Hello to all. It’s hard to sum up 55 years. Career-wise, I have been a microbiologist ever since high school, and trained at MIT ( BS) and Tufts (doctorate). Much of my work life was spent in the biotech industry, pursuing drug discovery for infectious diseases. When I was in my 50s I got very tired of the drug industry, really appalled by the grotesque profit motive. I wanted to focus more on useful research, so I went back to academia, MIT and Tufts again, and stayed there ever since. Aside from infectious disease, I’ve branched out to new areas such as studying the microbes that live in the open ocean, which, through photosynthesis, provide a huge amount of the planet’s oxygen. Despite inevitable issues, I’ve been lucky to have enjoyed my work for most of my career. I’m now down to working half time, and deciding whether to retire soon.
I have a wonderful family, including my husband, David Rothstein, also a microbiologist, and my 2 wonderful daughters, Rebecca and Julie, ages 38 and 33. Rebecca is a social worker, specializing in young children. 3 years ago she moved from Brooklyn to the SF area, but is moving back east soon (yay). Rebecca is married and has our first (and so far only) grandchild, little Chaya, who just turned 3. Julie has a master’s degree in counseling, and is about to start her first real job in Portland, Oregon. But - she is foremost a musician, specializing in flute, percussion, guitar, and especially voice!! I live for her music and performances.
I’m very grateful for my Hunter years, which influenced my outlook in so many ways. For one thing, I learned how to write. Believe it or not, most of my science colleagues can’t really do that. I do a lot of editing for other people. For another, feminism has been a huge part of my life. I can’t believe I have to get out there again and fight for women’s reproductive rights.
Still picturing all of you at age 17….
All the best,
Marcia |
