First Medical Center director dies at age 72–

Paul I. Jagger, a founding faculty member of UCSD School of Medicine and the first medical director of UCSD Medical Center, died of cancer on Feb. 4. He was 72.

Memorial services for Jagger will be held on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. at the La Jolla United Methodist Church, 6063 La Jolla Blvd.

Jagger, who joined the School of Medicine in 1968, was born in Chula Vista and was a La Jolla resident. He attended the University of Redlands and earned a degree from UCLA School of Medicine.

Upon receiving his degree, he served as a medical intern and a postdoctoral research fellow at Boston University Medical Center. In 1962, he completed his residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston. He then served as a Ward Medical Officer for two years at U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego. He went back to Boston to complete a fellowship in endocrinology and joined Harvard Medical School as a research assistant before he was recruited by UCSD.

At UCSD, Jagger served in many leadership positions, including chair of the Medical Executive Committee, assistant dean of student affairs at the School of Medicine and director of the General Clinical Research Center.

He was appointed the Medical Center’s first medical director in 1982, and served in this position until his retirement in 1996. He also served as associate dean for graduate education.

After his retirement, he served as a voluntary clinical professor of medicine and served part-time on the internal medicine staff of Kaiser Foundation Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, four daughters and five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations in Jagger’s name to the UCSD Cancer Foundation or the San Diego Hospice.

Unveiling of statue, stamp will mark Geisel anniversary–

The 100th anniversary of author Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birth will be marked by the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp and the introduction of a life-size statue of Geisel on March 2 at Geisel Library.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on the outdoor forum level of the library, Audrey Geisel, the author’s widow, will join U.S. Postal Service officials in unveiling a 10-foot-by-8-foot replica of the stamp for its first day of issue.

The 37-cent stamp will feature a headshot of the author surrounded by some of the characters of his inventions, including the Grinch and the Cat in the Hat.

The bronze sculpture of Geisel also features a towering 7-and-a-half foot Cat in the Hat looking over his shoulder. The statue is the second casting of a sculpture by Lark Grey Diamond-Cates, daughter of Audrey Geisel.

Other participants in the program will include the Preuss School Choir, Acting Chancellor Marsha A. Chandler and university librarian Brian Schottlaender.

Exhibitions featuring the work of Geisel are currently on display at Geisel Library and will shift focuses throughout the remainder of the year.

For more information, call (858) 534-2533.

Lawrence Berkeley Lab head steps down–

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director Charles V. Shank announced his decision Feb. 9 to step down from his position by the end of the year. He will return to UC Berkeley as a tenured professor in the departments of physics, chemistry and computer science.

UC President Robert C. Dynes released a statement praising Shank for his 15 years of leadership at the laboratory.

Shank’s announcement comes as the Department of Energy moves toward competition for the management of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, which has been managed by the University of California since its inception in 1931. Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos laboratories will also come up for bid.

Dynes stated that if the UC Regents decide to participate in the competition, Shank will play a role in the competitive process. Dynes has also launched a nationwide search for a new laboratory director.

Shank, a UC Berkeley graduate, joined the Berkeley lab in 1989. Under his stewardship, the multi-program research laboratory’s budget has increased from $229 million to $500 million and garnered a workforce of about 4,000.

Rally against fee increases to be held at Price Center–

A rally against tuition hikes will be held on Feb. 17 at noon at Price Center Plaza. The event is sponsored by the A.S. External Office. For more information, call (858) 534-0474.