TALK OF THE CLUB
N E WS O F T H E C L U B , S P E A K E R S , M E M B E R S A N D S U P P O RT E R S
IN MEMORIAM
James C. Hormel
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Photo by Rikki Ward
he country lost a pioneer and major philanthropist August 13, 2021, with the passing of James C. Hormel at the age of 88. Hormel made history in 1999 when he became the first openly gay person to serve as a U.S. ambassador, assuming the role of ambassador to Luxembourg following a protracted political battle between the Clinton administration and opponents in Congress. He was a longtime member of The Commonwealth Club’s Board of Governors and a strong supporter of the Club and its work. Chances are, if you have visited the Club’s waterfront headquarters, you have enjoyed the view from our second-floor Hormel Nguyen In 2016, The Commonwealth Club recognized James C. Hormel (left) for his lifetime of lounge, named after James Hormel and his work for human rights; KQED President and CEO John Boland presented the award. husband, Michael Nguyen Hormel. He was one of the founders of the LGBT raising event of the year, so make a donation M.D., UCSF; Monica Gandhi, M.D., rights organization the Human Rights Cam- to The Commonwealth Club to support our M.P.H, UCSF; Diane Havlir, M.D. UCSF; paign, served on the boards of directors of critical mission to provide balanced, civil Margot Kushel, M.D. UCSF; Carina Marthe San Francisco dialogue on society’s most challenging issues. quez, M.D. UCSF; and Kim Rhoads, M.D., Chamber of Com“I will miss This year’s special event will honor front-line M.S., M.P.H. UCSF and Umoja Health. merce and the Amerphysician heroes and a medical pioneer as The work and contributions of these eight ican Foundation for his kind heart recipients of our Distinguished Citizen award. women has safeguarded the health of our AIDS Research, and If the last 18 months has taught us any- citizenry and kept the Bay Area one of the and generous thing, it is that real heroes don’t wear capes, safest regions of the United States. From supported numerous local nonprofits. they wear white lab coats. The tireless work scientific research to develop the vaccine, spirit.” of our scientists and front-line physicians to social impact programs for guaranteeing “I will miss his kind heart and genhas kept our community safe during the health services to all, these doctors and —DIANNE COVID-19 global pandemic. erous spirit,” said scientists have gone beyond the call of duty. U.S. Senator DiThe Commonwealth Club is pleased to Join us as we honor their commitment, reFEINSTEIN anne Feinstein. “It’s dedicate its Annual Gala and Distinguished silience, knowledge and strength. We thank those qualities that made him such an inspi- Citizen Awards to eight outstanding mem- them for what they have accomplished for rational figure and beloved part of our city.” bers of the Bay Area medical and scientific the betterment of humankind. We call them community: Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., is the Distinguished Citizens. CELEBRATIONS co-inventor of the CRISPR technology and Learn more at commonwealthclub.org/ a Nobel laureate, HHMI investigator, Li 2021gala. Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences and professor in the de- ART WORLD partments of molecular and cell biology and oin us November 19, 2021 at 6 p.m. for a chemistry at the University of California, virtual fundraising gala and celebrate the Berkeley; Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Ph.D., leadership of women in science and medicine. M.D., M.A.S. at the University of California or many years, the Club has featured The annual gala is the Club’s biggest fund- San Francisco (UCSF); Alicia Fernandez, local art at its headquarters. The work of painters, print makers, photographers, textile artists and more have graced our walls. But this fall we turned over the walls of our Farmer Gallery—plus the bookshelves of our lounge, prominent locations throughout the building, and even our rooftop Kaiser Permanente Terrace—to an exhibit of sculptures. ➔
Gala Honors Women in Science, Medicine
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Sculpture at the Club
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commonwealthclub.org | THE COMMO N WE AL TH
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