letters
A r t co n s e r v a t i o n , fu l l c i r c l e
T h a n k y ou , P r of e s s o r C u r t i s
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am happy to find that the collaboration between the art history and physics departments is continuing, and apparently thriving. (“In Art Conservation Lab, there’s more than meets the eye,” Spring issue). It is almost eerie how similar my story is to Kali Zirkle’s. I too was studying art history, and Prof. Cox introduced me to Prof. Maleki because she knew I had an interest in art restoration. That led me to Joyce Zucker and eventually to Olana, where we experimented with laser cleaning techniques on the decorative stenciled walls of painter Frederic Church’s home. After graduation, I pursued restoration on a larger scale, switching my focus from art to architecture. I studied historic preservation at Columbia University, and now work for the architecture firm Jan Hird Pokorny Associates in Manhattan. Our focus is mainly on preservation work, and it just so happens that we are directing the roof restoration project at, you guessed it, Olana. Recently, I was standing in the bell tower looking out over the picturesque Hudson River Valley. I thought about the last time I was there, in 2005, a few months before my own graduation. I could not help but feel that I had come full circle. Christina Muir ’05
hank you for the wonderful tribute to the late Edgar Curtis, professor of music emeritus, in the Spring 2012 issue. I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, and Professor Curtis was my most influential instructor. I played under his direction in the orchestra and studied advanced music composition with him. For me, this is a lot of what Union College is about—the ability to let a student go unconstrained in many directions. I received an excellent engineering education, which provided the foundation for my successful four-decade career as an engineer and program manager. However, thanks to Edgar Curtis, I’ve also had a successful parallel career in music. I am now the music director for La Forza Chamber Orchestra in Scottsdale, Ariz. Frank T. Darmiento ’67
R e m e mb e r i n g Ken Baker
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t was with great sadness that I read of the death of Ken Baker in Union College (Spring 2012). Ken was my modern physics professor in the 1962-63 academic year, teaching us from Elements of Modern Physics, which he wrote with Ted Goble. Ken knew of my interests in astronomy and encouraged this physics major to pursue that goal. In the summer of 1963, I purchased a 6-inch reflector telescope. Very soon, I asked Ken if he would like to come to my house in Rotterdam to see the stars. Ken jumped at the chance, and
brought his young son with him. I was rather amazed that a college professor would be so glad to visit me and see the new telescope. The last time I saw Ken was at my graduation in 1965. He was a faculty marshal, and stood at the bottom of the stage in the Memorial Field House, where he shook the hand of each graduate. When I descended the stairs, he shook my hand and said, “Send us part of your first million, Joe.” I am still working on that. And, the telescope is still working fine. Joseph A. Keane ’65
Union IBM-ers
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emories ignited by the spring issue’s excellent piece, “Garnet + Big Blue,” prompt this footnote on our rich symbiotic history. Varian Associates is a well-established Silicon Valley electronic equipment manufacturing firm. I remember when John Pavkovich ’55 (Varian’s R&D director) and I invited IBM’s West Coast guru and telecom authority to meet with us for a planning project. I introduced myself with a brief bio. John followed, and to my surprise, I learned we each owed much to the same alma mater. This coincidence turned to astonishment when IBM’s Poughkeepsie delegate began chuckling, and with upraised thumbs shouted, “Go Dutchmen!” Sadly, I don’t remember his name. Maybe he’ll read this, have a laugh remembering this unbelievable moment, and give you a call. Larry Foley ’51
Fall 2012 Union College
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