DR ALICE M. REISS TRIBUTE FROM HER NIECE MARCY MALLINSON. Oh, how I admired and loved my Aunt Alice. I really, truly did. I held her in high esteem, doubly, since she was so learned and had risen from a poor background to make something of herself, as did all my Dad’s (Al Reiss’s) relatives. One could say that I held her in double esteem and love! Whenever she came to town in Wichita, I was usually very quiet and nice, (sitting in the back of the car or elsewhere), a hushed silence with respect and awe. Aunt Alice bought myself and my Sister Lisa new dresses at Henry’s that were in such good taste! That was in the day when people wore hats and gloves to church services. In addition, she usually took us all out to eat at nice restaurant. What a treat! Aunt Alice was a famous scientist that lectured around the world as an immunologist which caused great admiration on my part. It was such an honor to have such a relative as she paved the way for other women in science back when it wasn’t so fashionable for women to be in science. She seemed so smart and intelligent and I felt like I was around the President. She never stayed long or overstayed a visit. Alice was a very precise, measured and studious person. She never wore her emotions on her sleeve, and played cards and Scrabble with Dad and Joann sometimes when she visited my Dad. I remember her talking about living with Uncle Jake and Aunt Elizabeth when she went to graduate school in Kansas City, and how hard she worked her way up on her doctorate. She rose up from a poor background, no silver spoon, and made an accomplished scientist of herself. I so admired that! Certainly she must be famous! At some point in my teens, I was able to travel back to Bridgewater, N.J. where she lived and stay a week (or less). I met her roommate Cora; saw her house; saw her art easel and got to paint an oil picture of a rose. She took me to see the Trade Towers in New York, a musical/play on Broadway and out to dinner. Also, she drove us by the Johnson & Johnson company where she worked. She spoke to myself and Lisa at the seashore and I purchased 3 tiny seagulls for us nearby. It felt very important to go to the East Coast and New York where it seemed like we were visiting another country. One time, John and I visited her house in Kansas City, Ks. We stayed either overnight or two nights, but I remember her taking us out to a nice dinner. At night, when I was unpacking our things, I pulled open a bureau drawer to unpack. I was shocked! I was planning to just put some clothes in an empty drawer, and she had all her sweaters perfectly folded and with tissue paper in them, and in between them, I think. Martha Stewart would be so proud! So neat and fastidious. Her house was always in order and clean. Aunt Alice was touched by animals. A trait I found endearing. It is likely that she gained her love of animals being raised on the farm. I remember another time when Dad, Joann and Alice took me (maybe Lisa too then), to Lake Afton in Dad’s boat for a few hours of fishing. They packed a lunch of sandwiches, and Alice insisted on bringing brie & wine, I think. Maybe, it was just bread, meat and wine. It seemed very regal and European to me, as I always admired her and held her in high regard. Aunt Alice on occasion spoke of France where she had traveled to do some research in Paris which was so impressive. In her later years, she took up art with studious resolve and produced beautiful paintings. She actually took lessons and studied oil and watercolor painting. To me, a scientist and artist are kind of diametrically opposed, but many scientists were artists, and I thought it cool that she was developing that talent. Sort of like an engineer or mathematician studying music, cool. I thought her artwork was marvelous, surely her Mom and Dad would have been proud at her diligence and talent she developed over time through sheer determination, practice and dedication. Aunt Alice was such a neat dresser and from what I understand and what she said, she usually rose early and went to bed at a decent time. She was very disciplined. She always ate right, and conservatively, not gobbling down food like some people. She didn’t overdo it. I don’t think she ever, maybe rarely, ate dessert, maintained a good figure and was very health conscious. Aunt Alice was an amazing woman who certainly had my admiration and love. She had so many marvelous qualities that will truly be missed.