MEMORIES OF MYRON

I feel blessed to have many fond memories of Myron. They start when we were freshmen at Harvard College in the fall of 1947.Fresh out of high school,we were impressed and influenced by the large number of World War II veterans in our class. They were older and wiser and undoubtedly good role models.
Myron and I met on the stairway in Weld Hall, one of the oldest venerable buildings in Harvard Yard. My room was on the top,the fifth floor, Myron on the floor below. The veterans,notwithstanding, we and our room mates broke the tedium of study by engaging in water gun fights floor to floor!We became close friends and decided to room together for the remaining three years. These are a few of my memories:
OUR BEHAVIOR:My recollection is that we were both quite straight. We obeyed the rules, were awkward with girls,drank little, achieved far to good grades, and were more followers than leaders. We were jealous of the risk takers who broke Harvard's parietal rules, particularly not permiting girls in the rooms over night.
CHINESE FOOD:Myron's older brother George made a major discovery---Wah Yuans, a small basement restaurant in Chinatown near South Station. Wah had everything—superb food and bargain prices. There were no menus and the bill was totaled and presented as an abacus. Wah Yuans quickly became our god standard for the best in Chinese food, even to this day.
POLITICS:I must mention election night in 1948 when Truman unexpectedly defeated Dewey. Myron, I and dozens of other Democrats marched at midnight on Memorial Hall and took over a party abandoned by the vanquished Young Republicans.
CAREER GOALS:We both majored in the social sciences, Myron in anthropology, I in social relations which combined anthropology,psychology, and sociology. As we began our junior year I decided to go to medical school after graduation. Immediately I had to start pre-med courses. Although I didn't realize it until later, my decision influenced Myron who did the same thing in his senior year,i.e. Take FOUR pre-med courses at one time. Later, after medical school,we both devoted our careers to the care of children—Myron in child and adolescent psychiatry, I in pediatrics and adolescent health care.
CONTINUING CONTACT: Since our Harvard days we have experienced over 50 years of frendship. We always relished what we had in common—three sons,careers devoted to the care of the young, concern for the world and a passion to make it better. Though we did not see each other regularly. we stayed in touch with visits when we could and with phone calls through the years,. I treasured Myron's loyalty and friendship and will miss him greatly.

Jerry Rauh
October 17, 2008