Jeanne Ripps

It was 48 years ago when a colleague of Harris' at the NYU Medical Center urged us to visit Woods Hole. It looked nothing like it does today, but we took an instant liking to the MBL and its surrounds, and we have been back every year since. So began a wonderful experience for our entire family. Our sons attended the Science School, as did our grandchildren, and I served as registrar working with Bea Wittenberg. The boys made lasting friendships with other children, and continue to visit with them at every opportunity. I subsequently volunteered at the MBL Club, and was in charge of appointing the young managers who oversaw the activities there. In addition, Ann Weissman, Ruth-Ann Laster, and I organized a highly successful series of non-scientific, but most informative, Monday night lectures.

There were many exciting times in Woods Hole including the visit and tour of a Russian ship with its on-board canning facility, the charming visit with Jacques Cousteau aboard the Calypso, and meeting Jean-Pierre Rampal, the great flautist who performed at the 100th anniversary of the MBL.

Before purchasing our current home in Treetops, we availed ourselves of the many rental properties throughout the area. One of most fascinating was the former home of Edwin G. Conklin, the great embryologist, who visited the MBL at its inception. His library was a treasure trove of literature, both scientific and autobiographical.