Frederica W. Valois (Freddy)

From Homeport, New London, CT with a stop in Boston before throwing down the anchor in Woods Hole. Arrived in Woods Hole in 1954 as a summer lab assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Profession: microbiological ecologist/biochemist
Interests: Anything marine but will indulge in terrestrial activities

Connected to Woods Hole through marriage, year round resident and work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

While 1954 continues to be fresh in my mind a memory from my first summer in Woods Hole. That summer James Watson spent time at the MBL. The previous year he, Crick and Wilkins had revolutionized the world of biology by publishing the structure of DNA. Needless to say, by now he was a well-known figure. He seemed to be enjoying his time at the lab, particularly the young ladies associated with the various aspects of life at the MBL. To show his appreciation of them he would conceal himself around corridor corners, behind trees, sides of buildings and as they would go by, squirt them with his water pistol. Their reactions just encouraged more attacks. The young gentlemen, mostly the graduate students in residence, immediately picked up on this clever method to meet the opposite sex and the summer became a very damp and wet one for the young damsels. A song arose from this activity, the author remains unknown to me but I think it was one of the girls in the Mess Hall. To the tune of Old Smokey it goes; His hair is like rhubarb, his eyes are 3D, I knew it was Watson, when he squirted me!

Ah, the good old days!