Tufts Molecular Biology and Microbiology

It was our pleasure and honor to celebrate our own Verna Manni for 40 years of service to our department! Thank you, Verna! And please never retire. 😂

Please see below for message from MBM Chair John Leong regarding a memorial event for Andrew Wright. Please be sure to RSVP if you plan to attend, whether by Zoom or in person: https://tufts.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3EIPWrJGlKUS5ZI

Dear Friends and Colleagues of Andrew,
At the risk of interrupting your holiday, I wanted to send this out today because the event described is just a month away. (I will follow this with a reminder email after the New Year—apologies in advance for multiple emails).

I invite you to celebrate the life and work of Andrew Wright, PhD, a valued faculty member who sadly passed away in October at age 88. Andrew joined the Tufts Molecular Biology and Microbiology Department in 1967 and was active in phage biology, gene regulation, and microbial pathogenesis throughout his long tenure, becoming professor emeritus in 2007. Andrew was a truly core member of the department from its earliest days, not only because of his research impact but also because of his spirit of generosity, which enhanced the entire community and continues to do so to this day. (I was often a direct beneficiary of his generosity during my time as a postdoctoral fellow in the department in the late ‘80’s). This tribute, created by Bruce Petschek (Fariba Houman’s husband) and Seven Generations Video, offers a deeply moving collection of photos and video from Andrew’s entire life, including of course his time at Tufts. https://vimeo.com/885861712

The celebration of Andrew’s life and innumerable contributions to science and to our department will take place at 11 am Eastern time on Thursday, January 25th, 2024, both in person in the Medical Education Building Room 114 (145 Harrison Ave., Boston) and by Zoom. Please RSVP and let us know whether you plan to attend in person or virtually. RSVPing will allow us to provide you with a Zoom link and additional details closer to the event. RSVP Link: https://tufts.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3EIPWrJGlKUS5ZI

You can learn more about Andrew via the Andrew and Greta Wright Fund website, which was set up by his former trainees (including Fariba) to further the training experience in the department. https://alumniandfriends.tufts.edu/news/mentor-lab-and-life You can also find his obituary here: https://www.deefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Dr-Andrew-Wright?obId=29675253

We hope that you will be able to join us.
Best,
John

RSVP: Dr. Andrew Wright Memorial Please RSVP to join the Tufts Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology in remembrance of Dr. Andrew Wright, who passed away on October 9th, 2023. We will gather together in person and by Zoom on Thursday, January 25th, 2024 at 11 am Eastern time.

Dear Colleagues,
Please find Andrew's obituary information here:

Obituary information for Dr. Andrew Wright View Dr. Andrew Wright's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

From John Leong, MBM Chair:

Dear Colleagues,
It is with sadness that I am letting you know that a valued former faculty member who had a major impact on the development of our department died yesterday at the age of 87. Andrew Wright joined our faculty in 1967, was active in phage biology, gene regulation, and microbial pathogenesis, and took emeritus status in 2007. He was one of the truly core members of the department at its outset, not only because of the impact of his research but also by the generosity of his spirit. When I began looking for a postdoc lab, I was attracted to bacterial pathogenesis in part by reading Andrew’s papers. (My wife was a med student here before I began my search, and Andrew was her favorite professor, who she described as having the most appealing Scottish accent and a charming smile with crinkly eyes). I joined Ralph’s lab, which was adjacent to his lab and a great location for “borrowing” things from the Wright lab. Despite my actions, he welcomed me to join his lab meetings. His trainees remain devoted to him to this day. A few years ago, they established the Andrew and Greta Wright Fund to further the training experience in the department ( https://alumniandfriends.tufts.edu/news/mentor-lab-and-life )--hence, his legacy lives on.
Best,
John

A Mentor in the Lab and in Life A fund honoring Dr. Andrew Wright is a tribute to the lives he influenced.

Dear Micro Community, past and present:

Next Wednesday, October 6th, the MBM department will host a remembrance for beloved former chair, Cathy Squires. Former trainees, colleagues, and friends of Cathy's will share memories and remember her contributions to science, and the department. The hybrid event will be streamed on Zoom starting at 3:30pm.

If you would like to join remotely, please message us here on Facebook, or email [email protected] for Zoom meeting information.

Thanks.

An important message from MBM Chair, Dr. John Leong:

Dear colleagues
I am sorry to announce that Cathy Squires, former chair of the department, died on Aug. 3, at her home in California. She was 80 years old.

Many of you never met Cathy, but all of us have benefited immensely from her time as Micro chair. She was a highly successful microbial geneticist and biochemist at Columbia University when she was recruited to Tufts as MBM chair in 1994. (I was at Tufts Medical Center and a member of the Mol Micro graduate program, so I attended her job seminar, and even from that brief glimpse, I was struck by her energy, intelligence, and easy laugh.) From then until 2007, Cathy served as chair while also directing a successful research program on ribosomal function. During her tenure, she recruited several people who have had immeasurable impact and remain here today: Andy Camilli, Dave Lazinski, Joan Mecsas, and Katya Heldwein. In addition, she served as a role model here at Tufts (and beyond) as a successful woman scientist and administrator who showed her commitment to her department and colleagues with genuine openness and caring, but also was always firm (and when appropriate, tough) in acting on her priorities and principles. She was the epitome of someone who could disagree without being disagreeable.

Upon retiring as chair, Cathy moved to California, continuing her research with her former mentor at Stanford, Charlie Yanofsky. In 2010, she “retired” to her farm in rural Northern California, with her husband Craig, where she worked tirelessly raising goats and farming. She had made lifelong friends with many people at Tufts, including Verna Manni, Naomi Rosenberg and Peggy Newell (former dean of the graduate school), who visited her regularly.

I interacted with Cathy during my time at Tufts Medical Center and even after I moved to UMass Medical School; I was an admirer and friend but never had the honor of having her as my chair. Nevertheless, she served as a model for me and I benefit every day from her service to the department. For those of us who knew her, we will remember not only her contributions, but the way she made her way in the world.

John

Dear Friends & Colleagues,
As most of you know from the emails we've sent out over the past several months, we are hosting a Micro reunion on the Tufts Medical Campus on June 15th, ahead of ASM. We would love to see you there! If you think you can make it, please let us know: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BQ53L32

If you don't think that you can come but would like to view Dr. Tom Bernhardt's tribute lecture honoring Dr. Ted Park, please comment here, and we will be sure to provide you with a link closer to the date of the event.

If you didn't see our emails but would like to be informed about future events, please let me know and we'll be sure to update your contact information on our lists.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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