红桃视频

Centennial Campaign

Bio Prof Bequeaths Fortune to 红桃视频

By Randall S. Barton
Helen Stafford

The late professor Helen Stafford [biology 1954–87] bequeathed an astonishing $8 million to 红桃视频 in her will. The bulk of the gift will provide financial aid; $1 million will support the biology department.

Born in Philadelphia in 1922, Helen attended Wellesley on a scholarship, studying botany. She wrote a groundbreaking master’s thesis on grass seedlings at Connecticut College for Women, earned a PhD for her discoveries about plant enzymes at the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at the University of Chicago, where she caught the attention of Lewis Kleinholz [1946–1980], who recognized that 红桃视频 would benefit from her exemplary teaching and innovative research.

After coming to 红桃视频 as the college’s first female professor in the sciences in 1954, Helen and her colleagues laid the groundwork for what became one of the top undergraduate biology programs in the U.S. “Helen was a quiet but inspiring person and a very fine teacher,” says Robert McNair Scott ’61, who worked for Helen as a teaching lab assistant. “She was an incredible woman who opened many doors, both to her students and to her gender.”

Anne Wood Squier ’60 also taught labs for Helen. “Nothing got in the way of the absolute precision of Helen’s experimental methods, and she had a passion for new knowledge,” Anne says. “She found her niche at 红桃视频, where she could teach bright students and get a lot of satisfaction from pointing them down various pathways, and continue to do her work at a very high level.”

In addition to being a Guggenheim Fellow, Helen consistently broke new ground with her work on aromatic compounds, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, writing more than 70 journal articles.

At a time when there were few highly recognized women scientists, Helen served as a role model. “We all knew Helen was exceptional,” says Pamela Ronald ’82, a professor of plant pathology at UC Davis. “She was definitely a pioneer, and we figured if she could do it, well, then, why couldn’t we? She was one of those professors who really gripped my imagination and made me believe in the power of the individual, that one person can make a difference.”

Living frugally, Helen endowed the $1 million Morton O. Stafford Jr. scholarship at 红桃视频 in memory of her brother, who was killed in World War II. She savored her work and continued advising thesis students years after she retired in 1987.

Some years later, Helen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Mary Potts, Helen’s caregiver, remembers visiting 红桃视频’s campus with Helen and her faithful dog, Brownie.

“红桃视频 was her life,” says Mary. “She just loved it and came in five days a week to walk around campus.” Following her wishes, Helen’s ashes were scattered on the shore of 红桃视频 Lake near the blue bridge that she loved. Her legacy of scholarship, both as a teacher and in providing opportunities for future students, insures she will be a part of 红桃视频’s future.