no deterioration of platelets and white cells. He has no nausea just some mild fatigue. His paralysis has not worsened. On Wednesday of this week, he was able to move his left arm a few inches while the physical therapist was working with him. Needless to say, it was very emotional. Like Jack, he did not relate the story to me until the next morning. (He had tenure at MIT and an endowed chair for 2 weeks before he remembered to tell me.) He is greatly improving in this regard. It gives you an idea as to how momentous this event was. When he did tell me, he broke down and whispered to me that it was a flicker of hope. The overwhelming magnitude of this experience cannot be measured on any scale for any of us. The best part of all of this experience is that it brings to mind so clearly how the events of our lives are in the hands of our merciful Lord. It makes me think of Psalm 52:8-9:
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God:
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
In your name I will hope for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”
Jack had a wonderful 70th birthday. He had a multitude of well wishes from around the world. It began on Sunday with a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer with our Bible study group, the Howells and Domenicas. On his special day, October 16, he had balloons, birthday cakes, edible bouquets, cards, phone calls, flowers, books, letters, food, and visitors from Germany. I stayed home from work to enjoy this special day, his 70th birthday, with him. Our dear friends from Germany, the Wersborgs, arrived in time for a dinner in the early evening. Jack was overwhelmed by the many ways people showed him how loved he is. He was most grateful to have it concluded. He is never one to have so much “ado”. For me, it was a living testimony of his impact on those who have been blessed to have him in their lives, most of all me.
Our challenges with MGH continue. We finally got the remainder of the Chemo via FedEx on Tuesday just in time for his treatment on Wednesday. We met with the vacationing nurse on Wednesday. She had not received any blood work since September 24 (date she probably left). Remember, they only accept faxes. I assured her that multiples have been sent. I suggested that maybe MGH might want to come into the 21st Century. Microsoft and MIT, I challenge you to get a project going over there to bring this place up to the 20th Century (forget the 21st Century).
I let the nurse know that we were transferring our care to Lahey Clinic and that I would like all of Jack’s medical records sent to them. We had to go to another person to complete the paperwork for that request. After completing it, the lady asked me if I had a fax (I thought this was odd); I said yes. At this point, she said, then you can fax it to medical records. I explained that I was very busy and wasn’t this something she could handle. She reluctantly agreed to send the fax. When we got home, she had faxed the request to me!!!!!Ugh!!! Nothing should surprise me anymore. I guess I keep hoping for the unexpected! I AM DEFINITELY NOT THROUGH OVER THERE. I AM COLLECTING NAMES TO CONTACT ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES AT THAT HOSPITAL. I would likely never consider care at MGH. I often wonder how many blunders are made there. I have a neighbor consulting for them. She describes the place as CHAOS. That is putting it mildly!
Jonathan and Megan are on “The Road”. They have described “The Road” as not for sissies, only the strong. They have encountered many beautiful scenes, blizzards, deer herds, mountains, plains, and stretches and stretches of “Road”. As of today, they were in Iowa. From this point on, they are staying with friends and relatives along the way. Their goal is to arrive here in the evening of October 24. They pass papers on their condo on October 25. We will soon be celebrating their arrival, the Lord willing.
This weekend, Jack’s brother and sister-in-law have returned. They wanted to know what they could do to help us out. I have a meeting in CA on Monday so I asked them if they could come and stay with Jack so I could attend the meeting. They agreed for which I am most grateful. I hope to relax and have a change of scenery. I plan to have dinner with Megan’s parents, Jack and Margaret Coleman, tomorrow evening. They live in Orange Co., not far from LA. I look forward to visiting with them. It will be very good for all of us. They have been so wonderful in their care, comfort, and prayers for us. I have suggested that I may have a one way ticket! Maybe someday, but not this trip.
We remain trusting that the Lord will continue to sustain us. Psalm 73 gives us much comfort. The best part of these events in our lives can be summarized in Psalm 73:28:
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of your wonderful deeds.”
I have many wonderful emails and letters to add to the blog upon my return but for now, this is the latest.
With deep gratitude,
Carolyn
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Update
We are settling into a routine, after 7 weeks of our new life. Each day we arrive at MGH at approximately 9:20 AM for his 9:30 AM treatment. Jack continues to tolerate the treatment very well. He has a couple of spots where he has lost his hair due to the radiation. It is like genetic balding at the back of his head and a bad haircut on one side in the front. I told him that he could get hair extensions and he would be all set. Actually, in the town next to us, there is a Hair Salon for Men that does exactly that work. I have seen men who have gone there and you could never guess. So you fellows out there that would like some extra hair, you have just been provided with a free advertisement. As you might guess, Jack has never been vain so he is choosing to sport a new Boston Red Sox hat over the hair weaves. Given that the Red Sox are thriving at the moment, he looks like he is just one of the millions of fans and I am certain that the Red Sox cap was much less expensive.
Jack has settled into receiving much help from me. He was laughing one morning as I was helping him put on his shoes that it took a brain tumor to get this much attention from me. I told him that he really didn’t have to go to this extreme. Laughing requires much less energy.
We had a wonderful visit with Jack’s sister, Myra who was my college roommate, over this last weekend. We went down many memory lanes. Myra and I have been like sisters since we met and over the decades since last century. Our lives have been intertwined with Jack as our common bond. We laughed, cried, and talked. We had a wonderful time. One of the many blessings of Jack’s illness has been the family visits, calls, and emails. It is truly a wonderful time for us.
Jack has spent years working in his basement office. It is a view of him that I have had hundreds of times as I come home from work and walk down the brick path to our back door. I cannot express how often I would become so aggravated at the incessant work. Today, I had an entirely different view of that scene. Surprisingly, as I made my evening walk to the back door, I observed a light on in Jack’s office, I looked, I saw his back, and I experienced great joy. Jack was at his computer working. It was the best sight that I have seen in weeks. It has literally been 7 weeks and 2 days since he sat in that chair and did anything. I almost forgot, for a second, that life has changed so dramatically. It seemed for a moment that the routine of our lives had returned.
We only have 13 more radiation treatments. I will not miss these daily treks into radiation at MGH. I did find out that medicare only allows 30 days of meds/month. However, no one bothered to inform us. When I questioned the nurse, she said it was due to the co-pays that medicare wants. I was told by another nurse that the medication is fully covered by medicare. Stay tuned. We are now almost out of the chemo but we haven’t expired the 30 days so with 1 day left we can order the drug and hope we receive it in time for the treatment. I must say that the medical process in this country is a MESS!!! October 30 is his last day for treatment.
I want to thank all of you who have been sending birthday wishes to Jack. He appreciates all of them. We have a wonderful birthday prize coming our way on Tuesday. Jack’s first PhD student and his wife are coming from Germany to help us celebrate. We have been very close to them for many, many years. Their names are Benno and Ursula Wersborg. Ursula was an exchange teacher in Quincy when I taught school there. I introduced them at a dinner party, and they are living happily ever after. We want to congratulate them. They have a new, first grandson, Theo delivered by our shared daughter, Maja and her husband, Phillipe. Benno has always said that I really have 5 children, our two and their three.
As we progress through our challenge, we continue to experience Phillipians 4 – “The Lord is at hand”. We find great comfort and solace knowing that He has felt all of our infirmities. Our prayer is truly that we continue to know His love and that His embrace is the balm of our hearts. He alone is worthy to be praised.
Jonathan and Megan leave Los Angeles on Monday, October 15. We still are in disbelief that they are almost here. They are ready to close on their condo mortgage on October 25. This event is just delightful. Jonathan informs me that the boxes are almost packed and the truckers are “almost ready to drag the stuff on board”. We pray that the Lord will provide them with traveling safety as they drive across the 3000 miles from sea to shining sea.
Thank you all for your continued care, thoughts, and prayers as well as the many expressions of love and compassion. The food is delicious and the outpouring of help from so many is beyond words of gratitude. We have been touched by the Lord through all of you.
Carolyn
Jack has settled into receiving much help from me. He was laughing one morning as I was helping him put on his shoes that it took a brain tumor to get this much attention from me. I told him that he really didn’t have to go to this extreme. Laughing requires much less energy.
We had a wonderful visit with Jack’s sister, Myra who was my college roommate, over this last weekend. We went down many memory lanes. Myra and I have been like sisters since we met and over the decades since last century. Our lives have been intertwined with Jack as our common bond. We laughed, cried, and talked. We had a wonderful time. One of the many blessings of Jack’s illness has been the family visits, calls, and emails. It is truly a wonderful time for us.
Jack has spent years working in his basement office. It is a view of him that I have had hundreds of times as I come home from work and walk down the brick path to our back door. I cannot express how often I would become so aggravated at the incessant work. Today, I had an entirely different view of that scene. Surprisingly, as I made my evening walk to the back door, I observed a light on in Jack’s office, I looked, I saw his back, and I experienced great joy. Jack was at his computer working. It was the best sight that I have seen in weeks. It has literally been 7 weeks and 2 days since he sat in that chair and did anything. I almost forgot, for a second, that life has changed so dramatically. It seemed for a moment that the routine of our lives had returned.
We only have 13 more radiation treatments. I will not miss these daily treks into radiation at MGH. I did find out that medicare only allows 30 days of meds/month. However, no one bothered to inform us. When I questioned the nurse, she said it was due to the co-pays that medicare wants. I was told by another nurse that the medication is fully covered by medicare. Stay tuned. We are now almost out of the chemo but we haven’t expired the 30 days so with 1 day left we can order the drug and hope we receive it in time for the treatment. I must say that the medical process in this country is a MESS!!! October 30 is his last day for treatment.
I want to thank all of you who have been sending birthday wishes to Jack. He appreciates all of them. We have a wonderful birthday prize coming our way on Tuesday. Jack’s first PhD student and his wife are coming from Germany to help us celebrate. We have been very close to them for many, many years. Their names are Benno and Ursula Wersborg. Ursula was an exchange teacher in Quincy when I taught school there. I introduced them at a dinner party, and they are living happily ever after. We want to congratulate them. They have a new, first grandson, Theo delivered by our shared daughter, Maja and her husband, Phillipe. Benno has always said that I really have 5 children, our two and their three.
As we progress through our challenge, we continue to experience Phillipians 4 – “The Lord is at hand”. We find great comfort and solace knowing that He has felt all of our infirmities. Our prayer is truly that we continue to know His love and that His embrace is the balm of our hearts. He alone is worthy to be praised.
Jonathan and Megan leave Los Angeles on Monday, October 15. We still are in disbelief that they are almost here. They are ready to close on their condo mortgage on October 25. This event is just delightful. Jonathan informs me that the boxes are almost packed and the truckers are “almost ready to drag the stuff on board”. We pray that the Lord will provide them with traveling safety as they drive across the 3000 miles from sea to shining sea.
Thank you all for your continued care, thoughts, and prayers as well as the many expressions of love and compassion. The food is delicious and the outpouring of help from so many is beyond words of gratitude. We have been touched by the Lord through all of you.
Carolyn
Letter from Chris Pope
Dear Jack,
Greetings from the "enfant terrible" ("problem child" in French) of the Jack Howard research family! For the sake of the blog audience -- I was your grad student from 1984 to 1993, then your post-doc until 1997. I know this is a little late (surprise, surprise!), but at least I have a good first draft for you to look at. (Something had been telling me since late August to get up with you. Now I know why.)
You and your whole family have been in my thoughts and prayers near-continuously since I found out late Wednesday night about the new health conditions besetting your brain, a combination of the cancer, a closed head injury (the subdural hematoma), and
intermittent inflammation. It's taken a few days for me to get past my sadness and shock at this turn of events for you, which is truly absurd, especially in the literal sense of not being able to be understood by reason alone. If ever there was somebody who didn't deserve it.... Fortunately, you and your family have been blessed with an astonishing amount of faith in Divine providence and justice.
You have made possible nearly all the success I have had as a professional. You stuck by me and believed in me and my potential through a long string of personal obstacles while I was there at MIT, especially during my first few years as a graduate student. You also kept me afloat for over four years as a post-doc, and wrote many orders of magnitude of letters of recommendation for me while I became the Harold Stassen of faculty candidates, applying year
after year with little luck. It was also through your connections that my next two post-doc positions were possible.
You were a sterling example of greatness, which I've heard defined as the combination of expertise and humanity, combined with humility, the true kind, that of being aware of who you were -- no more, no less. You neither hid your greatness nor flaunted it. What you expected of me was simple: the best I was capable of.
Your wise counsel also recently extended to your advice to apply for disability six years ago, when my health failed me, in large part due to Lyme disease. (You might be pleased to know that my recovery has progressed to the point where I am applying for professional positions again. I'll write more privately about that and ideas for you and Carolyn.) Accepting my limitations at that time was difficult indeed. I am distressed to find you in even more challenging condition than I was then, but heartened to hear that you are being attended to by such excellent medical practitioners. You also have the rare blessing of a loving family. And thanks to Jonathan for his awareness which led to your getting treatment.
It's disturbing but not surprising to hear of the medical blunders. I'm reminded of "The Hospital", a George C. Scott movie in which a hospital's executives are killed off by having them become patients at their own facility. Fortunately, Carolyn is a capable and determined advocate, so I'm not worried about such misfortunes befalling you. Also, I'm sure you'll get many more of those God-scheduled "coincidences" when needed.
I have more than a little confidence in your ability to overcome. I agree with Greg McRae: the world still needs your talents and insights... still needs you. When I first heard the news, I thought of the following from the New Testament (2 Timothy 4:7-8): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." But don't get fitted for your crown just yet. I'm sure you have a few more battles to win, laps to run, prayers to have answered... In'sh'allah (if it be God's will), and I personally hope that it is in the Divine plan.
Wishing you a complete recovery, and all the brightest blessings....
Chris Pope
Greetings from the "enfant terrible" ("problem child" in French) of the Jack Howard research family! For the sake of the blog audience -- I was your grad student from 1984 to 1993, then your post-doc until 1997. I know this is a little late (surprise, surprise!), but at least I have a good first draft for you to look at. (Something had been telling me since late August to get up with you. Now I know why.)
You and your whole family have been in my thoughts and prayers near-continuously since I found out late Wednesday night about the new health conditions besetting your brain, a combination of the cancer, a closed head injury (the subdural hematoma), and
intermittent inflammation. It's taken a few days for me to get past my sadness and shock at this turn of events for you, which is truly absurd, especially in the literal sense of not being able to be understood by reason alone. If ever there was somebody who didn't deserve it.... Fortunately, you and your family have been blessed with an astonishing amount of faith in Divine providence and justice.
You have made possible nearly all the success I have had as a professional. You stuck by me and believed in me and my potential through a long string of personal obstacles while I was there at MIT, especially during my first few years as a graduate student. You also kept me afloat for over four years as a post-doc, and wrote many orders of magnitude of letters of recommendation for me while I became the Harold Stassen of faculty candidates, applying year
after year with little luck. It was also through your connections that my next two post-doc positions were possible.
You were a sterling example of greatness, which I've heard defined as the combination of expertise and humanity, combined with humility, the true kind, that of being aware of who you were -- no more, no less. You neither hid your greatness nor flaunted it. What you expected of me was simple: the best I was capable of.
Your wise counsel also recently extended to your advice to apply for disability six years ago, when my health failed me, in large part due to Lyme disease. (You might be pleased to know that my recovery has progressed to the point where I am applying for professional positions again. I'll write more privately about that and ideas for you and Carolyn.) Accepting my limitations at that time was difficult indeed. I am distressed to find you in even more challenging condition than I was then, but heartened to hear that you are being attended to by such excellent medical practitioners. You also have the rare blessing of a loving family. And thanks to Jonathan for his awareness which led to your getting treatment.
It's disturbing but not surprising to hear of the medical blunders. I'm reminded of "The Hospital", a George C. Scott movie in which a hospital's executives are killed off by having them become patients at their own facility. Fortunately, Carolyn is a capable and determined advocate, so I'm not worried about such misfortunes befalling you. Also, I'm sure you'll get many more of those God-scheduled "coincidences" when needed.
I have more than a little confidence in your ability to overcome. I agree with Greg McRae: the world still needs your talents and insights... still needs you. When I first heard the news, I thought of the following from the New Testament (2 Timothy 4:7-8): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." But don't get fitted for your crown just yet. I'm sure you have a few more battles to win, laps to run, prayers to have answered... In'sh'allah (if it be God's will), and I personally hope that it is in the Divine plan.
Wishing you a complete recovery, and all the brightest blessings....
Chris Pope
Letter from Bill Peters
Dear Jack,
I write to wish you a Happy Birthday and to share some thanks, memories and Scripture verses I hope will encourage you, Carolyn, Courtenay, Jonathan and Megan. Rosie and I are praying for God’s rich and mighty blessings upon each of you as He guides you through this difficult time.
Jack, the letters from your friends and colleagues posted on the Howard Family Update remind us that your grace, kindness and positive spirit, as well as your extraordinary contributions to research, mentoring, teaching and professional service, have made important lasting differences in the hearts and lives of people literally world-wide. I am fortunate indeed to be one of these people. It will soon be 34 years since I first visited you in your office in Building 12, seeking (arguably begging) for an “energy-related” position that would bring me back to MIT from Yale. I know at times I was oblivious to the many demands on your schedule. Yet you gave generously of your time, sharing your ideas on soot formation and explaining Don Anthony’s doctoral work. Although you led that research, you listened patiently and with genuine curiosity to my suggestion of a possible alternative interpretation for some of Don’s pressure effects data.
Jack, I cannot adequately express my thanks to you for bringing me into the MIT fuels and energy community. Although I had no training in fuels, you hired me just a few months after our first meeting, to assist you in developing new research programs in coal, for what was then the embryonic Energy Lab – a Lab you had strongly encouraged MIT to start. I had no publications and it clearly would have been perfectly reasonable for you to have selected another candidate. Instead you asked if I had some relevant unpublished material - which I did and gave to you. This shows your remarkable ability to see things in a positive light despite evidence of potentially serious negatives. In my case your saw potential, even though the glass was 98% empty. Because you became my boss, mentor, colleague and friend, that potential bore fruit.
Jack you have taught me to speak carefully and write clearly (works transparently still in progress). You are the gold standard in how to achieve professional excellence while always being a true gentleman. You are wise and fair minded, a man of strength, honor and integrity, steadfastly considerate of others. You understand human frailties and are a gifted encourager. After I began working for you, we were speaking one day in your office when your phone rang. You told the caller you would call back because you were “--in a meeting with a colleague.” I was astonished, but deeply honored and affirmed that you viewed me as a colleague rather than the very junior newcomer I saw myself as. My astonishment has grown with time as I have observed first hand your amazing ability to dissolve complexity and make meaningful headway on difficult problems, technical and non-technical. I know that when I work with you Jack, I am with someone truly special.
I deeply appreciate how you have mentored me in research. Very early in my career you invited me to be a co-author on Phil Lewellen’s screen heater study of cellulose pyrolysis kinetics for the 16th Symposium. This was my first fuels paper and our first paper together. I still recall your feedback when I showed you a draft manuscript: “Well Bill, it’s not bad - but there are opportunities for improvement.”!!! Again this was you Jack, kindly helping me to improve my writing. We have written many publications together since then, but I will always remember the door you opened to me in Lewellen, Peters and Howard.
At your 2002 “retirement” dinner I alluded to an acknowledgement Pablo Debenedetti wrote in his 1995 book Metastable Liquids Concepts and Principles. The exact quote is: “My father taught me the importance of working hard, having clear goals, and thinking rationally. It is a lesson that guides me to this day.” Jack, in this sense you have been a father to me, not only because you have taught me the importance of these very same qualities, but because of how you have taught me, by working together one-on-one and by bringing me into the “home” of your research group. There you extended me the privileges of learning from, and collaborating with you in research, in developing new research initiatives, and in supervising students and post docs.
I hope the following assurances of God’s love and faithfulness will encourage you:
“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119: 76.
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” Isaiah 41: 13.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6, 7.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3: 3.
Jack, John 14 is one of my favorite Bible chapters. In verse 27 The Lord Jesus says:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Jack, thank you for all of you have done for me professionally and personally for the past third of a century. I know you have always been there to provide fair and wise counsel. If Rosie or I can do anything at all to assist you, Carolyn, Courtenay, Jonathan and Megan, please let us know.
God bless you,
Bill
I write to wish you a Happy Birthday and to share some thanks, memories and Scripture verses I hope will encourage you, Carolyn, Courtenay, Jonathan and Megan. Rosie and I are praying for God’s rich and mighty blessings upon each of you as He guides you through this difficult time.
Jack, the letters from your friends and colleagues posted on the Howard Family Update remind us that your grace, kindness and positive spirit, as well as your extraordinary contributions to research, mentoring, teaching and professional service, have made important lasting differences in the hearts and lives of people literally world-wide. I am fortunate indeed to be one of these people. It will soon be 34 years since I first visited you in your office in Building 12, seeking (arguably begging) for an “energy-related” position that would bring me back to MIT from Yale. I know at times I was oblivious to the many demands on your schedule. Yet you gave generously of your time, sharing your ideas on soot formation and explaining Don Anthony’s doctoral work. Although you led that research, you listened patiently and with genuine curiosity to my suggestion of a possible alternative interpretation for some of Don’s pressure effects data.
Jack, I cannot adequately express my thanks to you for bringing me into the MIT fuels and energy community. Although I had no training in fuels, you hired me just a few months after our first meeting, to assist you in developing new research programs in coal, for what was then the embryonic Energy Lab – a Lab you had strongly encouraged MIT to start. I had no publications and it clearly would have been perfectly reasonable for you to have selected another candidate. Instead you asked if I had some relevant unpublished material - which I did and gave to you. This shows your remarkable ability to see things in a positive light despite evidence of potentially serious negatives. In my case your saw potential, even though the glass was 98% empty. Because you became my boss, mentor, colleague and friend, that potential bore fruit.
Jack you have taught me to speak carefully and write clearly (works transparently still in progress). You are the gold standard in how to achieve professional excellence while always being a true gentleman. You are wise and fair minded, a man of strength, honor and integrity, steadfastly considerate of others. You understand human frailties and are a gifted encourager. After I began working for you, we were speaking one day in your office when your phone rang. You told the caller you would call back because you were “--in a meeting with a colleague.” I was astonished, but deeply honored and affirmed that you viewed me as a colleague rather than the very junior newcomer I saw myself as. My astonishment has grown with time as I have observed first hand your amazing ability to dissolve complexity and make meaningful headway on difficult problems, technical and non-technical. I know that when I work with you Jack, I am with someone truly special.
I deeply appreciate how you have mentored me in research. Very early in my career you invited me to be a co-author on Phil Lewellen’s screen heater study of cellulose pyrolysis kinetics for the 16th Symposium. This was my first fuels paper and our first paper together. I still recall your feedback when I showed you a draft manuscript: “Well Bill, it’s not bad - but there are opportunities for improvement.”!!! Again this was you Jack, kindly helping me to improve my writing. We have written many publications together since then, but I will always remember the door you opened to me in Lewellen, Peters and Howard.
At your 2002 “retirement” dinner I alluded to an acknowledgement Pablo Debenedetti wrote in his 1995 book Metastable Liquids Concepts and Principles. The exact quote is: “My father taught me the importance of working hard, having clear goals, and thinking rationally. It is a lesson that guides me to this day.” Jack, in this sense you have been a father to me, not only because you have taught me the importance of these very same qualities, but because of how you have taught me, by working together one-on-one and by bringing me into the “home” of your research group. There you extended me the privileges of learning from, and collaborating with you in research, in developing new research initiatives, and in supervising students and post docs.
I hope the following assurances of God’s love and faithfulness will encourage you:
“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119: 76.
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” Isaiah 41: 13.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6, 7.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3: 3.
Jack, John 14 is one of my favorite Bible chapters. In verse 27 The Lord Jesus says:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Jack, thank you for all of you have done for me professionally and personally for the past third of a century. I know you have always been there to provide fair and wise counsel. If Rosie or I can do anything at all to assist you, Carolyn, Courtenay, Jonathan and Megan, please let us know.
God bless you,
Bill
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Letter from Yaw Akoto
Dear Prof. Howard:
As one of your former Grad students this comes as a surprise to me. I am Yaw Akoto and completed my Sc.D. dissertation 30 years ago under your supervision. I know it has been a while since I left MIT and have had the opportunity to visit the Chem Eng Dept only a few more times. I am currently based in Ghana, West Africa and still practicing in the energy field. When I heard of your illness, I immediately called a fellow Grad Student - Dr. Yaw Yeboah who also did his dissertation under your supervision. We could say only VERY GOOD things about you and how you helped us through our student days at MIT.
Sometimes it is difficult to understand this complex world of ours. Every event or moment has its purpose and the Lord knows best. May the Good Lord bless you.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
A Happy "Three Scores and Ten" birthday. All the best...
Yaw Akoto Sc.D. 77.
As one of your former Grad students this comes as a surprise to me. I am Yaw Akoto and completed my Sc.D. dissertation 30 years ago under your supervision. I know it has been a while since I left MIT and have had the opportunity to visit the Chem Eng Dept only a few more times. I am currently based in Ghana, West Africa and still practicing in the energy field. When I heard of your illness, I immediately called a fellow Grad Student - Dr. Yaw Yeboah who also did his dissertation under your supervision. We could say only VERY GOOD things about you and how you helped us through our student days at MIT.
Sometimes it is difficult to understand this complex world of ours. Every event or moment has its purpose and the Lord knows best. May the Good Lord bless you.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
A Happy "Three Scores and Ten" birthday. All the best...
Yaw Akoto Sc.D. 77.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Letter from Salim Senkan
Dear Jack:
It has been a week or so that I learned of your health ordeals and have accumulated enough courage to write now. I am terribly saddened by the situation and really do not know what to say, except to remind myself how lucky I have been to have a friend like you. I still remember the times when you were there for me at MIT when I started my career in combustion, then helping me at various stages in my academic career with your supportive letters and words. I also vividly remember the colloquia we had on your retirement, when I still felt like a graduate student. Your youthful appearance, which hardly changed over the years, made many of the colloquia attendees jealous. The current situation reminds me again how lucky we all are to have lived meaningful and productive lives with our friends and loving families. Nevertheless, time is unstoppable. I started looking at the mirror and ask: Who is this old man? What happened to the young Selim I used to know? There is an old saying in Turkish "Getting old is the price we pay for living". To this I add a corollary "Our lives are made by the choices and friends we make during this journey". In my case, I had the fortune to have your friendship. I am not sure when we will meet again, but my thoughts are with you and with your family. My best wishes and warmest regards.
Your friend Selim Senkan
PS: Happy 70th birthday soon.
It has been a week or so that I learned of your health ordeals and have accumulated enough courage to write now. I am terribly saddened by the situation and really do not know what to say, except to remind myself how lucky I have been to have a friend like you. I still remember the times when you were there for me at MIT when I started my career in combustion, then helping me at various stages in my academic career with your supportive letters and words. I also vividly remember the colloquia we had on your retirement, when I still felt like a graduate student. Your youthful appearance, which hardly changed over the years, made many of the colloquia attendees jealous. The current situation reminds me again how lucky we all are to have lived meaningful and productive lives with our friends and loving families. Nevertheless, time is unstoppable. I started looking at the mirror and ask: Who is this old man? What happened to the young Selim I used to know? There is an old saying in Turkish "Getting old is the price we pay for living". To this I add a corollary "Our lives are made by the choices and friends we make during this journey". In my case, I had the fortune to have your friendship. I am not sure when we will meet again, but my thoughts are with you and with your family. My best wishes and warmest regards.
Your friend Selim Senkan
PS: Happy 70th birthday soon.
Letter from Howard Palmer
Dear Jack,
I heard from Yaw Yeboah about your brain tumor and then shortly after that I received a copy of Phil Westmoreland’s helpful email, after which I accessed your blog, with all its information and wonderful messages from your students and colleagues, including a number of prayers and many words of encouragement for you and Carolyn and your children. I am enormously impressed and moved by what I have been reading, and I just want to add my bit.
The main thing I want to say is that one of the prouder and happier moments in my professional life was when I learned from Hoyt Hottel that you were getting tenure at MIT and that my input had quite a bit to do with it. Probably not nearly as much as Hoyt’s, but still…..I’m proud of that. And of course enormously proud of your career as a Penn State Fuel Science PhD (even though I wasn’t your advisor).
You are a gifted teacher, mentor, researcher, writer, and I am sure that you are one of the most admired and affectionately regarded members of the MIT faculty. I think that also applies to the fuels/energy/combustion/materials community at large. I don’t know much about your entrepeneurship, but I have no doubt that it also is outstanding. And I happen to know that personally you are one of the finest people around. And, I judge, one of the most courageous.
God bless you, Carolyn, and your family. I have you in my own prayers.
Howard Palmer
I heard from Yaw Yeboah about your brain tumor and then shortly after that I received a copy of Phil Westmoreland’s helpful email, after which I accessed your blog, with all its information and wonderful messages from your students and colleagues, including a number of prayers and many words of encouragement for you and Carolyn and your children. I am enormously impressed and moved by what I have been reading, and I just want to add my bit.
The main thing I want to say is that one of the prouder and happier moments in my professional life was when I learned from Hoyt Hottel that you were getting tenure at MIT and that my input had quite a bit to do with it. Probably not nearly as much as Hoyt’s, but still…..I’m proud of that. And of course enormously proud of your career as a Penn State Fuel Science PhD (even though I wasn’t your advisor).
You are a gifted teacher, mentor, researcher, writer, and I am sure that you are one of the most admired and affectionately regarded members of the MIT faculty. I think that also applies to the fuels/energy/combustion/materials community at large. I don’t know much about your entrepeneurship, but I have no doubt that it also is outstanding. And I happen to know that personally you are one of the finest people around. And, I judge, one of the most courageous.
God bless you, Carolyn, and your family. I have you in my own prayers.
Howard Palmer
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