Deaths
Professor Emeritus William I. Oliver died March 17 in San Jose, Costa Rica, after suffering a heart attack. He was 69. A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 13, at Zellerbach Playhouse.
A distinguished theatrical director, Oliver taught in the Department of Dramatic Art from 1958 to 1991. He served as teacher, director and administrator until his retirement.
Oliver was born in Panama City on Nov. 6, 1926. Fluent in Spanish and English, he served as a translator in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He moved to the United States following the war to start his life in the theater.
In 1946, Oliver entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology's School of Fine Arts to study acting. He played two summer sessions at Woodstock, N.Y., opposite such stars as the legendary Lillian Gish.
In 1950, Oliver married fellow drama student Barbara Marsh. The couple left Pennsylvania for North Dakota, where they headed the Fargo/Moorhead Community Players. In 1953, they arrived at Cornell University, where Oliver earned his PhD.
Oliver joined the Berkeley faculty five years later.
His work as a stage director with students of the Department of Dramatic Art included many successful productions, among them Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Sartre's "The Devil and the Good Lord" and Coward's "Fallen Angels."
Oliver was also a playwright, critic and translator of novels and dramatic works. Until his unexpected death, he was teaching and directing at the University of Costa Rica's School of Dramatic Arts.
Professor Emeritus Travis Bogard, a longtime friend and colleague, said, "In Bill's work, the lights of theatrical pleasure, thought and emotion burned bright. He has left a darkened stage behind him."
Oliver is survived by his wife, Barbara, and the couple's three children, Michael, Anna and Soren.
Donations in Oliver's memory may be made to the causes he supported: Amnesty International, the Humane Society of the United States and the Sierra Club.
Penny L. Gee, who worked for the campus for more than 40 years prior to her retirement in 1992, passed away March 31 at her home in Berkeley. A funeral was held April 7.
Her career at Berkeley spanned the computer age. She began in 1952 working for the Institute of Engineering Research as a keypunch operator. In 1956 she transferred to the department then known as "Computer Center," where she remained until her retirement.
"What is not evident from that brief history was her tremendous dedication to the campus and her devoted 'mothering' of the computer center staff members in Evans Hall," said colleague Margaret Baker.
She is survived by her husband, Harry K. Gee, and her daughter, Juliet Gee.
Simone Sciobereti, a foreign student admissions officer at Berkeley for almost 40 years, died Feb. 25 at Alta Bates Hospital after a long struggle with breast cancer. She was 71.
Sciobereti is particularly remembered for her warmth and kindness in helping foreign students orient themselves to student life at a large university. She often served as a volunteer in escorting foreign visitors on campus.
She is survived by her cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Jean Jochem of France, and their children.
Benefits
Great America Discounts
Paramount's Great America Good-Any-Day corporate general admission tickets are available at a discount from the Cashier's Office, 140 University Hall.
General tickets (ages 7 and up) are $18.25; children (ages 3 through 6 or under 48 inches tall) are $12.75; children 2 years and under are free. General admission is regularly $25.95; $12.95 for children.
Staff Enrichment
Employee Development And Training
For more information, for copies of the 1994-95 Employee Development and Training catalog or for information on how to enroll in classes, call 642-8134.
Career Strategy Group
April 20, 27, and May 4, 12 noon to 1:30 pm, Room 24, University Hall.
This brown bag group is designed to assist you in developing a career plan and an active career strategy at Berkeley. The size of each group is limited to 10. (2)
Customer Service Excellence for Managers and Supervisors
April 21, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and May 2, 1 pm to 5 pm, Room 24, University Hall.
This training provides managers and supervisors with an opportunity to explore the foundations of service excellence and to develop the knowledge and skills they need to enhance service in their departments. (3)
Fundamentals Of University Budgeting
April 26, 1 pm to 5 pm, Room 24, University Hall.
This course will cover basic university budget principles and process. The focus will concentrate on the practical aspects of budgeting as currently done on campus.
It will also provide information on future procedural changes resulting from implementation of the Berkeley Financial System. Ample time will be provided for questions from participants. (1)
Worker's Compensation
For more information or for registration, call Laurie Westphal at 643-9403 or Cynthia Burnham at 643-6921.
Workers' Compensation Benefits Procedures, Introductory Class
May 3, 9 am to 12 noon, Section Club Room, Tang Center.
Learn about workers' compensation benefits, which include employee options, extended sick leave and how to "buy back" time.
Workers' Compensation Benefits Procedures, Advanced Class
May 10, 9 am to 12 noon, Section Club Room, Tang Center.
This class will cover case examples, calculations and time sheet documentation. Enrollees must have attended the introductory class in order to enroll. Exceptions may be granted by calling Laurie Westphal at 643-9403.
Classes
Care Services
Care Services provides counseling, assessment and referral services for faculty and staff. Call 643-7754 for information and enrollment.
When Stress Turns to Burnout And the Blues
April 13, 11 am-1 pm
This class will explore causes for burnout and how to alleviate symptoms. Participants will develop plans for coping with such problems.
Communicating When You're Angry
April 18, 11 am-1 pm
Anger is an instructive emotion. Anger lets you know when you may have been injured or wronged. In this workshop, participants learn to translate anger into communication.
Awards and Honors
David A. Aaker, professor of business, has won the Pacific Telesis Foundation Award for his article, "Building a Brand: The Saturn Story" in the California Management Review.
Aaker, who has taught at Haas since 1968, has focused his research on branding strategies, business strategies and advertising. "Building a Brand" examines the development of General Motors' ambitious Saturn project--from GM's ideal of creating a high-quality, domestically manufactured vehicle to actually becoming one of the strongest auto brands in the United States today.
The California Management Review publishes research papers on business and management, serving as a bridge of communication between academics and practitioners.
Yuval Peres, assistant professor of statistics, has just shared the 1995 Rollo Davidson Prize with P. Biane of France.
The prize recognizes outstanding young researchers in probability theory and commemorates Rollo Davidson, a promising British probabilist who died in a mountain climbing accident. It has been awarded annually since 1976. Previous winners include statistics professors David Aldous and Steven Evans.
George Leitmann, professor of engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering of the Republic of Georgia in recognition of his contributions to systems and control theory and their applications to engineering, socioeconomic and ecological systems. He has also been elected a corresponding member of the academy's section on mathematics and natural sciences.
Robert Tjian, professor of molecular and cell biology, has been selected as a Passano Award Laureate for his studies of gene transcription, a process fundamental to normal cell growth and development as well as the initiation of diseases such as cancer. The award is given by the Passano Foundation of Baltimore, Md., for outstanding research completed in the United States.