When were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s?
That is difficult to say exactly, the diagnosis can be trivial as we all know. I began having memory testing in around 2018. They thought they detected mild cognitive decline around the end of 2020. A DAT scan in December of 2021 led to a definitive diagnosis.
When did you start coming to 110 Fitness?
I’m not exactly sure but I would guess a little over two years. We had a friend in RI with Parkinson’s who said boxing really helped her so I sought out Brett. After a few months I had to take an extended six month leave for a shoulder replacement (my second shoulder and fifth joint).
What’s your favorite class or activity at 110?
I have enjoyed boxing both in the gym and the pool. I have not yet had the opportunity to participate in many other classes. I did poling and would like to try the balance class.
What do(did) you do for work?
I was in academia my entire career. I was an undergraduate at Cornell (BS 1968) then went to UNC Chapel Hill for a PhD in biochemistry and virology (1973). I did postdoctoral studies at the University of California in San Francisco (1974-8) where I began to work on retroviruses. I had the pleasure of working with two people (J.Michael Bishop and Harold E. Varmus) who shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1989 for work that was done in the laboratory when I was there.
From UCSF I took a faculty position at Brown University starting as an Assistant Professor of Medical Science in 1978. I taught medical students, graduate students and many undergraduate students. One of my early undergraduate students, Craig Mello, who I taught molecular genetics and virology went on to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine 2006.
At Brown I rose through the ranks becoming a tenured professor of medical sciences. Along the way I served for many years as the Associate Dean of Medicine for Research, The Dean of Biology and finally chair of the Brown Faculty.
I became an emeritus Professor in 2013 but continued teaching until 2022 when I couldn’t stand teaching on Zoom. While I still have some duties at Brown I am far less active than I used to be. They finally took my office on campus away this year.
My research focused on how viruses replicate and cause disease. At UCSF we were working on retroviruses of mice, chickens and cats. At that time there were no known human retroviruses although HIV-1 was entering the gay population while I was training there. HIV was not isolated until 1983 by a group at the Pasteur Institute. In 1986 I did a sabbatical year at the NIH where I started working on HIV. I spent the rest of my career working on HIV. I focused on the role of some of the novel genes of HIV-1. Most retroviruses contain 3 genes, HIV-1 contains six additional genes with no homology to any known genes. Understanding how these genes contribute to AIDS has been challenging and rewarding. I have attended many meeting including international AIDS meetings in Amsterdam, Montreal and San Francisco.
What would you like us to know about you and your family?
I was born in 1946 in Ithaca NY where my father was a Dean at Cornell. I had an older sister Susan and brother Jay. Within a year of my birth Jay fell from a second story window of our house and died a few days later. This prompted our family to leave Ithaca and move to Scarsdale NY where I was raised and went to high school. Both my sister and I attended Cornell as undergraduates.
While at Cornell I met my future wife Kathleen Ryan who attended Wells College up Cayuga lake from Cornell. We were married in 1970 in Schenectady NY and went to Chapel Hill NC where I was a graduate student. Kathleen worked in the library and took classes where she became interested in speech pathology. When we moved to San Francisco for my postdoctoral fellowship Kathy completed her Masters degree in speech pathology. When we moved to back east in 1978 Kathy started her career as a speech pathologist in the public schools. She continued working until her retirement in 2010.
We have one son, Jonathan who lives in Hingham with his wife Page and their three sons Dylan, Benji and James. Jonathan is an attorney in Boston. They are the reason we moved to Hingham after 45 years in the Providence RI area. They live just six minutes away so we get to see them often.
Any fun hobbies you’d like to share?
My wife and I love to travel. While we were limited by the academic calendar while we were both working since we are both retired we have been doing a lot more. We have been to some 28 countries including France, England, Italy, Spain, Greece and many more. Our favorite spot is Florence which we have visited three times including one six week stay. Next week we leave for Alaska for 12 days.
I also used to enjoy playing golf but Parkinson’s has put an end to that. I was once pretty good and played on the Cornell golf team.
How has 110 Fitness impacted your life outside of the gym?
Brett and Anna have created a wonderful community for everyone dealing with this disease. They have created an environment where everyone feels they can participate. I did rock climbing, bowling and golfing. I never thought I would hit another golf ball but 110 reminded me that it is OK to try.