Page 13 - Dad's St Jude Projecy

outside of St. Jude for financial support. This is obviously a virtue,
because it encourages initiative and independence. And Allan was as

rigorous with himself as he was with his staff. He took great pride in
running a department that was self-supporting, unlike the other
basic science departments in those early days that were mainly
dependent on St Jude's ALSAC money. He also exhibited admirable
self-restraint: As he skillfully built the best basic science

department at St. Jude, he saw the need to keep its growth in
bounds relative to the other departments. Ifhe had asked for more
institutional support, he would have gotten it, and with extra
resources he could easily have outmaneuvered the weaker

departments for space and personnel. As it turned out, within a few
years he was the only one standing of five basic science chairmen
who came there initially. But he did everything he could to nurture
the successors of that first group of chairmen.

I remember other more superficial examples of the tension between
Allan's generosity and his frugality. Those who knew him remember
him as a great entertainer. Not only as a teller of funny stories, but
as a giver of parties. He enjoyed giving parties and he was a
munificent host. In the early days, at a Granoff party, there was

unlimited food and drink, especially drink. He spared no expense in
procuring a vast variety of beers, wines and spirits. But as the years
went by, things gradually changed. The food got better thanks to the
skills of Allan's wife Faye and potluck contributions by attendees,

but the variety of potables began to shrink, the brands of spirits
became generic, and in time spirits disappeared entirely, to be
replaced by large jugs of California wine and chests full of canned
beer. Good times were still had by all.

Allan's jalopies: He had affection for vintage autos in a condition

that would not generally favor resale in a commercial setting. You
would step into a vehicle with unraveling upholstery, the mechanical
workings inside of the doors exposed by the absence of side panels,
and you'd hunch into your seat in fear of being snagged by the
hardware. And Allan would say, "Isn't this a great car? I'll never sell