Fall 2020
Editor
Art Director
Section Editors/Writers
Mason Adams, Jenny Kincaid Boone, Richard Lovegrove, Travis Williams, Haley Cummings (student intern), Rosie Hutchison (student intern)
Contributors
Annie McCallum, Albert Raboteau, Brian Snell, Summer Woodard
Digital Design
Bruce B. Harper (Webmaster)
Visual Assets
Dawn Jefferies, Megan Zalecki
Production Coordinator
Photographers
Lee Friesland, Ray Meese, Dan Mirolli, Erin Williams, Ryan Young
Director of Design and Digital Strategy
Executive Editor
Publisher
Letters
A Rock-Solid Education
I was saddened to learn about the death of Dr. Donald Bloss (p. 63 summer 2020). I transferred to Virginia Tech from a college with less-demanding requirements for geology majors. I should have already had a crystallography class, but hadn’t. Dr. Bloss agreed to let me do an inde- pendent study class with him over the summer, so I could catch up to my fellow juniors. I was honored and grateful. I was shocked when I learned how esteemed he was in his field. I got a hint when I saw that he had written the textbook we were using, which included a mineral named blossite. Yep, THAT Bloss.
Wendy Hart Nielson Beckman ’80
Cincinnati, Ohio
Life-Changing Moments
Congrats for your excellent communication improvements! It is a pleasure to stay informed with ALL the methods in use.
There are many highlights from my time at VPI that I could share. My time in the Corps of Cadets, A Squadron, Class of ’64, had a profound effect on my life and career. After a lifetime of experience, I think I finally understand the complete impact of attending VPI as a cadet. Another standout moment was meeting my future wife at Homecoming in 1963. We have been married now for 53 years.
Keep up the good work!
Ray Allen ’64
Springfield, Virginia
From the editor
Correction
Joseph Michael Coppola ’85, of White Plains, New York, was erroneously included in the In Memoriam listing in the summer edition.
Contact Us
Virginia Tech Magazine welcomes stories about the many ways that our readers make an impact in communities across the globe through their research, careers, and service. Send your ideas to vtmag@vt.edu.
Erica Stacy
Editor
Story ideas and letters to the editor
Email – vtmag@vt.edu
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Mail – Class Notes, Alumni Association; Holtzman Alumni Center (0102), Virginia Tech; 901 Prices Fork Rd.; Blacksburg, VA 24061
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Address Changes
Email – alumnidata@vt.edu
Phone – 540-231-6285 (M-F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
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The university’s flagship publication, Virginia Tech Magazine forges stronger relationships among alumni, donors, and friends of Virginia Tech. The magazine highlights the vibrancy of a university on the leading edge of technology, service, learning, research, and scholarship and showcases the achievements of alumni, faculty and staff, and students through a rich array of feature stories, alumni profiles, and university and alumni news. Virginia Tech Magazine is published three times a year by the Office of University Relations, with support from Alumni Relations. The Virginia Tech Foundation underwrites most production costs.