AMY BETH SEGAL
Amy Beth Segal, a 34-year-old graduate student at the Sloan School of Management, died of cancer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on July 21.
Ms. Segal, a resident of New York City, had been receiving treatment for her illness at the Houston medical center, which is near the home of her sister and brother-in-law, Mara and Scott Van Nostrand.
She came to MIT in 1992, after earning the BS in labor relations from Cornell University and the MS from the London School of Economics. She was in the final stages of completing her PhD in organization studies at MIT at the time of her death.
Her husband, Jeffrey Feinsod of New York City, said Ms. Segal had accepted a position as assistant professor at McGill University in Montreal prior to her illness.
First diagnosed with a rare lung sarcoma last fall, Ms. Segal had surgery in September and underwent subsequent treatment during the past 10 months. She continued doing research for her PhD thesis despite the serious nature of her illness.
Her thesis work was considered unique in its philosophical and methodological stance, as well as for its "honest portrayal of the emotional side of organizational life, for extending the boundaries of theories of feminism and organizational change," according to a statement by organizers of a scholarship fund being set up to honor Ms. Segal.
The group hopes to raise funds to hire a writer who will work with Ms. Segal's colleagues to finish her dissertation, and to offer a biannual scholarship to women students at the Sloan School.
"Amy focused on building strong relationships with those she loved, but also made time to enjoy literature, photography, yoga and cooking," Mr. Feinsod said. "She was committed to women's issues and community service, and volunteered her time and energy to many worthwhile organizations."
Born in New York City, Ms. Segal graduated from high school in her hometown of Oradell, NJ. She is survived by her husband; her parents, Judy and Paul Segal of Oradell; her sister; and twin nieces Alanna and Zoe Van Nostrand of Houston.
A memorial service was held on August 2 at the B'Nai Jeshurun Temple in New York City. The family requests that donations in Ms. Segal's memory be sent to either the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Development Fund-Sarcoma Research, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030; to Gilda's Club NYC, 195 West Houston St., New York, NY 10014; or to the scholarship fund. For information about the scholarship fund, contact Sandra Rothenberg at srothenberg@alum.mit.edu.
KATHERINE E. DARBY
A funeral was held on May 12 for Katherine E. Darby, 84, of Somerville, a former senior office assistant in the Comptroller's Accounting Office, who died on May 8. She retired in 1984 after working at MIT for 16 years.
Ms. Darby is survived by a daughter, Barbara Niemeyer of Somerville; a sister, Pauline Mosher of St. Johnsbury, VT; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
JOHN MULKERN
John Mulkern, 72, of Hudson, a former electrician at Lincoln Lab, died on April 22. He was hired in 1952 and retired in 1986. Mr. Mulkern is survived by his wife, Patricia; a son, John of Jacksonville, NC; two daughters, Patricia Mulkern of Framingham and Maureen Mulkern of Hudson; and three grandchildren.
JOHN M. WHALEN
John M. Whalen, 64, of Burlington, a security officer at Lincoln Laboratory, died on May 25. He had been working there for nine years. Survivors include his wife, Mary E.; and three daughters, Brenda A. Peterson, Judith A. Whalen and Loretta A. Galligan.
A version of this article appeared in the September 11, 1999 issue of MIT Tech Talk (Volume 44, Number 2).
