Once, asked which historical figure I would most like to spend time with, I answered Albert Einstein (1879-1955) or Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965), both on my short list. If asked again, my choice would be
George Wallingford Downs (1911 – 1964).
Granted, the name recognition is not there, but he was a contemporary of both Churchill and Einstein, and he was my uncle. The three were connected by the events of the Second World War – Einstein and Uncle George were further connected by place and field of interest: both arrived at the California Institute of Technology in the year 1931 – Einstein as a researcher, Downs as a first year student – both in physics. Only seventeen when he died, I was much more interested in who was taking me to the Homecoming Dance, than my uncle’s views on people, science, and world events. I would love a second chance………….
So many levels of common interest to explore here:
Caltech – its architecture and history, accomplishments and philosophical stances of the three men, WWII, the Manhattan project…
CAMPUS ARCHITECTURE
this building, a victim of the insipid architecture of the late 1960’s, constructed with funds from the Downs’ estate and a matching grant from the National Science Foundation,
still, a cherished memorial.
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 
I want to be at that dinner party… as W.H. Auden said, “Art is the means by which we break bread with the dead.”
Love the quote, Anna! You are on guest list – do you have a seating preference???
ps – wait until I tell you about my uncle’s second wife….
I think all of us can think of a second chance we wish we’d had…
Am sure you are right, Karen! I can certainly think of others I wish I could have…