I am saddened to report the June 13, 2003 death of Professor Martha Talbot Thomas. Martha was Professor Emeritus of the Michigan State University Medical Technology Program and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology. Martha died at a hospice in Ithaca, NY where her daughter Megan Anderson lives.

I had visited Martha several weeks earlier. She was very comfortable and very Martha. Always a self-described “printophile”, her great frustration was the lack of a Sunday paper in Ithaca. She was eager to read the copies of the MSU State News that I took along and was also looking forward to the newest Harry Potter book. She was excited to be sharing in planning Megan’s dream kitchen. Megan and her husband are both chefs and have never had a suitable home kitchen.

I was able to enjoy several hours with Martha, chatting, laughing and reminiscing. We talked about the incredible influence she had on the laboratory profession in Michigan, having taught several thousand MSU students in her career.

Martha’s husband, Ethelbert “Bert” Thomas, an MSU professor of Social Work, died last November. They also had a son, Ralph, and in addition they opened their home to many foster children.

Megan has indicated that contributions in Martha’s memory be made to the MSU Medical Technology Program. Mail checks payable to Michigan State University to the College of Natural Science, Development Office, 103 Natural Science, E. Lansing, MI 48824.

-Kathy Doig
Medical Technology Program Director