Wood's Words: Boston Regal
Jim F. Wood ‘64
New England winters test your mettle. In the middle of the week, in the middle of February, the wind screams off Boston Harbor and down Avery Street producing a wind chill of –20 F, dangerously close to the 30-minute frostbite curve. Commuters exit the Boylston Street “T” station and instantly bend their body into the wind, pull up collars and pull down stocking caps to protect ears, eyes and mouths. If you are walking west through the 25 acres of open space known as The Boston Common, you are pushed along to your destination. If you are walking east, you turn around and walk backwards to reduce the punishment. Passengers see the bright blue sky and the sun reflected off buildings as their plane touches down at Logan- and are unsuspecting.
The Ritz –Carlton staff had been instructed to prepare a modest conference room for the evening’s lecture. The professor had made a few concessions to technology; his lecture would be supported by Powerpoint , he would be wired with a body microphone, and use a laser pointer. But by mid-morning, Clarkson and hotel staff had a dilemma: More than 160 guests had called, written or emailed their intentions and the conference room was entirely too small. The Washington Ballroom was selected, and all energies were directed to new seating and screening arrangements.
So, by 5 pm on February 7, 2007, with ballroom preparations complete, wines open and warm canapés on silver trays, guests began to arrive in honor of Dr. Egon Matijević and his wife Bozica. The New England weather was forgotten as alumni from six decades and three states mingled with each other and Clarkson staff, including president Collins and his wife Karen, recalling mutual experiences in the North Country, changes including the move to the Hill Campus, and curricula (“oh, you think that course was tough, listen to this…”). Then at 6 pm, 140 guests were ushered into the ballroom and took seats.
Egon and Bozica entered arm-and-arm, as they most always do at these events. They smiled at friends past and present and made their way to the front where she took her customary seat and prepared to enjoy yet another lecture on fine particles. President Collins made the introduction, which, though obligatory, was entirely unnecessary. Egon stood nearby, his bright blue eyes scanning the lecture hall, his pinstriped suit perfectly tailored, his white hair combed back and reflecting light in the manner of a harbor beacon. Introduction made, he hesitated just a moment; no one spoke, no one moved; all eyes were on the regal icon at the front of the classroom.
With his full smile and his deep Slavic voice he opened his lecture by saying, “Clarkson leads the world in the study of fine particles!” Imagine that; a modest research center in the northern reaches of New York State, with a total student population of perhaps 2,700, leads the world in one of the most important scientific undertakings to benefit mankind. He went on to explain why fine particle science is so important to studies of the environment, life, medicine and technology. In humor, he revealed modern fine particle advances as “the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.”
If you knew him before, you also knew he would focus on the beautiful. Color and shape: It is his love of art. “A part of education,” he said, “is to teach students to enjoy it.” Clarkson’s investment in electron microscopy has pleased him. He now can see things that were only theoretical when he pioneered the study of fine particle science half a century ago. He clicks through photo after photo of minerals describing their beauty and symmetry. “Nature is so much smarter than we are,” he says, chuckling at each word: Spectacular examples of iron oxides, silicates, and carbonates and, especially for ladies in the room, an opal.
He takes a few questions at the end. President and Mrs. Collins are anxious to get him to dinner, but you can see he is enjoying the repartee with former graduate students and older alumni. The audience applauds- and stands in honor of a man who has given so much of himself to his studies and to the institution that has supported him. Bozica lets him know it is time and they leave the ballroom arm-and-arm as they entered. Left behind are over 100 alumni still sharing stories of old experiences, the hockey team’s ranking (10th in the USAToday poll), exchanging phone numbers, smiling with that inner feeling of a new common experience, and preparing to meet the weather that waits outside.
Egon will be in New York City on April 25, 2007, and it will be springtime. Details are will be available soon. You will be missing a piece of Clarkson history if you do not attend his reception and lecture. Bring a camcorder.