#PROF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ SERIES#

As an African American physician-scientist in a field where I didn't see many people who looked like I did, the organic diversity I saw served as an inspiring model. Long before the words “diversity and inclusion” were placed into strategic plans or accepted political correctness, Steve was welcoming bright minds of all stripes – including women, underrepresented minorities and those of different backgrounds. Steve's lab and mentee cohorts reflected his generous spirit and innate curiosity about the world. We debated the meaning of cell death in vascular biology, how his Sephardic Jewish heritage and my African ancestry made us distant cousins, and a range of conversation topics from Bayesian statistics to politics, race and religion. I can still see Steve holding court at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in New Orleans, his resonant voice challenging a group of scientists he'd invited along following scientific sessions. One of my enduring memories of Steve was our interchange about my lab's observation about apoptosis-resistance of intimal smooth muscle cells as part of their phenotype.Ĭonversations with Steve often carried over to the local pub or a new restaurant he'd been eyeing. I have vivid recollections of our intellectual interchanges in which his incisive, probing questions and mental parrying left me both exhausted and exhilarated. In my encounters with Steve, he could be passionate, irreverent, erudite, iconoclastic, irascible, endearing and loyal – sometimes in the same moment in time.Īs I look back on my time as a visiting physician-scientist at the University of Washington, I'm filled with a greater appreciation for Steve's burly, big-hearted mentorship and sponsorship that enhanced my career trajectory and accelerated my growth as a neophyte in the emerging field of vascular biology. As a scientist, he served as an inspiring role model as an intellectual polyglot with an insatiable curiosity and probing mind. And yet, it is difficult to contemplate a more challenging task than to compose a succinct summary of Steve's persona and significance. I consider it a high honor to contribute to the collective memoriam for Steve. As I grieve his loss, I have found some solace in the outpouring of messages of condolences, remembrances, profound respect and love from those who share the lasting imprint that Steve left on all of those who knew him. On a personal note, Steve was not only a treasured scientific colleague, but he was also a friend and mentor to me throughout my scientific career. He was one of the ‘founding fathers’ of the field and established a lasting legacy as one of the key architects of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). Schwartz, former Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington. He is honored to be granted a courtesy appointment in the KU Department of Theatre and Dance.The field of vascular biology has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Dr. Laird has presented lectures on musical theater at many conferences and other venues and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on the Broadway musical in the School of Music.

Laird has also published Wicked: A Musical Biography and The Musical Theater of Stephen Schwartz (both Rowman & Littlefield), in addition to numerous articles and book chapters.

#PROF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ SERIES#

Laird is also the author of a biography of Leonard Bernstein in the Critical Lives series (Reaktion Books) and with Hsun Lin co-wrote the second edition of Leonard Bernstein: A Research and Information Guide (Routledge) and The Historical Dictionary of Leonard Bernstein (Rowman & Littlefield).

Everett, Laird co-edited three editions of The Cambridge Companion to the Musical (Cambridge University Press) and co-wrote two editions of The Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Musical (Rowman & Littlefield). He has published widely on the topic of American musical theater, both in general terms and specifically on the works of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Schwartz. Paul Laird, professor of musicology in the School of Music, has taught at the University of Kansas since 1994.

Prof stephen schwartz