July 21, 2021

Shannon Tompkins:
The Chronicle’s Shannon Tompkins, who earned a master’s in public policy from Rice, was honored by the Texas Wildlife Association for lifetime achievement.  Read more. 

Lee Mary Kobayashi (1929-2021):
On July 10, Lee Mary Kobayashi passed away.  A native Texan, she earned a BA from Rice in 1950 and a Master’s in Library Science and a PhD (ABD) in Children’s Literature.  She “worked as a school teacher, medical research librarian and school librarian sharing her love of learning with everyone she met”.  Also, she was an active Rice alumna as a charter member and former president of the Rice Historical Society and a very involved member of the Faculty Women’s Club.

In 1951, she was married to Wally Lovejoy ‘50.  After his unexpected passing in 1970, she married Riki Kobayashi ’44, the long-time distinguished Chemical Engineering professor.  He predeceased her in 2013.  She “was a truly fine, wonderful person and will be mourned by many”. Click here for the Chronicle obituary.

July 19, 2021

George Zenner MD, Jr (1935-2021):
On July 13, George Zenner MD, Jr passed away.  A native New Yorker, he earned a BA from Rice in 1956 and a MD from UT Galveston in 1960.  He had a highly respected private practice in Houston from 1963 until 1978 and then he assumed teaching and administrative leadership positions with UT – Houston Medical School.  In total, he enjoyed a 54-year medical career.  Also, “he loved the outdoors, and thoroughly enjoyed his hunting and fishing trips”.  He is survived by, among others, his wife of sixty-two years, Tommye.  Click here for the Chronicle obituary.

July 16, 2021

Wes Anderson:
On July 12, Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch, debuted and Wes “is the artfully centered toast of Cannes once again”.  Click here for the recent Texas Monthly story entitled “Everything We Know So Far About Wes Anderson’s ‘The French Dispatch’.

Wes is the son of ARA Meritorious Service Award winner (2003) and avid Rice baseball fan Texas Anderson ‘81/’85.