A memorial service for the late Josef “Yossi” Ashkenazi, a professor of physics in the University of Miami’s College of Arts and Sciences, will be held  Friday, November 30 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the James L. Knight Physics Building, Physics Library, third floor. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.

Ashkenazi, who passed away on October 3, was a faculty member in the Department of Physics for nearly 24 years. A condensed matter theorist, Ashkenazi was an active researcher, publishing a range of work on superconductivity throughout his career.

For more information on Ashkenazi’s work and life, please click here.

The traditional midnight breakfast served in the University of Miami’s Hecht-Stanford Residential College cafeteria during final exam week always drew a crowd of students. Serving them food on many occasions was Florence Ruth Hecht, the silver-haired lady with the big smile whom the students always enjoyed seeing.

“The students adored seeing her, and she loved wearing her name tag that read, ‘Florence Hecht,’ ” recalls UM Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Whitely. “They often asked her if she was really Florence Hecht for whom the college was named, and she loved replying, ‘Of course.’ ” Read the full story

Robin Rees

Whenever University of Miami employees or students got sick or injured while abroad, Robin Rees was often the first on the phone to check on their well-being and render assistance, sometimes going without sleep and working on holidays to make sure they received help.

Like the time Rees worked over the July Fourth weekend arranging for safe and expeditious transportation back to the States for three students who were involved in a bus accident in China. Or the time when he arranged medical treatment for a faculty member who became ill while in the Galapagos Islands—acting so swiftly that the employee quickly recovered and was able to remain on the island to continue critical research. Read the full story

Marjorie Montague, a professor in the School of Education and Human Development who created a program that helps students with learning disabilities to understand, analyze, and solve mathematical equations, passed away on Sunday, May 13.

“Marjorie made great contributions to the University and the scholarly community,” said Dean Isaac Prilleltensky. “She was a distinguished researcher and great mentor to junior colleagues and doctoral students. We mourn her passing and send our condolences to her family and friends.” Read the full story

Paul Dee was instrumental in helping UM build an on-campus basketball arena.

Miami Herald sports reporter Michelle Kaufman recalled the story as if it were only yesterday. It was the year 2000, and with rumors swirling that then-University of Miami basketball coach Leonard Hamilton was about to sign with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, Kaufman waited anxiously in front of UM’s Hecht Athletic Center to get a comment from Paul Dee, believing the athletic director was inside the building because his car was parked outside.

An hour passed. Then two. Then three. But no Paul Dee.

“At about 9 o’clock, a car pulls up, and Paul gets out of the passenger seat carrying a doggy bag from Ruth’s Chris Steak House,” Kaufman said. Read the full story