Brandeis Magazine

L. Ari Kopolow’s new book, “Maslow’s Challenge: Dare To Be Extraordinary,” aims to correct distortions and misunderstandings that have grown up around psychologist Abraham Maslow’s work. Among the topics discussed: the fact that Maslow did not invent, use, or like the famous pyramid that bears his name, and the insight that the phrase “Maslow’s hammer” was likely the first statement of the principle of confirmation bias. Gerry Richman has retired as vice president of national productions at Minnesota’s Twin Cities PBS, where he worked for more than 35 years. He reports that he and his family are doing well in Minneapolis and that he continues to grieve the loss of his Brandeis suitemate and friend Fred Cohen, who died in January. Howard Scher observes, “Brandeis has deeply affected my life every day, in many strange ways. The relentless pursuit of ‘truth, even unto its innermost parts,’ results in sometimes surprising outcomes.” Richard Serkey retired in 2020 as a real estate attorney. He does yoga, volunteers at a food bank, takes courses at BOLLI, and acts as a docent at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Wife Pauline is retired from her practice as a psychiatric nurse. Their son, Ethan Miguel, who is on the autism spectrum, lives independently in Boston. Charles Siegel writes, “After Brandeis, I went to Yale Drama School, where I studied acting with Stella Adler and Paul Sills, among others. After a year at the Milwaukee Rep, I went to NYC for three years; then started teaching acting; and ended up, decades later, as an associate professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. About 1,000 students passed through my hands over the years. Mostly, I was teaching what I learned from Charlie Moore at Brandeis.” Chava Weissler taught Judaism, comparative religion, and folklore classes in Lehigh University’s religion studies department for 27 years, before her retirement in 2015. Now, she and her wife, Nancy Fredland, live at Cathedral Village, a continuing-care retirement community in northwest Philadelphia. Chava particularly enjoys taking advantage of Village College, a program in which retired faculty teach courses for fellow residents. Three siblings — Mary Anne Winig, P’95; Joan Klivans ’69; and Jim Landfield ’72 — enjoyed getting together this June during Alumni Weekend. Mary Anne served on the 55th Reunion committee; Jim celebrated his 50th Reunion; and Joan hosted Mary Anne and Jim at her home in Waban, Massachusetts.