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by Andy
Evangelista First
appeared 19 January 1999
Good Luck, Good People and Good Start to the
Year
A belated Happy New Year to all, although it seems the end of '98 was many moons ago and
2000 is just around the corner. If you were wondering where the Eye had wandered and why
there was nothing new in this space since the holidays, I've heeded advice to prepare for
the potential Y2K disaster. I've been out collecting canned foods (hope there's enough
left for next year's food drives) to store in the garage next to the containers of
gasoline. I've also been stuffing emergency cash into my mattress (it's pretty small and
flat right now, but perhaps I can pick up some leftovers from the BofA
goodwill tour). Still looking for a manual typewriter and a bunch of carbon paper so I
can write this column and hand deliver the campus scoop when the computers crash next Jan.
1. If you have any tips where I can find that stuff, send me a note (no email please --
trying to get used to being low tech).
You've Got a Friend
On the day a famous Jordan stepped down, UCSF's Mark Jordan stepped up. Last Wednesday's
"Raising Hope" gala fundraiser for the UCSF Cancer Center almost became a
big-time fund-loser when superstar Andrea Bocelli had to cancel because of a sore throat.
The Jordan who does not dunk a basketball helped save the event, and in the end, the fans
and the Cancer Center were the winners.
Jordan, who directs Alumni Relations and Campus Events for the Development Office, first
got wind on Sunday that the popular tenor was feeling under the weather, but he was
assured at the time that Bocelli would show up for his West Coast debut. Patrons had paid
up to $2,500 for the concert at Davies Hall and dinner at the refurbished City Hall.
Jordan, whose staff already had been working more than 12 hour days for the event, even
arranged for a private jet to deliver the star from Italy to SF.
By Monday, however, they got word that Bocelli's throat infection was serious enough to
warrant doctor's orders not to travel. Jordan and crew began an immediate search for a
worthy replacement. They decided if a headliner could not be secured by 6 p.m. Tuesday,
they would have to cancel the show -- and a lot of big bucks would go down the tubes.
Jordan got people to comb the rows at Monday's American Music Awards -- perhaps Elton
John, Billy Joel, or Celine Dion had no dinner and evening plans for Wednesday. No
luck there. How about Robin Williams and James Taylor? He got in touch with Patricia
Hunter, an administrator in the UCSF pediatrics department who is a good friend of Marcia
and Robin Williams. The Williams family was getting ready to go on a vacation, said
Hunter, but Robin agreed to make an appearance. Marcia put in a call to Taylor.
At 5:55 p.m. Tuesday, "Raising Hope" had the look of no hope, but just before
Jordan was going to deliver the bad news to the event committee, Taylor called from
Martha's Vineyard to say he could be in SF by Wednesday's show time. By all accounts, the
show was two thumbs up. Williams was hilarious, as usual, and Taylor, who performed such
hits as "Fire and Rain" and "You've got a Friend" with the San Diego
Symphony Orchestra, received a standing ovation from the audience. Those who paid top
dollar were guaranteed the best seats for an upcoming Bocelli concert in the Bay Area this
spring.
By the way, the event grossed $3.6 million for the Cancer Center.
Pulse of the People
It wasn't quite making him an honorary doctor, but UCSF presented Mayor Willie Brown with
a stethoscope before the "Raising Hope" dinner. It was in appreciation for his
support and to help him "continue to listen to the heartbeat of The City."
Joining the Corps
Don't worry -- this week's column is not devoted only to the lifestyles of the rich and
famous. Good luck to Cathy Moyer, a UCSF nurse at the LPPI adult unit, who left Jan. 18
for the West African nation of Cote d'Ivoire. Moyer, who also worked in the pediatric
catheterization lab for four years, has volunteered for the Peace Corps. "My three
daughters are now grown, and I wanted to travel and do something positive," said the
51-year-old nurse. "They told me that this will be the toughest job I'll every have,
but it will be rewarding."
She will work in a rural village to improve health education and expand immunization
programs for children. "I've only seen pictures of the village. I know I'll have an
outdoor shower, and it's questionable whether or not I'll have electricity." Moyer
says she was inspired over the years by friends and co-workers at UCSF who are charitable
and hard-working, especially Sara Hudson in the division of pediatric cardiology.
"She gave me the courage to go ahead and chase my dreams."
Melody Supiping, a unit secretary at LPPI, was not surprised by Moyer's move. "She's
wonderful and loves working with people," she said. "I miss her already."
Spilling the Beanies to Kids
A few months ago, See-Ming Lai at the Pediatrics Clinical Research Center (PCRC) went on a
hunt for some nice holiday gifts for the kids hospitalized in the unit. Hoping for a few
donations, she contacted "Friends of the Disney Report," whose website gives
updates on the newest cuties-stuffed-with-beans collectible craze -- "Disney Mini
Bean Bag Plush." Word went out over the net, and Lai ended up with some 300
characters, with names such as "Toga Mickey" and "Bumble Bee Pooh,"
along with some of the more familiar and coveted "Beanie Babies." So, this
afternoon (Jan. 19), not only will the young patients on the PCRC, which includes kids who
are part of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, receive a post-holiday stuffed goody, nurses
also will deliver the toys to all children who are inpatients at the Medical Center.
Honoring MLK History
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week (Jan. 19-22) will feature speakers,
activities at all campus sites, and a ceremony to honor this year's winners of the annual
UCSF MLK awards. This year's planning committee also will recognize the founders of MLK
Week -- Elba Clemente-Lambert, Paul Porter and Barbara Wilson-Thompson. In 1986, these
members of the Black Caucus worked with campus administrators to get the first UCSF MLK
celebration off the ground and made sure that the life of Dr. King would be commemorated
every year here with a week of events.
New Idol for Staff Research Associates
Proof that it's okay for lab junkies to sneak off to a baseball game. The guy who picked
up Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball -- and sold it last week for $2.7 million (with
another $300,000 tacked on to cover the auction fee) -- is a $30,000-a-year researcher at
a genetics lab at Washington University in St. Louis. According to news accounts, he says
the couple million bucks that rolled into his bank account won't change his life, which we
assume means he'll be back at the lab blending in with all the other white coats.
Readers: If you have any items or suggestions for this
column, send us an email: andye@itsa.ucsf.edu. |
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