Wilbur Peralta ’86 will retire on June 1, 2013, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving 25 years in the United States Air Force. Dr. Peralta is pursuing a master’s degree in Information Systems and Technology at George Washington University and will begin a new career in the civilian sector.
Tag Archives: Retirements
Richard A. Criley PhD ’68
Richard A. Criley PhD ’68 retired in 2010 from the split research and teaching position he had held with the University of Hawaii Horticulture Department since 1968. He continues to serve the university as an emeritus and remains active in various professional societies.
Ross Durham ’62, PhD ’68
Ross Durham ’62, PhD ’68 retired in 2005 from his position as full professor with University of Tennessee Biology Department, where he had served since 1971. Early in his career, Dr. Durham had the privilege to work as a project biologist for the NASA Biosatellite Project (Biosatellite III) at the UCLA Space Biology Laboratories. His team’s vehicle orbited the Earth for 8 days in the spring of 1969, just prior to the launch of the famous Apollo 11 mission.
Werner G. Heim ’50, MA ’52, PhD ’54
Werner G. Heim ’50 (Zoology), ’52 MA (Zoology), and ’54 PhD (Zoology), is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at the Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His primary fields of interest are human genetics and vertebrate development.
Charles F. Gehlbach ’55
Charles F. Gehlbach ’55 (Zoology), MD, is a jazz trumpeter and retired physician in Auburn, California. His band is “Dr. Bach & the Jazz Practitioners” – check out their videos on YouTube. He writes, “This is an ultra high energy group of talented and experienced musicians who show their enjoyment while playing Dixieland, Swing, Dance, Blues, and Gospel. We perform with eight musicians. We have a male vocalist in the band, and we also have our vivacious female Vocalist. The band features a Tuba – Banjo sound for Trad tunes, and a String Bass – Guitar sound for Swing. We have performed at the Jazz Clubs in Monterey, Sacramento, Redding, Stockton, Modesto, Santa Rosa, Pismo Beach, Three Rivers and Fresno. We also have played at the Nevada County Fair, the Auburn Fair, The Placer County Fair, and the California State Fair. We have played in the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee for the last ten years, and have been in the Festivals in Modesto, Graeagle, Jackson, and San Jose. We also play Dixieland Church Services for several churches from Auburn to the Bay Area. We definitely are tuned into playing FOR the audience.”
Robert Bleier ’51
Robert Bleier ’51 writes, “I graduated UCLA in 1951 with a BA in Zoology. I continued on with the intent of getting a Masters degree in Zoology under the guidance of my mentor Dr. A. Mandel Schechtman. It became clear in short order that working alone in the Vivarium, a group of labs, near what was a bridge connecting the Quad with the Administration Building, was not my desire. The large New Zealand Rabbits, my companions there, were bright, but non communicative. I decided on a Health service profession and considered Dentistry. I applied and was accepted to the UCSF School of Dentistry (a fine recommendation from Dr. Schechtman helped). I graduated from UCSF in 1956 with a DDS. I was associated for six months, after getting my license, with Dr. H. Mintzer in North Hollywood. After six months I then opened my own office in Chatsworth and practiced there for thirty- two years. While that was going on I got married to Merium Rosenthal and had three children, Alicia, Joshua and Gena Beth. I retired in 1988. One of my patients was a Professor of Ceramics at CSUN. He asked me what I had in mind to keep active after a Dental career. I hadn’t thought about that, he invited me to come to his studio at CSUN. I was immediately hooked on working with clay. I was at CSUN ceramics and sculpture for 22 years until they thought that I should have graduated by then! By the way, I taught Dental Materials at the UCLA School of Dentistry for many years, it was a great experience!” Pictured: one of Dr. Bleier’s sculptures, “Tall Two-Headed Horse.”
Eve Haberfield ’80 PhD
Eve Haberfield ’80 PhD (Morin) recently retired as the Director of Humanities, Health, Science, and Social Science at UCLA Extension, where she was responsible for overseeing course programming for more than 1,000 courses each year. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Griffith Observatory. From the UCLA Extension Newsletter: “Eve Haberfield, recently retired director and program director for the Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences Programs, was honored at the University Professional & Continuing Education Association’s 2010 Fall Regional Awards ceremony. Haberfield won in the West Region’s Professional Contributions to Continuing Education category for her 33 years of service and dedication developing innovative courses and programs for UCLA Extension.”