Class Note 1953
Issue
Fran L’Esperance has sent me word of a special award he has received. The Rank Prize for Optoelectronics was presented to him at a lavish ceremony held at the Royal College of Physicians in London on February 8. The event was attended by a number of members of the British Peerage. Fran, who is a professor of clinical ophthamology at Columbia University School of Medicine, began the first FDA-approved trial of corneal surgery using photorefractive keratectomy, the predecessor of today’s LASIK corrective eye surgery. Because the individuals whom he treated experienced severe discomfort he adapted another procedure in which the cornea was incised without disturbing the outer layers and the mid-cornea was treated directly with the excimer laser to correct the refractive error. He named this procedure Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratectomy. One million people are treated with LASIK in this country every year. The Rank Prize is considered by the British to be the world’s most outstanding award in optoelectronics and England’s response to Sweden and Norway’s Nobel Prize. Congratulations, Fran!
Harlan Fair is employing his knowledge and skills to better the human existence by working with Engineers Without Borders as a member of a team who have expertise in engineering, hydrogeology and public health. He has undertaken a project to secure a reliable and safe drinking water source in Puerto de Valle Guanajuato, Mexico, a small village. It obtains its water from an unreliable community well, one apparently with an excess of coliform bacteria and nitrates, as well as various minerals including an excess of fluorides. The project requires taking water samples and having them analyzed as well as designing and building a new water source while educating the local populace as to its need and its ultimate worthiness.
Tom Bloomer and Bonnie Siegal are scheduled to meet with our College executives to discuss the results of their class survey on bonding. They have acquired by expert analysis some interesting information, which we hope will be useful to other classes. Well done, Bonnie and Tom!
Sadly I have to report the death of Fred Walsh. We offer sincere condolences to his wife and daughter.
—Mark H. Smoller, 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@gmail.com
Nov - Dec 2010
Fran L’Esperance has sent me word of a special award he has received. The Rank Prize for Optoelectronics was presented to him at a lavish ceremony held at the Royal College of Physicians in London on February 8. The event was attended by a number of members of the British Peerage. Fran, who is a professor of clinical ophthamology at Columbia University School of Medicine, began the first FDA-approved trial of corneal surgery using photorefractive keratectomy, the predecessor of today’s LASIK corrective eye surgery. Because the individuals whom he treated experienced severe discomfort he adapted another procedure in which the cornea was incised without disturbing the outer layers and the mid-cornea was treated directly with the excimer laser to correct the refractive error. He named this procedure Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratectomy. One million people are treated with LASIK in this country every year. The Rank Prize is considered by the British to be the world’s most outstanding award in optoelectronics and England’s response to Sweden and Norway’s Nobel Prize. Congratulations, Fran!
Harlan Fair is employing his knowledge and skills to better the human existence by working with Engineers Without Borders as a member of a team who have expertise in engineering, hydrogeology and public health. He has undertaken a project to secure a reliable and safe drinking water source in Puerto de Valle Guanajuato, Mexico, a small village. It obtains its water from an unreliable community well, one apparently with an excess of coliform bacteria and nitrates, as well as various minerals including an excess of fluorides. The project requires taking water samples and having them analyzed as well as designing and building a new water source while educating the local populace as to its need and its ultimate worthiness.
Tom Bloomer and Bonnie Siegal are scheduled to meet with our College executives to discuss the results of their class survey on bonding. They have acquired by expert analysis some interesting information, which we hope will be useful to other classes. Well done, Bonnie and Tom!
Sadly I have to report the death of Fred Walsh. We offer sincere condolences to his wife and daughter.
—Mark H. Smoller, 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@gmail.com