Congratulations to the 106 honorees at this year's event and to Jeanne and Bob Church, co-winners of the 2013 J. Tillman Hall Staff Award for Service to USC. Thanks to USC Senior Vice President Todd Dickey for hosting; to Jo and Art Ochoa, Staff Retirement Association (SRA) Co-Vice Presidents for organizing; and to SRA President Dixon Johnson who introduced and thanked all the honorees who were able to attend.
The USC Retired Faculty Association (RFA) Annual Meeting will occur in conjunction with the RFA Board of Directors' meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013, in the Andrus Gerontology Center, Room 224, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191 (UPC). The RFA Rules and Procedures can be viewed here, and the current Board Roster can be viewed here. The Rules and Procedures require that the slate of nominees for vacant positions as an officer and as an at-large board member be approved by the board and then be distributed electronically and also posted on the website at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. Voting will be by electronic response only. At the time of the Annual Meeting, the results of this electronic vote will be announced. Newly elected board members will take office on July 1. Please submit your completed ballot by Wednesday, March 6. If you are not currently an active member of the RFA, (i.e., you do not have a paid membership for 2012–2013 but would like to vote), please send your membership check of $20, payable to "USC-RFA" with "2012–2013" in the memo line, to USC RFA, 3715 McClintock Avenue, #220, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, and cast your electronic ballot. To cast your vote, click here.
Preliminary minutes for the February 8, 2013, Board of Directors' meeting are available by clicking here You can always find minutes for RFA board meetings at uscrfa.org/minutes. Don't forget to follow the RFA on Twitter @USCrfa.
From the left: Janette Brown, Jerry Walker, Phoebe Liebig, Bob Stallings, Natalie Cohen, Carole Gustin, Bob Scales, Christine Shade, David Tool, Leonard Wines, worker bee Stephanie, and Maricela Hinojosa.
John Orr, Past President of the Retired Faculty Association, was recently appointed by the Pasadena City Council to serve as a commissioner on the city's Accessibility and Disability Commission. For over a year, Orr has been urging the city to install state-of-the-art assistive listening systems in the City Council chamber and in other venues where public services and programs are offered. "People with hearing loss are by far the largest disability group in Pasadena," Orr said. "The American Disability Act puts an extremely high priority on providing listening accessibility in government sites." Orr's appointment to the Accessibility and Disability Commission provides a significant platform for his work. The Commission accumulates information about barriers being experienced by disabled residents and visitors in Pasadena, and it provides advice to the city council about priorities in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
With deep sadness, the Thornton School notes the passing of Brandon Mehrle, long-time beloved Assistant Dean of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, who died peacefully at his home on January 23, 2013, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Miriam, his sister Jane Bodine of Cape Girardeau, MO, his son David and his daughter Dana (Mehrle) Emery, grandchildren Julie Emery Bauer and Kevin Emery, and 6 great-grandchildren.
Born on October 17, 1923, to Erwin and Neva Mehrle in Cape Girardeau, MO, he served in the Army Air Corps as a Sergeant during World War II. He attended Southeast Missouri State University, received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music at Northwestern University, and did graduate work at the USC School of Performing Arts.
Brandon directed high school and college choirs in Burlington, Iowa, and was an Assistant Professor at Montana State University before locating to Los Angeles to begin his career at USC. He retired from USC in 1989.
He was accorded many honors for his dedication to his work, to students, and to faculty. He was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and Skull and Dagger Honor Society at USC. In 1989 he received the USC President's Award for Staff Achievement. In 2002, he received the Distinguished Service Award for Distinction to the University at Southeast Missouri State University. For many years, he served as Co-chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions, and in 1972 was a founding board member of the Metropolitan Associates in Pasadena, CA.
Dr. Debora Huffman, Associate Dean for Doctoral Programs, notes that "Brandon was my colleague, mentor, predecessor, and friend. I shall miss him dearly, as will many of you."
A memorial service for Dean Mehrle will be held Saturday, February 9, 11:00 a.m., at East Whittier Presbyterian Church, 14061 East 2nd Street, Whittier, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the USC Thornton School of Music Brandon Mehrle Scholarship Fund, 840 West 34th Street, Suite 4080, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
