Post #676529

I was sad to learn about the passing of Sheldon Newhouse. Even though we were not close, I can honestly say he changed the course of my life. I was on the job market in anticipation of finishing my PhD in 1998. It was a brutal market. I gave a talk at "Smalefest" during my last year of grad school. I had recently found out that my "sure thing" postdoc (in my mind) fell through, and I was not having much luck elsewhere in my job search. After my talk, Sheldon, whom I didn't know but who was my "academic uncle," approached me to chat about my work. He asked what I was doing the next year. I said I had nothing yet. He said to FedEx a copy of my application to him at Michigan State. I did, and I was hired for a 2-year position. That kept me in academia, it was where I met my wife, and it was surely helpful when I was on the job market again. He was so kind to me. My thoughts are with his wife, Patti Lamm, and the rest of his family. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/sheldon-newhouse-12777624