President's Message
Fall 2019
Dear Emeriti Colleagues,
I’m writing as your Emeriti Association (UCDEA) President and fellow retiree. For those recently retired, welcome to our community, and to those retired for more than a few years you have our greetings, too.
I’d like to frame the value of joining and engaging with the UCDEA community both as supporting us and the other retirees, and also as a value to your lives in your retirement years.
But before I begin, I’d like to pay tribute to the lives of three members of the leadership community of UCDEA who passed away in recent months. Tom Sallee was completing his first year of service as UCDEA President when he passed away this past June. Tom was a super campus citizen, emeritus in the Department of Mathematics, and well regarded for his scholarship with special renown and recognition for his teaching and mentoring of students. Winston Ko, At-Large member of our Executive Committee, passed away this summer. Winston was a former Chair of the Department of Physics, Dean Emeritus of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, with many accomplishments for the MPS community, and a highly regarded researcher and teacher. In the Spring, Charlie Hess passed away. Charlie was former Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, former Assistant Secretary for Science and Education in the Agriculture Department, former President of UCDEA, and many, many other positions and accomplishments for UC Davis and systemwide. My personal tribute to all of them, and to all the other emeriti who have passed away this past year, and condolences to their families and friends.
I would like to thank Jo Anne Boorkman for stepping up to provide invaluable support as I unexpectedly assumed the UCDEA President position following Tom Sallee’s passing. I am most grateful for her support.
UCDEA is viewed as an important voice at UC Davis and systemwide along with the other emeriti and retiree associations. Here we have been active on local issues such as campus parking (still free for emeriti), and we provide advice and counsel to emeriti and retirees at our Retiree Center in Buehler Alumni Center and at our office the Retiree Center has established as a satellite center in Suite 2500 of the Betty Irene Moore Hall on the Sacramento Health Sciences campus.
We are also engaging with others in UC to support affordable, and effective health care for retirees which is being looked at systemwide for increased efficiency and cost effectiveness. We are a major part of the advocacy that speaks out to assure that our benefits remain as strong as they were before, even if there are structural changes in the system. We provide opportunities for travel, superb “Brainfood” talks nearly monthly during the academic year, and other activities geared to help you in your retirement years.
If you haven’t already joined UCDEA please do so now so that we can serve you and also allow us to increase the effectiveness of your voice. Yearly membership is not very expensive, and a lifetime membership is a great value if you can choose that path.
Welcome to our community and our friendship.
Yours Sincerely,
Barry M. Klein
President, UC Davis Emeriti Association