Dear Alumni: Those of you who couldn’t attend the 6th reunion missed a wonderful evening. My remarks and acknowledgments were inadequate to the occasion. Joe Tenn, Mark Robinson (’93), Gordon Spear, and the others on the committee organized a special evening. They did an outstanding job.

In my small part I forgot much of what I wanted to say. I feel that I have been extremely lucky in coming to Sonoma County in 1965, in coming to Sonoma State University (then College), and in being associated with so many fine faculty that have been part of Physics and Astronomy. They have all been so hardworking and effective as to put my efforts to shame. The least I could do was take on the drudgery of the department chairship.

I used to worry about being bored after a few years of teaching the some courses repeatedly. What I found was there is never any end to what one can do to improve one’s teaching. Furthermore, I discovered that you students kept changing. It has been a delight to me that so many of you came to SSU so motivated to learn or soon developed that attitude while here. You have provided me the stimulation, mostly positive, to keep me challenged and happy. Every so often something occurs to bring some pleasant memory of you to mind and I thank you all for those. I feel proud to have been associated in some way with all the wonderful things you have accomplished. Please keep responding to the questionnaires.

I have also felt blessed with the excellent support provided by Steve Anderson, our current Equipment Technician, and by Kent Nelson before him. It is difficult to exaggerate the contributions that Steve has made to the academic programs in physics and astronomy here. I wish we had more help for him.

I also want all of you alumni to know how much the department appreciates your donations of money and equipment. They have been a vital support for the quality of our instruction. I especially wish to thank all of those who made a special contribution to the department on the occasion of my retirement. You alumni donors have also been joined by many in the community who are not graduates of SSU, but have also found something worthy of their support here. I assure you all that these donations are put to good use.

I am formally leaving the department, but expect to be like one of its alumni in the future. I leave happy in the belief that the two new faculty joining the department in the fall will ensure even better things lie in the future of the department.