Mary Catherine French

Mary Catherine Martin French has supported Iowa State University and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics since her husband Dexter French joined the ISU faculty in 1951. She has been the local mother to countless graduate and undergraduate students and a gracious host to many post-doctoral fellows and their families. New faculty members joining the department have been invited to her home for wonderful home-cooked meals and all sorts of advice on how to survive in Ames. She is most sought out to help with visitors from Japan. She has visited Japan three times and is very knowledgeable about their history and traditions. After the death of her husband in 1981 a memorial fund was established which provides scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students and for the Dexter French memorial lectureship. Each year Mrs. French hosts a dinner honoring the lecturer who is usually someone she knows well as a colleague of her husband or is one of his students. Mrs. French is a seasoned traveler having participated in 8 friendship force trips usually including a stay in the home of a resident and forming friendships that result in other exchange visits. In addition she is an accomplished woodworker and recently crafted doll houses for all of her grandchildren. 7/1/96

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