The Memorial Wall

In 1977 at the age of 39, Dr. Jeanne Hoff, a psychiatrist, welcomed a TV crew into her home in Manhattan. Their purpose was to document her journey towards her gender confirmation surgery scheduled the following day.

Lynn Redgrave and Frank Field hosted the documentary titled “Becoming Jeanne: A Search for Sexual Identity,” built around her journey, which was broadcast on NBC in the subsequent spring.

“The path we take regarding our bodies and our lives often unsettles those around us,” Dr. Hoff, a petite woman with brown hair down to her shoulders, explained during the broadcast. She continued, “I can see the fear and confusion in their eyes, even those who have known me for an extended period.”

She had been considering undergoing surgery for many years. Yet, making the decision to go public with her journey, which could have endangered her career and overall well-being, came more naturally to her.

Dr. Hoff aimed to highlight her struggles in acquiring treatment and dealing with doctors who lacked adequate knowledge about transgender individuals. She hoped that her experience would enlighten those in the medical field.

Coverage of transgender personalities during that era was sparse but significant. “Conundrum,” a memoir by travel writer Jan Morris on her own transition, was well received upon its release in 1974. In 1977, Renée Richards, an ophthalmology practitioner and tennis player, obtained a court order to participate in the women’s division at the U.S. Open.

However, Dr. Hoff’s appearance on television was primarily to serve as a model for many of her clients, which included many who identified as transgender or gay. She believed it was crucial for her to live her life openly, confidently, and with no shame, as she encouraged her patients to do the same.

On October 26, Dr. Hoff, believed to be the first transgender psychiatrist to disclose her identity, passed away in her San Francisco home at the age of 85. Carol Lucas, her friend, revealed that the cause of her death was Parkinson’s disease. Gay City News announced her passing this month.

Running a private practice in Manhattan at the time of her transition, Dr. Hoff had also taken over the practice of Dr. Harry Benjamin, a German-born endocrinologist often regarded as the pioneer for transgender care in America. However, in the timeline of that care, Dr. Hoff remains obscure, if recognized at all.

Jules Gill-Peterson, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University specializing in sexuality and transgender history, discovered Dr. Hoff’s archives during her research for her 2018 book, “Histories of the Transgender Child.” It came as a surprise to her that a transgender woman was already practicing as a psychiatrist open about her identity during the 1970s.

Dr. Hoff had championed the release of a Black transgender woman who was institutionalized from age 15 until 30 due to her assertion of her gender identity being falsely diagnosed as “mental retardation,” “delusion,” and “sexual perversion.”

In the documentary “Becoming Jeanne,” Dr. Hoff addressed the lesser but prevalent sexism within her medical team. An example she pointed out was her surgeon’s insistence that her breast implants should be larger, leading him to be surprised when she did not want to appear overly conspicuous.

When questioned about marriage in the documentary, Dr. Hoff revealed her relationship with a man, but she was uncertain if the relationship would survive her transition (which it did not).

“The marriage market for middle-aged spinsters is not thriving,” she commented, emphasizing that she was not dependent on that market for happiness. She said she took fulfillment from her profession and her network of supportive and caring friends, a stark contrast to her life prior.

Dr. Hoff was an only child born on October 16, 1938, in St. Louis to James and Mary (Salih) Hoff. Her father worked as a bottler in a brewery during the 1950s. According to Ms. Lucas, a friend from the 1980s, Dr. Hoff’s memories of her upbringing were scarce but she alluded to it having been a difficult period marked by alcoholism from her father and scarcity.

After earning her B.A. from Washington University in 1960, half of which was funded by a scholarship, Dr. Hoff pursued a Master’s of Science at Yale. In 1963, she earned an M.D. in surgery from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. She served as an instructor in pathology and later as a resident in psychiatry at her alma mater, Washington University, between 1971-1976.

In the 1980s, she sold her practice and relocated to Hudson, New York. In nearby Kingston, she worked at a state-run outpatient clinic providing care to long-term psychiatric patients with severe disabilities, including schizophrenia. She later moved to a group practice in Pittsburgh before finally returning to Oakland, California, where she worked with previously incarcerated individuals via a program with the California Department of Corrections. Dr. Hoff’s eventual retirement in 1999 followed an attack by a prisoner.

“She did not recover well from that trauma,” Ms. Lucas acknowledged, “She said she couldn’t get mad, which would allow her to heal because he was a patient. Her compassion was tremendous.”

Dr. Hoff did not leave behind any immediate family members.

In “Becoming Jeanne,” Mr. Field inquired about how Dr. Hoff wished to be acknowledged and treated by others. To which she promptly responded, “It might not be necessary to exert oneself to grasp the idea of embracing transsexuals if one could simply adhere to the principle of minding one’s own business.”

Dinah Powell Layton went to be with the Lord on October 11, 2023. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother ("Mimi"), sister, friend, and respected member of her community. Dinah was a firm believer in Christ.

She was born on July 28, 1947, in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, to Allison and Marsene Powell.

She attended Denver City High School in West Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University. Dinah taught art and was an amazing interior designer.

Dinah is survived by her loving husband Brian Layton; brother Raymond Powell and his wife Elizabeth; daughter Amy Filler, son-in-law Chris Filler, and granddaughters Alexia, Peyton and Daphne; daughter Alison Tate, son-in-law Pablo Undurraga, and grandsons Joaquin, Lucas, Diego and Matias; son Steven Tate, daughter-in-law Brittney and granddaughter Meredith; daughter-in-law Maria Burton Tate; stepson Ryan Layton, his wife Erica Layton, and grandsons Blake, Kael and Jake.

Dinah was preceded in death by her parents, Allison and Marsene Powell, her sisters Gracie and Nelda, and her son Scott.

Dinah leaves behind many friends and family who were immensely impacted by her. We will truly miss her wit, fun-loving personality, and zest for life... "up to the sky and the sky never ends..."

James "Jim" Dalgarno McCredie Died peacefully in his sleep on 19 October 2023. Dearly loved son of Harold and Marjorie, beloved brother of Andrew and Janet, lifelong companion of wife Margaret, and a very much-loved father of Gina and her husband Peter, Bill and his wife Kate, David and his wife Simone, and youngest son Robert. Cherished grandfather to Tom, Ally, Harry and Jack. Loving uncle of Nick, Steve, Caroline and her husband Andrew, Great Uncle to Lachie and Alex. Brother-in-law to Cate, Eric, Diana and Libby. An avid enthusiast of planes, boats and trains, Jim studied aeronautical engineering at
Sydney University. His career included contributing to the design of planes while working with the Government Aircraft Factory, and undersea testing of defense
equipment with the Navy Research Laboratory. In the early 1980’s Jim was posted to the USA with his family, to take up a position with the Australian Department of
Defense in Washington DC.

After his professional career, Jim was an active contributor to numerous local community organizations including as President of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association for many years. For his service he was named the 2004 Willoughby Citizen of the Year. He was also a key contributor to the establishment of the local Community Fire Unit.
Living with Parkinson’s disease for over 20 years, Jim became an avid supporter and advocate of Parkinson’s Research.

Dr. Frank R. Barta, Jr., 83, of Los Angeles, CA passed away peacefully October 15, 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He had been a patient at Garden Crest Rehabilitation Center and more recently CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, where he had been on staff as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon for many years before his retirement. He was past president of the Hollywood Academy of Medicine.
Frank was born the eldest child of Mildred (Ware) and Dr. Frank R. Barta, Sr. in Detroit, Michigan in 1940. He was raised in the Dundee neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska where he attended St. Margaret Mary's grade school, Creighton Prep where he was a National Merit Finalist, and Creighton University from which he graduated in 1962 with a BA in philosophy, on scholarship.
Afterwards, Frank followed in his father's footsteps, going from Creighton University to Johns Hopkins Medical School, with internship at New York Cornell Hospital and subsequent residencies in general surgery in New York, as well as orthopedics in Norfolk, Virginia and New York, respectively after military service. While practicing medicine in Los Angeles, Frank earned a law degree from Loyola Law School of Loyola Marymount University.
Frank entered military service as a general surgeon in the Army medical corps at the rank of Captain in New York, NY, August 10, 1969. He served in Vietnam where he earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Soldiers Medal for volunteering for a rescue mission while on field deployment in Plei Djereng, the Combat Medical Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 O/S Bars, and the Bronze Star. He resigned from the Army at the rank of Major at Fort Dix, New Jersey, August 9, 1971. He belonged to American Legion Post 43 in Los Angeles for many years, where he enjoyed lively conversation at social gatherings with other veterans of military service.
Frank was the eldest of six siblings. Like his father, Frank had an eclectic and inquisitive mind, a prodigious memory, and strong opinions. He was a stellar student, with little apparent effort, and grew up in a house with a library and abundant reference works, literary classics, tomes in philosophy and psychology, as well as myriad medical and nutrition journals, and favored magazines like Popular Mechanics, and Electronics Illustrated to feed his curiosity.
From an early age Frank mastered whatever struck his interest, whether Lionel train layouts, chemistry sets, cameras, photography and photo development, amateur radio, telescopes and astronomy, or, later on, learning how to fly and maintain his precious second-hand Mooney, which he bought for $11,000 in 1971 after receiving training and earning a pilot's license while stationed near McQuire Air Force base in New Jersey. He loved taking things apart, then putting them back together, in order to know how they worked. After law school, Frank became interested in economics and was doing research for a book on the subject.
Frank is survived by a far-flung family of five siblings (twin sisters and three younger brothers): Carol Barta Schutz and her husband Pierre of Strasbourg, France; Dr. Nancy Barta-Smith of Grove City Pennsylvania; Richard Barta of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Matthew Barta and his wife Monna of Brandon, Florida; and Michael Barta and his wife Nancy Hill Barta of Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Thomas Gregory who passed shortly after birth, and his grandparents Anna and Rudolph J. Barta and Nancy Boice and Richard Samuel Ware.
The Barta family wishes to acknowledge its deep gratitude to the management and staff at The Hollywood Ardmore Apartments where Frank lived for many years, to members of American Legion Post 43, to the management and staff at Garden Crest Rehabilitation Center, and especially to Frank's friend Luis Muralles for their efforts on Frank's behalf, particularly during the Covid pandemic and in the final months of his illness.

Dr. Melvyn Schaff, a longtime Northern Westchester pediatrician who also served as the medical director for the Lakeland, Hendrick Hudson and Peekskill school districts, died Oct. 3 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was 74.

After graduating from New York University, Dr. Schaff attended Medical School at the University of Bologna, Italy, attaining his Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery in 1977. There he met, fell in love with and married the love of his life, Adriana. He returned to New York to complete residency through New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. He retained this affiliation with the Medical College and was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. Following tenure as the Chief Pediatric Resident at Westchester Medical Center, Dr. Schaff began his practice in the Peekskill-Cortlandt Manor area in 1981. He served countless children and their families. His calm demeanor and gentle sense of humor were characteristics particularly suited to the healthcare of children. Dr. Schaff was caring and compassionate and many of his patients continued to see him even as they entered young adulthood.

As his involvement in the community grew, Dr. Schaff became the District Physician for Lakeland, Peekskill and Hendrick Hudson school districts. His dedication to the students and staff led him to establish a popular “Dine-Around” that allowed school nurses, medical residents and attending pediatric specialists to gather for lively and useful discussions over meals. He skillfully guided them to explore practical and creative solutions to real problems in children’s health.

Additionally, mentorship of young people who were interested in medical or nursing careers was a commitment he frequently made. As a Boy Scout co-leader and Committee Chairman of Troop 165, he influenced so many others. In retirement he volunteered to teach English as a second language. All who knew him felt the touch of his kindness. His wisdom knew no bounds.

Dr. Schaff is survived by his wife of 43 years, Adriana, his son Peter of Peekskill, New York, and his brother Craig of Montrose, Colorado.

Chris Wilcox founded the Scotia Festival of Music in 1980 to bring classical musicians, directors and orchestras to the people of Halifax.

The festival this year will serve as an in memoriam for Wilcox who died in October 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015.

Current artistic director Simon Docking told CityNews in an interview that he chose the program with Wilcox in mind.

“Either outwardly or just almost subconsciously, the way I’ve programmed this festival, there’s a tribute to Chris, a little Easter egg in most concerts in one way or another,” Docking said.

He said the festival will host a free concert on the afternoon of June 2 as a tribute to Wilcox.

“Chris died last October and we immediately decided to make this whole festival in Chris’s memory, with this particular concert being a celebration of his life and legacy,” he said.

Beverly Willis, FAIA, an American architect renowned for her commitment to elevating female design professionals, has died at the age of 95 in Branford, Conn., following complications from Parkinson’s disease. Throughout a career spanning 65 years, Willis's achievements included several notable projects and leadership positions, but her labor went beyond shaping America's built environment. Disturbed by female invisibility in architectural history, Willis also helped mold professional architecture practice in the United States by highlighting accomplishments of, and advocating for, women in the building industry.

When asked why we should talk about the role of women in the architecture profession, Willis told ARCHITECT that "cutting-edge form and large projects have a place in architecture, but I believe most women are more concerned about society as a whole. Thousands of small interventions can make our cities a better place to live, while an occasional iconic, monumental structure does not. And then on the business level, there are more women executives today than ever before. These women are in the position to commission large projects, [and] I don't believe a single-sex team will make the grade."

Born on Feb. 17, 1928, in Tulsa, Okla., Willis was one of 200 women attending the University of Southern California in 1945. Shortly after, Willis studied aeronautical engineering at Oregon State University and, in 1955, she earned a B.A. in art from the University of Hawaii. After working as an independent artist for a decade, Willis founded her own San Francisco–based architectural firm in 1966 highlighting the potential of adaptive reuse throughout her practice and completing one of her best-known designs—the San Francisco Ballet Building—in 1983. In 1971, Willis also pioneered computer programming in firms with Computerized Approach to Residential Land Analysis, aka CARLA, a software developed in-house. Today, 13 of Willis's architectural designs are in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and her full archive of drawings resides in the Virginia Tech libraries.

In 2002, after 36 years of leading her eponymous firm, Willis noticed that architectural historians and textbooks often overlooked trailblazing female practitioners. "I looked back and realized that the arbiters of architecture culture had systemically overlooked some of the great women architects of my mid–20th century era," Willis told ARCHITECT in 2007. Aiming to correct this glaring omission, Willis founded the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, initially a database aimed at honoring the contributions of female design professionals.

"Recovering the stories of women architects is a greater gift to future generations than the singular preservation of my own legacy," Willis explained to ARCHITECT. "It's a living legacy, if you will."

Willis hoped that the foundation would emphasize why the building industry needed a multitude of perspectives to build "a better environment for everyone," she said. "If we incorporate the ideas of the many over the visions of the few, we will create, in my opinion, a much more equitable and humanistic environment for everyone. And, really, shouldn't that be the profession's larger ethical goal?"

In the years since its founding, BWAF has expanded its reach, advocating for and fostering female contributions to the built environment.

Willis also advocated for the rights of women in the building industry, penning an opinion piece with Julia Donoho, AIA, for ARCHITECT in 2018 after multiple women accused the Pritzker Prize laureate Richard Meier, FAIA member emeritus, of sexual harassment.

"I became interested in the topic of sexual misconduct when I was trying to understand why many women were dropping out of the design field within their first 10 years of practice," Willis wrote with Donoho. "These were young and talented women who had excelled in architecture school. They were also vulnerable. Recent headlines have made it clear how prevalent sexual misconduct can be when powerful men hold the keys to a person’s career and advancement. There have been too few consequences and too much looking away."

In addition to many professional accolades—Willis was elected the first female president of the California Chapter of The American Institute of Architects in 1979 and received the chapter's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017—Willis also co-founded the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., in 1980.

Willis is survived by her spouse, Wanda Bubrisk. Willis's work is also highlighted in Emerging Ecologies: Architecture and the Rise of Environmentalism, an exhibition on view at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Marshall B. Grossman, an attorney for 55 years who had a highly successful practice, has died.

Burt Pines, a former partner of his, said that Grossman died Saturday night from Parkinson’s disease. He remarked:

“He was a towering figure in the field of civil litigation. A force of nature.

“He possessed a rare combination of intellect, verbal skills, tenacity, knowledge of the law, and ability to think outside the box to seek creative solutions to complex problems. 

“If you were on the other side of a lawsuit with Marshall, you were at a distinct disadvantage.

“I have known Marshall since the 10th grade and had the pleasure of working as his law partner for over 17 years, 1981-1999. 

“I could not have asked for a better partner or firm. Marshall set a standard of professionalism, excellence, integrity, and service to clients that was emulated throughout the firm. He was a wonderful mentor to younger lawyers. He cared about the people who worked with him. He was generous, thoughtful, and always available for assistance. 

“He’s also admired and respected for his work and service outside the practice, including his public service on the Coastal Commission and Commission on Judicial performance, and his service to many organizations in the Jewish community.”

Grossman has been honored by the Century City Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar Association for his contributions to the community and the legal profession.

He was a member of the California Coastal Commission in 1985, at a time when the Jonathan Club discriminated by race and religion in granting membership and it wanted to expand its Santa Monica beach facility by renting state-owned land. Grossman is quoted in the book, “Lawyers of Los Angeles, 1950 to 2020,” as declaring:

“What we’re saying is that if you’re going to take (58,000 square feet of) public-trust land, you’re going to have to use the facility in such a way that a Tom Bradley can be a member, that a Diane Feinstein can be a member, or that my kid can be a member.”

The Jonathan Club sued over the decision, losing.

Grossman assumed inactive bar status on Feb. 3, 2020.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene; his children, Leslie and Rodger; and three grandchildren, Sofia, Goldie, and Max.

Yacov Sharir, who blazed trails for Austin modern dance and inspired University of Texas students for decades, died from complications related to Parkinson's disease. He was 83.

“Yacov Sharir has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of this country and certainly in Austin," Charles Santos, director of Dallas-based Titas/Dance Unbound, said. "He guided, trained, inspired more than one generation of movement artists studying at UT to go into the world and find their own creative paths.

"He was a mentor, a friend and a guidepost for me throughout my entire career," Santos continued. "His drive, his creativity and his humanity are permanent lessons I was lucky enough to glean from Yacov. He will be missed, but not forgotten.”

Sharir is credited with helping to put the UT dance program on the national map. In 1982, he founded a key Austin troupe in residence at UT, Sharir Dance Company. The troupe was rebranded in 1997 as Sharir + Bustamante Danceworks, when Sharir shared artistic leadership with fellow dancer and dance-maker José Bustamante.

Together, they brought some of the biggest names in modern dance — Bill T. Jones, Arnie Zane, Trisha Brown, Margaret Jenkins, Bella Lewitzky, Rina Schenfeld — to the city to work with local artists before the company shut down in 2007.

Born August 22, 1940, in Casablanca, Morocco, Sharir moved to Israel in 1948 at the nation's birth. He studied sculpture and ceramics at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Sharir danced with the Batsheva Dance Company School, Stuttgart Ballet and the Ballet Theatre Contemporain in Paris. As a performer, he worked under dance legends such as Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins and José Limón.

Early on, Sharir was asked to lead classes for the Batsheva troupe.

“I don’t know why they turned to me because there were other company members who had teaching experience," Sharir later said. "I started teaching that class and have never stopped.”

Fluent in French, Hebrew and English, Sharir became a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. In 1978, he arrived in Austin to create the American Deaf Dance Company.

One day after he arrived, Sharir was invited to teach at UT. "There is a fortune in being a teacher in terms of what you give and what you get," Sharir once said. "To see the transformation in students’ lives is unbelievable. You’re not only teaching dance. You’re teaching your life experience and you’re sharing with them very precious moments. That’s a treasure.”

"Yacov changed my life," said Andrea Beckham, one of the city's leading dance-makers and teachers. "First as a student — I was a sociology major, pre-law, taking his modern dance class — then as a longtime company member of Sharir Dance Company, and later as a colleague in the department of theater and dance for almost 30 years. He mentored me and informed me of my way to move through the world of dance, of choreography, of academia and of life, as a citizen of the world."

In 1989, Sharir secured backing for a 10-year project shared with the legendary Merce Cunningham Dance Company. UT's College of Fine Arts provided the space for Cunningham’s rehearsals and, in exchange, students worked alongside artists of the first rank. This project led to three world premieres.

"Yacov Sharir was a true dance visionary," said Carol Adams, former executive director of Sharir Dance Company. "He collaborated with composers, musicians and visual artists to develop new work. This unique approach to producing and presenting dance afforded Austin audiences ongoing opportunities to see a wide variety of cutting-edge dance and performance. As a colleague, he was inspirational and nurturing, always striving for excellence on and off the stage. As a friend, he was always there for me, and I will treasure our decades of experiences and friendship."

Late in his career as a dance-maker, Sharir pioneered virtual reality, intelligent fabrics and interactive systems in performance. These experiments earned him fellowships from the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the National Endowment for the Arts.

"Yacov Sharir was one of the most extraordinary faculty members I knew in my four decades at UT," said Charles Roeckle, retired deputy to the university's president. "His acclaimed accomplishments for the art of dance in the classroom, in performance and in research are a testament to his unparalleled knowledge and vision, as well as his indefatigable hard work and dedication.  But beyond what he accomplished were the personal qualities that made Yacov so special — his boundless enthusiasm and his buoyant optimism."

Sharir's wife, Pat Clubb, who retired as UT's vice president of operations in 2016, said plans for a memorial on campus are underway.

"He was very much a fighter," Clubb said. "He never gave up. He just did it. He had an enormous amount of energy. It was hard to keep up with him. In public, he was charismatic but reserved. Very genuine, gracious, very stubborn. He was determined to do the right thing."

Sharir leaves behind a daughter as well as Clubb's two sons. "We have six grandsons between us," Clubb said.

"He had a pair of phrases that came to shape my life," Beckham said, "and the lives of our shared students: 'This too shall pass,' and if that wasn’t happening, 'You will prevail.'" 

Norm Herman Meyer, a member of the Loma Linda City Council for 22 years, died peacefully on September 24, 2023, after battling Parkinson’s Disease in Redlands with his daughters by his side. He was 98.

Born on September 23, 1925, in Loma Linda where he spent most of his life. After graduating from Loma Linda Academy, he was drafted into the army to serve during World War II in 1944. He was stationed in France.

After returning from the war, he married Priscilla Fern Obst in 1946 and they had twin daughters, Bonnie and Barbara.

He continued to work and finish his college degree. He and his family then moved to Brazil where he served as a hospital administrator for the next eight years. While there, they welcomed an adopted son, Kenneth.

After returning to the United States, he continued to work in hospital administration and served on the Loma Linda City Council for 22 years.

In 1979, he reunited and married his high school sweetheart Pat Davidson.

They spent 43 happy years together living in Loma Linda. Pat has two sons Michael and Karl.

They spent many years traveling throughout the country, and spending time with family and friends.

He was preceded by the death of his wife Patricia and his son Kenneth. He is survived by his daughters Barbara and Bonnie, his stepsons Michael and Karl, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.