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Sylvester E. Berki
Sylvester E. Berki, professor of health management and policy in the School of Public Health, Born Dec. 31, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary, Berki immigrated to the United States in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army where he saw combat in the Korean War.
Berki received his bachelor of science degree from Columbia University in 1957 and his master's degree from Yale University in 1958.
From 1963 to 1967, he served as assistant professor at Cornell University. He joined the U-M faculty in 1967, was promoted to associate professor in 1971 and to professor in 1977.
Berki served as chair of the Department of Medical Care Organization in 1980-86. Under his leadership, the department secured funding from the Kellogg Foundation to establish the Program in Health Services Management and Policy. He also consulted regularly with government and private agencies, including the Veterans' Administration Health Services Research and Development Program, the Institute of Medicine, the National Cancer Institute and the National Pharmacy Insurance Council. In 1988-89, Berki served on the Michigan Governor's Task Force on Access to Health Care.
Berki was a visiting professor at the University of Washington and a guest lecturer at several institutions in China. At the invitation of the Chinese Minister of Public Health, he participated in health administration and education workshops in Shanghai and Beijing. Berki retired from the U-M in 1995.
Berki is survived by his wife, Minnie; his children, Lisa, Matthew, and Andrew; and grandson, Eric.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hillel Foundation, 1429 Hill, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Mathew Alpern
Mathew Alpern, professor emeritus of physiological optics in opthalmology in the Medical School and professor emeritus of psychology, born in Akron, Ohio in 1920. He received his O.D. degree in 1941 from Northern Illinois College of Optometry. After spending a brief period in private practice, he served in the U.S. Army from 194246. He received his B.M.E. degree from the University of Florida in 1944, and his M.S. (1948) and Ph.D. (1950) degrees in physiological optics from Ohio State University.
He was a member of many professional organizations, including the American Physiological Society, American Psychological Association, Association for Research in Ophthalmology, Optical Society of America and Sigma Xi.
Cremation has already taken place. A memorial service was held May 20.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mathew Alpern Memorial Research Fund in care of the Department of Ophthalmology, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall St., Ann Arbor 48109-0714. Contributions also may be made to Congregation Beth Israel, 2000 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor 48104 or to a charitable organization of one's choice.
George J. Huebner
George J. Huebner Jr., husband of Regent Emerita Gertrude Huebner, died Sept. 2, 1996 at University Hospital. His career at the University spanned 22 years.
Hicks earned his A.B. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1936 and his M.D. in 1940, also from the University of Pennsylvania. He interned at Cornell University and at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. In 1942-1943, he trained in Navy pathology at the Lahey Clinic, New England Deaconess Hospital. He was the pathologist at the Navy base hospital in Hollandia, New Guinea in 1944-1945. Hicks served as head of the Department of Pathology at the National Navy Medical Center and Naval Medical School in Bethesda, Md., in 1946-47. He was certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology in 1946 and in neuropathology in 1960.
After completing his training and service duties, Hicks was associate professor of pathology at the Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C. He also was a consultant in neuropathology at the National Naval Medical Center. In 1948 he accepted an appointment at New England Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, as associate professor. He was appointed pathologist-in-chief of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston for one year.
In 1952, Hicks was the first recipient of the Max Weinstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of cerebral palsy. In 1994, he received an award from the members of the American Association of Neuropathologists for his dedication and contributions to neuropathology.
Hicks joined the Department of Pathology in 1962 as professor of pathology, becoming director of the Neuropathology Service. In addition to his administrative duties, Hicks taught neuropathology and was an active researcher who had consistently obtained National Institute of Health grants. He served on U. S. Public Health Service Study Sections and on numerous committees of the National Academy of Sciences. Hicks continued to be active in resident training after his retirement in 1984.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise; two sons, Michael G. of Ann Arbor and John T. of Alexandria, Va.; two granddaughters, Julie and Melissa; and a sister, Jackie Van Doren of New Jersey.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Mich., 48109, for use in resident training in neuropathology.
Ralph G. Smith
Ralph G. Smith, professor emeritus of environmental and industrial health at the School of Public Health, Born Jan. 11, 1920, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, Smith became a U.S. citizen in 1940. He received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Wayne State University in 1942, and then served until 1946 as a meteorologist in the U.S. Air Force, rising from a private to the rank of captain. He received his master of science degree in analytical chemistry in 1949 and his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1953, both from Wayne State University.
In 1955, Smith was appointed associate professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, at Wayne State. He became professor and assistant chair of the department in 1963, and acting chair in 1967. He joined the U-M as professor of environmental and industrial health in 1970 and retired in 1985.
Throughout his career, Smith was active in numerous professional societies. He also was the author of more than 70 scientific papers and contributed to numerous books.
Smith is survived by his wife, Margarita; daughters, Judi McCallum and Linda Mohrhardt; and sons, Larry, Dan, Jerry and Tom. The funeral was held Dec. 4. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Franklin (Mich.) Community Church or the Ralph G. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, School of Public Health, U-M. They also may be sent to the AIHF-R.G. Smith Memorial, in care of Meg Ramey, American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2700 Prosperity Ave., #250, Fairfax, VA 22031.
