UMass Magazine Online

Winter 2005

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A Fruitful Partnership

A New Kind of Farm a New Breed of Farmer

Dear One Absent This Long While

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PORTRAIT OF A NATURALIST
I was pleased to see the photos of peregrine falcons taken by my father, Robert L. Coffin, in your fall issue, though I am sure he would have been dismayed to see his photo given more prominence than the birds. That fine portrait was taken by Donald Lacroix ’74, longtime science teacher at Amherst High School and frequent companion on our natural history outings. I wonder who now occupies the darkroom and studio on the upper level of Fernald Hall, where most of my father’s photographic work was carried out.
Esther Coffin Martin ’47
Hockessin, DE

A DIFFERENT MEMORY
In your last issue, Christine Ericson wrote concerning the article “Bacherman Fund Remembers a Broadcasting Maverick.” She complained that Scott Bacherman and Marc Berman didn’t allow her to do a four-hour show of women’s music, insisting instead that she be the football board engineer.

I felt compelled to write, as my experience at WMUA was completely different from hers. Initially, I worked on a women’s show with other women from a women’s media class. Eventually, I became involved in most areas of the station, from disc jockeying to production. Scott and Marc were extremely supportive of any area I chose to pursue.

As program director, once Scott was convinced you were capable (board training, audition tape, etc.), he gave you a shift—usually an overnight—to start out. I will always be thankful for the time I spent at WMUA. It was the best experience I had at UMass. My very positive experiences with Scott and Marc were similar to those of many others I knew at WMUA at the time. Scott is greatly missed by many.
Mary (Lawson) Donahue ’75
Franklin, MA

CATCHING HEAT
Just a note to correct an item in the Fall 2004 issue regarding Minuteman catcher Frank Curreri—you are correct that he spent the summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League, but he played for the Y-D Red Sox, not the Orleans Cardinals; it was Frank’s battery mate, pitcher Matt Torra, who played for Orleans.

Frank had an outstanding season and was an East Division all-star; he was named to the final league all-star team and also won the John Claffey Award for the top New England prospect. He helped the Red Sox win the Cape League title, and, after the season ended in mid-August, he did sign with the Diamondbacks.

Thanks for an excellent publication.
Sue Horton ’69
General Manager
Orleans Cardinals Baseball Club

SLIM CHANCE
I had to laugh at the irony in the picture of Katie LeBesco ’98G standing in front of a billboard advertising Cortislim (Fall 2004, pg. 39). Cortislim was invented by my brother-in-law, Dr. Shawn Talbott, a UMass Amherst graduate (exercise science). It just goes to show that UMies are everywhere!
Lee-Anne (Lortie) Saccone ’87, ’93
Shrewsbury, MA

THE POWER OF IDEOLOGY
The statement that Rod Hart makes, that Bush has experienced a “smashing military victory,” (Fall 2004, “Campaigns: Good for What Ails Us?”) is the most insupportable bit of commentary I have read this election season. The purported reason to go to war—weapons of mass destruction—was not supported by the facts before or after our attack on Iraq. The claim of “mission accomplished” completely belies the profound unrest and violence that are mounting in Iraq. Hart’s statement is a testament to the power of ideology to blind humans to objective facts.
Cynthia McPherson Frantz ’96G, ’00G
Oberlin, OH

BEAUTY AND LOYALTY
Today I shared the fine pages of the fall 2004 UMass Amherst magazine with my 10- and 13-year-old daughters. The issue really spoke to me. Both of my daughters are potential beauty pageant winners with their own unique look, just like Michaela Gagne ’04 who graced the cover. My kids have shelves of athletic trophies too. They have the benefit of a world that accepts women more for who they are, and I am happy that I helped to change attitudes about female beauty over the last 30 years.

Next, as I flipped through the magazine I noticed the photo of the women’s crew team. This too is another example of female beauty and strength. I rowed for UMass 1976-78 and it was the best athletic experience I ever had. Thank you UMass! It was great to hear about the successful season the team had this year. I am still loyal to UMass crew and my kids even wear my rowing tank top, from way back when.

Last, I read “The Future’s So Bright” highlighting the advances at the university. I am overjoyed to hear about the ongoing success of the Amherst campus. However, I need to make a correction to the initiatives listed. I hold a B.S. in public health from 1978, so the bachelor’s degree program in public health cited in the article is not new; it’s being reinstated. This academic offering will be a small contribution toward developing skilled personnel who can address the many unmet public health care needs that exist at home and abroad.
Deborah Picciuto ’78
Bedford, MA

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