Mary D. Lindsay, a friend and advocate for more than 40 years and a board member as often as the bylaws allow since 1971, has concluded her most recent term. She had been a member of the Executive Committee since the early 1980s and since 1992 was vice chairman of the Board. Over the years, Mary has served on most board committees. Among her longest and most valued tenure was her active role on the Building Committee. In November, the Board elected Mary Lindsay an honorary trustee for life.

Most recently Mary's long-held commitment to the young scientists and their families came to fruition in the establishment of child care here. Ground breaking, demolition and renovation of the De Forest Stables has begun to make way for what will become a fine facility to serve the youngsters of our staff.

The election of five new individual trustees and one scientific trustee in 1996 continues the strong board participation that the Laboratory has grown to depend on. C. Thomas Caskey, M.D., senior vice president of research for Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, Pennsylvania, not only brings his extensive research experience in mammalian genetics and inherited diseases but his astute business acumen in the area of biotechnology. Helen Dolan, longtime resident of nearby Oyster Bay, continues to represent the ever charitable Dolan family, who continue to be close friends of the Laboratory. Lola Grace is a financial consultant specializing in financial institutions and has already made a tremendous contribution with her outstanding leadership of the Emanuel Ax Gala in October and her avid encouragement of Lab partnerships with local private and public schools. Lola continues the strong association between the Grace family and our Board. Leon Polsky, a lawyer residing in New York City, has extensive legal and judicial experience to bring to the Laboratory. Mr. Polsky is the son-in-law of the late, revered trustee Lita Annenberg Hazen. William Matheson, retired since 1992 after practicing law in New York City for 42 years, has established with Mrs. Matheson the Matheson Endowment for Neuroscience. The Mathesons make their home in Florida.

I am happy to welcome once again Dr. Arnold Levine, who served as a trustee from 1976-1980. Codiscoverer of the important p53 tumor suppressor protein, he studies virus-induced oncogenesis and cancer biology at Princeton University in the Department of Molecular Biology.

To trustee and dear friend Wendy Russell, we all extend our heartfelt sympathy at the loss of her beloved husband Bill Russell. In the short time that we knew Bill, it was clear that he had fast become the same avid proponent of the Laboratory as is his enthusiastic wife.