REFLECTIONS ON THE EARLY DAYS OF RISE:
A Personal Statement by a Former Chemistry Department Chair
A Tribute to Dr. George deStevens on the
10th anniversary of his death and the 25th Anniversary of the founding of RISE
by
James M. Miller, Fall 2005
Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, Drew University
Without the leadership of Dr. George deStevens, RISE, the Charles A. Dana Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti, would not have developed as fast orprogressed as far as it did. These reflections are presented to honor his memory and record some of his accomplishments at Drew. It has been said that Dr. deStevens put Drew on the map, scientifically. In part, this paper is intended to provide some evidence to substantiate that claim.
George had risen to Executive Vice-President and Director of Research at CIBA-GEIGY after a brilliant research career which included the discovery of two important diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide and cyclopenthiazide. He was also an avid golfer, as wasDr. Paul Hardin, who was the President of Drew University in the mid-1970’s. One of the topics they discussed while golfing was the possibility of a collaborative research symposium which would be held on the Drew campus with the support of CIBA-GEIGY. Thus was born the Frontiers in Biomedical Research Symposiumwhich began in 1977 and continued for 27 years, even after CIBA-GEIGY became Novartis. As a part of the Symposium, the CIBA-GEIGY Drew Award in Biomedical Research was established to honor two up-and-coming scientists working at the frontiers of biomedical research. Usually we chose one PhD and one MD,in order to get two perspectives on the research topic. We were careful to choose topics and awardees based solely on their merit and not because of any commercial advantage for CIBA-GEIGY. To serve as the moderator of the afternoon symposium, we chose an established researcher, sometimes a Nobel Prize winner, who also made a major address. In later years, the format changed slightly and three scientists were chosen and given awards.
Under George’s leadership and skill, we planned well in advance so that we could present the most prestigious, young, biomedical researchers who were also excellent speakers. I have fond memories of our luncheon meetings in the CIBA-GEIGY dining room presided over by George and attended by two of his group leaders (Dr. Rosina Dixon and Dr. Neville Ford) along with the department chairs of biology and chemistry from Drew (Dr. James Nagle and myself). It was an opportunity for those of us at Drew to get to know George, which later turned out to be a very beneficial relationship.
The Symposium program was set up as follows. To insure a successful symposium, the three speakers arrived in Madison a day early and met with the committee the night before the symposium to go over the program and acquaint the speakers with our objectives, making sure that they would include material relevant to undergraduates as well as advanced material for the established scientists and medical doctors in the audience. In the morning of the day-long meeting, the three scientists visited a science class and met informally with Drew faculty and students, discussing their personal histories and the routes that led them to careers in science. Then they held an informal technical discussion with CIBA-GEIGY and Drew scientists. The afternoon was used for their formal presentations.
Thus, over the years, we brought to the Drew campus 81 of the world’s most prominent biomedical researchers; most of them were members of the National Academy of Science and 27 were, or became, Nobel Prize winners. The symposia were very successful, and the presentations were so impressive that we wanted to publish them, but that was possible only in 19821. This joint program between CIBA and Drew began before George joined Drew, and became the first of many programs he later designed.
When George began to think about retirement, he also shared his thoughts with Paul Hardin,indicating that he would like to join the Drew community so he could remain active in chemistry. He suggested that he be given the title ofResearch Professor, and proposed to carry out research with students and teach an upper-level course in medicinal chemistry. His plans amounted to a full-time position, not the work load that one would expect for a retiree, and we were delighted.
What George did not know was that we were in the process ofplanning a formal program which would invite industrial scientists to join Drew upon their retirement. Beginning in 1976, with a modest starter grant of $15,000 from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, we sought to find a retired chemist who would be interested in relocating to Drew to serve as a mentor to chemistry undergraduates in our relatively new Hall of Sciences. From the candidates who applied, we selected Dr. William Moran who had just retired from CIBA as the Director of Chemical Manufacturing. We carved out an office/lab from our space on the second floor of the Science Building, and set up Bill as our first Adjunct Research Professor in 1976, making him, in effect, our first RISE Fellow, although the program had not yet been named RISE.
I remember being called to Paul’s office where, together with the Vice-president for Finance, Scott McDonald, he presented George’s proposal. Knowing George from our Symposium planning, I was delighted, but also quite surprised that he would want to come to Drew. His timing fit perfectly into our plans and the chemistry department was more than happy to welcome him as our second industrial retiree. We had a successful pilot program and the prospect of available space. He took up residence in 1979 and began planning his research program, also seeking other activities he could initiate which would be of benefit to Drew. As he had requested, the college faculty voted him full rites and privileges as Research Professor, the first and to this day, still the only one in Drew’s history.
George set up his research laboratory and recruited two students in his first year (Kirk Baumeister and Mark Weiner). In the spring he taught his course, Drug Pharmacology, for the first time with an enthusiastic group of students. This was a new course that had to have approval by the college faculty and George offered it every spring for many years. At the conclusion of the course in that first year, the class gave him a standing ovation and presented him with a memento of the occasion, signed by all of them: an uncommon practice at Drew or anywhere else, and a fitting tribute at the end of his first year at Drew.
By the next fall, George had already lined up speakers for a new lecture series that he dubbed the Research Scholar Lectures, to be composed of four visiting chemists per year. Leading off in 1980 was Dr. Max Tishler, a good friend of his who had retired from Merck and gone to Wesleyan University. George considered Max to be something of a role model, and he was a perfect choice to lead off this new program. Arranging for these visiting lecturers each of whom spent a day at Drew interacting with students and making a major address, took quite a bit of time, as well as additional funding. George took care of both, including the solicitation of funds from local pharmaceutical firms. One of the highlights of each visit was lunch, which was held in the President’s Dining Room with Paul Hardin, some faculty, and some students. It presented a chance for us to get to know the visitor on a more personal level, and Dr. Hardin loved the opportunity to discuss chemistry with these experts. Over the next 16 years,George brought to campus 64 prominent chemists. The series was eventually dedicated to Drew’s first chemistry professor, Louis Jordy, and became known as the Jordy Research Scholar Lectures. They are still being held, but in a reduced format under the leadership of Dr. Barbara Petrack, another RISE Fellow from CIBA-GEIGY, and a former colleague of George’s.
Georgewas also anxious to develop our vision for RISE, having a larger group of retired industrial scientists mentoring Drew students and directing their individual research projects. The major stumbling block was acquisition of additional space necessary to accommodate more researchers. Fortunately, when the new Hall of Sciences was built,the third floor was intentionally left empty and the space was undesignated, so all we needed was enough funding to develop it. Since Drew was planning a major capital campaign, our project was added. In the meantime, we had come up with the name Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti, RISE, which seemed appropriate for a program to be housed on the top floor of the science building.
An early brochure announcing our plans listed the cost at $400,000, but later, in the fall of 1980, the trustees embraced a goal of $1.25 million. George was appointed the first Director of RISE in September, 1980, and the formal announcement and fund raising was initiated on April 13, 1981. A naming, challenge grant of $250,000 was made by the Charles A. Dana Foundation in June, and the goal was completed about a year later, aided by a capstone matching grant from the Pew Memorial Trust. George accompanied Paul Hardin on many fund raising calls, often made to friends of George in the pharmaceutical companies in the area. Paul later commented that this process was the easiest fund raising he had ever encountered. The response of the local pharmaceutical and chemical companies in supporting RISE surely attests to the high esteem in which they held Dr. deStevens.
Besides raising money, George was busy finding new Fellows for the Institute and establishing a prestigious industrial advisory board. Included in the latter were Dr. William O. Baker, the retired Chairman of the Board of Bell Telephone Laboratories, who also took up part-time residence in RISE; Dr. Edward David Jr., the President of Exxon Research & Engineering; and Dr. Antonie Knoppers, the retired President of Merck & Co, and a Drew trustee.
Although our intent was to include representatives from all fields of science, it was only natural that the first few scientists be chemists, since George was a chemist and the program was begun by the department of chemistry. In 1983,Dr. Hershel Herzog, a Schering Corporation retiree and Dr. Arnold Rosenthal, a Celanese Corporation retiree both came to Drew, enlarging the RISE group to four. Others followed, including biologists, and the official dedication of RISE was held on April 23, 1986. To provide adequate facilities for biologists, a second fund drive was headed by George, accompanied this time by the new president of Drew, Thomas H. Kean. An additional $250,000 was raised, and the additionalnew facilities were dedicated on March 30, 1992; the keynote speaker was Dr. Walter Eugene Massey, the Director of The National Science Foundation. At that time,the list of RISE Fellows numbered eleven, with a physicist and several biologists joining the original group of chemists to achieve the diversity that was envisioned originally. In subsequent years, scientists have come and gone and the group now includes a mathematician and a statistician.
George continued to publish his research and make unique contributions to the literature of medicinal chemistry. In 1993, he described the RISE program in the Journal of College Science Teaching2. But George was not content to carry out research and publish papers. He started a new journal, Medicinal Research Reviews, and served as its Editor from 1980 until his death. It is published by John Wiley & Sons, whose editors wrote in tribute:3 “Dr. deStevens was able to solicit articles from leading medicinal chemists where other journal editors had failed. He would tirelessly edit manuscripts to ensure that they would be of interest to a broad audience. His dedication to Medicinal Research Reviews was so great that he continued to edit the journal during his illness and then from his bed until the end.”
In this major effort, as in all of his projects, George was ably aided by his wife Ruby, who served, in effect, as his executive secretary. In 1992, the Journal formally recognized her contributions by naming her the Journal’s Editorial Assistant. After his death, Ruby continued all of the editorial functions until 1999 when a new editor was named and her work was formally acknowledged4.
Upon learning about a short course on medicinal chemistry taught in Great Britain, a group of local pharmaceutical scientists decided to launch a similar course in New Jersey, and since George was one of those involved, Drew was chosen as the location. Thus, in 1987, he served as Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Residential School on Medicinal Chemistry. (The other Co-Chairman was Dr. William Houlihan,from Sandoz who later joined Drew as a RISE Fellow). The short course was offered for one week in June and enrolled 107 chemists. It was anticipated that there would be insufficient demand for an annual course, which turned out not to true, and the course has continued annually with enrollments rising to over 200 in some years. The faculty numbers around 25, both industrial and academic, and the turnover in faculty has been minimal. In 20 years, probably 3000 chemists have taken the basic course, and several advanced courses have been added.
Over the years, George and his students kept busy synthesizing and evaluating new chemicals as potential drug candidates. In his 15 years at Drew, he directed the research of 24 chemistry majors, most of whomwent on to advanced degrees and successful careers. He was also always available to talk with any student who dropped by his office. He helped the Institute make contacts and arrange field trips in addition to all the other aforementioned tasks. Although he spent only 15 years with us, he accomplished very much. He was a valued colleague whose friendship I treasured; it was a pleasure to work with him.
During his years at Drew, Dr. deStevens’achievements were recognized on several occasions. He was selected as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow,affording him the opportunity to visit and lecture at several universities. He used those visits to tell others about RISE. At commencement in 1988, I had the privilege of presenting him to President Hardin for the honorary degreeof Doctor of Science (honoris causa). In 1991 he was selected as the first recipient of the newly established E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medically Active Substances, established by the American Chemical Society. In 1995 he was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame for his discovery of hydrochlorothiazide. Largely as a result of his leadership, Drew was one of 10 recipients of the Merck Innovation Award in Undergraduate Education in 1989. A feature article in Chemical and Engineering News5in 1993 highlighted the early achievements of RISE under his direction.
Two years after his death in 1995, he was succeeded in the Directorship by Dr. Sidney Udenfriend from Hoffmann-LaRoche. We proposed that the Directorship of RISE should bear Dr. deStevens name as a permanent tribute. An endowment of over $300,000 was raised with the help of corporate friends,including alumni and corporate executives at Novartis and Schering-Plough. President Thomas Kean announced the establishment of the George deStevens Directorship at the 22nd annual Novartis Drew Frontiers in Biomedical Research Symposium on November 10, 1998. On that occasion, Kean said “This afternoon’s program . . . was the first of many of George’s great ideas. But they were more than ideas. They turned out to be great programs, and it was because of the genius—yes, genius, a word I do not use unless I mean it—of George deStevens.” Truly he was a genius, a valued colleague, and a cherished friend.
1. J. H. Growdon and P. Davies, Medicinal Research Reviews1983, 3, 221-257.
2. G. deStevens, “Using Retired Industrial Scientists to Teach Undergraduate Research,” J. College Sci. Teaching 1993, 22, 373-376.
3.Medicinal Research Reviews, 1996, 16, 2.
4. Medicinal Research Reviews, 1999, 19, 95.
5. D. Illman, Chem. Eng. News1993, 71, [5], 35-36.
ADDENDA*
1. Alumni Mentored by George deStevens
2. Chronological list of RISE Fellows and Directors, 1976-2008
* If not appended, copies can be requested from the Director of RISE
Drew Alumni Mentored by George deStevens
19801986
Kirk BaumeisterAdrienne Richards (H)
Mark Weiner
19811987
Barry BrevetteMark Barbarisi
Jane ImmingChristopher Gorman (H)
Robert Petroski
19821989
Louis LombardoDouglas D’Andrea (H)
Linda Jo Reinhard (H)Anthony Feltre (H)
Mary RubackyFrank Rosen
Christine Tarby (H)
1983
Mordechai Berman1991
Jonathan RoseMatthew Eager
19841992
James IannelloShari Uldrich
Frank Labbadia
Mary Ann Nicastro (H)1994
Michelle Stranz
1985
Sally Jo Placa (H)
H = Graduated With Honors in Chemistry
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF RISE FELLOWS
Name Former Employer Years in RISE
1. William MoranCIBA-Geigy1976-1987
2. George deStevens CIBA-Geigy1979-1995
3. Hershel HerzogSchering Corp.1983-1995
4. Arnold RosenthalCelanese Corp.1983-1997
5. Myron BrinHoffmann-LaRoche1986-1992
6. William BrillHalcon Research1986-1990
7. Norman GaylordGaylord Research Instit.1987-1997
8. Marvin WeinsteinSchering-Plough1988-2002
9. Allen LaskinExxon Res. & Eng.1989-present
10. Ashley CarterAT&T, Bell Labs1990-2008
11. William CampbellMerck, Sharpe & Dohme1990-present
12. Irving TabachnickSchering-Plough1991-1994
13. William HoulihanSandoz, Inc.1992-2004
14. Larry KellySandoz, Inc.1994-2005
15. Sidney UdenfriendRoche Instit. Mol. Biol.1997-1999
16. Barbara PetrackCIBA Pharmaceuticals1996-present
17. James McKennaBellcore1997-present
18. James MillerDrew University1997-present
19. Reginald TangAllied-Signal1998-2000
20. Arnold DemainMIT, Merck2001-present
21. Jon KettenringTelcordia Tech.2004-present
22. Kenneth ThomasMerck Research Labs2004-present
23. Vincent GulloSchering-Plough/Cetek2007-present
DIRECTORS OF RISE
George deStevens, 1979-1995
Interim Co-Directors, 1995-1996: Ashley Carter and James Miller
Interim: Ashley Carter, 1996-1997
Sidney Udenfriend, 1997-1999
Ashley Carter, 1999-2008
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