International House Berkeley

20 International House Times Zoe (Nakos) Canellakis (IH 1947-51), a senior research scientist at Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Pharmacology, was a lifelong advocate for woman in science. She received a master's in biochemistry from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in physiological chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. As the chair of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women of the American Society of Biological Chemists and Carnegie Conference on Women keynote speaker, she organized panels that focused on helping scientists, especially women, along successful career paths–forever changing the trajectory of many of her mentees' lives. When one student asked what they could do to thank her, Zoe simply said, "Do it for someone else." 1950s Walter John Jr. (IH 1950-54), was a distinguished scientist who lived in I-House while completing his doctorate in physics at UC Berkeley. It was at I-House that he met Carol (Salin) John (IH 1953- 54), his wife of 69 years. As a Livermore National Laboratory Senior Physicist and Nuclear Reactor Research Group Leader, he discovered a new mode of fission in Fermium. He later transitioned to aerosol science, driven by the opportunity to study airborne particles contributing to Los Angeles smog, and spent most of his career as a research scientist at the California Department of Public Health. Walter was a decorated veteran of WWII, active in the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War era, and a committed pacifist. His daughter, Leslie (John) Blackman (IH 1983-84), and her husband, Gregory Blackman (IH 1983-84), are also I-House alumni. Rajnikant T. Desai (IH 1951-53) championed social, political, educational, environmental, artistic, and spiritual causes during his long, prolific life. He earned his M.S. in structural engineering from UC Berkeley in 1953. While living at I-House, he met his true love, Helen (Crane) Desai (IH 1951-52). They married in 1954 and settled in San Francisco, where they shared 68 years together, celebrating the best of their East-West cultures, raising three children, and building a successful engineering business that specialized in seismic engineering. They were longtime supporters of I-House and of Sanskrit Studies at UC Berkeley. Marino Ronano de Medici (IH 1956) attained a master of journalism degree from UC Berkeley before embarking on a distinguished career as a foreign correspondent for Italian publications, including Il Tempo, L'Informazione, Le Gazzette, Il Messaggero Veneto, and Il Secolo XIX. De Medici covered historic events, including the Vietnam War and coups d'état in Chile and Argentina. He interviewed many prominent figures of the past century, including Muhammad Ali and every U.S. president from Lyndon Johnson through George H.W. Bush. De Medici also authored three books, served as Communications Director for the United Nations Agency IFAD in Rome, taught journalism at the Padua campus of Boston University, and upon returning to the United States, became an Adjunct Professor at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. Following his tour in Okinawa as an Officer of the U.S. Marines, Henry William "Hank" Schoenlein's (IH 1957-59) spirit of adventure led him from the Midwest to graduate school at UC Berkeley, where he completed his master's in social work. During this time, he lived at I-House, where he met his soulmate and best friend, Laila (Gabriel) Schoenlein (IH 1957- 58). Hank gave over 30 years of dedicated service to the State of California as a health care administrator and social worker. From his professional career to community service, to bicycle touring with his buddies, Hank pursued all his interests with tremendous passion. He especially loved engaging in and celebrating the lives and aspirations of his and Laila's children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. In Memory continued from previous page.

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