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Henry C. “Bud” Wessman (center)converses with his son-in-law Dr.Craig Wilson and Michelle Lawonn,BS PT ’74.CRH Associate Director Brad Gibbenssaid, “Mary is known for her intelligenceand dogged commitment to fosteringthe development of high-performingorganizations, so, of course, I miss thoseskills and abilities. But the thing I missmost is her sense of humor. Granted, shealways projected seriousness andcompetence, but for those of us who knewher well, we saw she had a very goodand at times devilish sense of humor.”An evening of memoriesSMHS Homecoming events werecapped off with an evening social at theAlerus Center, where many alumsshared their memories of UND.Jean Thorfinnson Cory, BS MedTech ’61, recalled working in themicrobiology department with departmentchair Dr. John Vennes after she graduated.“I was a senior interning in microbiologywhen Dr. Vennes, ‘52, came over andtold me they had never had a med techin the department before, but they weregoing to offer a position to take care ofthe culture collection,” she said. “Thatwas the best job I ever had.” She wenton to manage a dermatology clinic inPortland, Ore., for 10 years.Grant Seeger, MD ’04, remembersthe camaraderie and comedy of thepatient-centered-learning groups thatrotate every two months. “I think strongbonds were made during the first fewblocks of medical school as it is anintense change of study habits,” hesaid. “The first gross anatomy lab wasalways a shock to the system and gaveus that ‘I’m really in medical school’feeling.” He is now a radiation oncologistat Altru Cancer Center in Grand Forks.Jack Lind, BS Med ’60, noted thathis medical education was differentfrom today’s curriculum. “Grossanatomy was at least a semester, if notmore, with lectures every day andthree-hour labs,” he said. Still, he andhis classmates found time to relax atvarious establishments around town.“We had a medical fraternity andsponsored parties that were open to allstudents,” he said. “We’d rent thebasement of the Riviera Cafe downtown.Sometimes we could obtain use of theOfficer’s Club at the air force base. Theold Belmont Lounge was popular, too,and Whitey’s Cafe had the best frenchfriedonions. We had a number ofmarried students who were also veterans.We all got along well together.”Save the dateNext year’s UND Homecoming hasalready been set for October 17–23,2011. The School will be honoring allclasses of 1961 and 1986 at that time.For more information, please contactShelley Pohlman, SMHS Office ofAlumni and Community Relations, atshelley.pohlman@med.und.edu or(701) 777-4305.26 NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Holiday 2010