Conversation with Barbara Leberman Rodbell

alandsheila@yahoo.com

Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Dear Al,

I'm afraid I can only consider your essay a literary effort as it was so beautifully written. Somewhat to my chagrin, you have articulated the essence of Martin's "quest" more precisely than I ever have.  Your statement that "Martin spent his life in his own resistance movement" perfectly captures the spirit and passion of his research. He was in rebellion against ignorance, even knowing the fantastically miniscule contribution he could make in his (our) short lifetime. And I believe that the horrors of the 20th century contributed to the passion with which he worked.  In fact, in measuring what was more important in his research--the results or the process--I would say the process, hands down.  It was the search that mattered, that "wisp of a seedling after a firestorm" as you so beautifully put it, that holds forth any possibility of 'redemption' for the human race.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. But of course I am curious about you:  why this blog, what are your interests?  Do keep in touch.

All the Best,

Barbara

On Jan 11, 2011, at 10:03 AM, Rodbell wrote:

Barbara,

Don't think of it as any type of literary effort, just a simple expression of affection and admiration for you and Martin.

Martin's Poem.

Al





--- On Mon, 1/10/11, Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net> wrote:

From: Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Elka Fink and Earle Silber
To: "Rodbell" <alandsheila@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, January 10, 2011, 3:08 PM

Hello Al,

I am very touched to hear of your interest in Marty's and my story and I would be pleased to read your essay. As you know, the poem was written and read by Marty as an acceptance speech at the Grand Fete of the Nobel ceremony.  Thus it has an deliberately exalted tone addressing the excitement both of the occasion and the process of scientific discovery.  But I get ahead of myself.  Why don't you just send your essay? I'd be very interested to read it and promise to give my honest opinion.

All the Best,

Barbara Rodbell

On Jan 10, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Rodbell wrote:

Barbara,

I am your late husband Martin's second cousin, and recently by a strange coincidence connected on the internet with the son of your childhood friend Elka.   I've long been fascinated by the story of you and Martin, and felt regret that I had drifted away over the years from the Rodbell side of our family, even missing the time that you both attended the Cousins club, soon after Martin's international award.

My sister Arlene Epstein is still close to Earle, whom I believe was friends with Martin.   She tells me how Earle many decades ago described the importance of Martin's research and predicted that some day it would be recognized as such.

As someone who has taken an interest in the interplay of religion and society, I was struck by "Thoughts from 'On High' " and inserted it into the Wikipedia article   From this poem, I've speculated in an essay on Martin's philosophy in this area, and never hoped that I may someday have the opportunity to find out whether I'm even on the right track.

If you have the time, I would greatly enjoy sharing this essay with you.

Regards

Al Rodbell
Encinitas California
760-436-4234