Dear friends,
Janis Giorgi was an incredibly talented scientist with an international reputation. She was deeply respected and loved by her peers, many of who contributed their thoughts in this compendium. Although words cannot replace grief, this document gives us all an opportunity to reflect on our relationships with Janis alongside her friends.
It is a lovely sonnet (iii) by William Shakespeare.
When to the Sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrances of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night, And weep afresh love’s long-since-cancell’d woe, And moan th’ expense of many a vanish’d sight:
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o’er The sad account of for-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.
"I have known Janis for many years and have had the opportunity to work with her on several scientific projects. The best way to describe Janis is as a tireless worker, unselfish colleague, and great friend. When working with Janis it was always clear that her needs took a back seat to the quality of the science and other people. Her contributions to HIV research, to people living with HIV disease, and to her colleagues will last forever. Her influence on me is felt every day.”
“I will remember Janis most for her boundless enthusiasm, for her ability to always engage an interesting conversation, and for her skill at playful banter. And for the twinkle in her eye. I will miss her dearly.”
“I will long remember Janis as an exceptional person, both as a scientist and as a friend and colleague."
“Janis had an infectious enthusiasm about science, which she projected to all that worked with her. The years that I spent collaborating with Janis were among the best of my life. She was quick to consider new ideas, but critical in her consideration of them. We spent many wonderful hours together arguing scientific points, many having to do with immunologic mechanisms. She never rejected my ideas because I was an epidemiologist who knew nothing about immunology (although that was, of course, true) but debated the ideas on the basis of their value. Thus, she allowed me to participate in the excitement of her work. I have acutely missed her collaboration over the last several months as her illness demanded more from her and I shall continue to miss her."
“Janis was committed to science and even during the most difficult times of her illness she was committed to seeing that the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study would continue after her departure. She found good people to take over and assured a smooth transition. She gave that extra measure despite having to battle her illness constantly."
“Janis and I also shared many students. They remain devoted to her because of her commitment to them and to the quality of the guidance that she gave them, not only scientifically, but personally. She was an outstanding example of what a professor should aspire to be. Her enthusiasm for her discipline and for the advancement of science set a pattern for her students, colleagues and staff that they have continued to follow."
“Janis was devoted to her staff and they to her. They were not just employees, they were part of her family. Their loss will be particularly acute."
“Janis has left her mark on science, her students, her colleagues and her staff. She will not be forgotten.”
“Janis was a brilliant scientist and a remarkable human being, and I feel truly blessed to have been both her colleague and friend. Among my many memories of Janis, I recall with gratitude how she spent one Christmas eve in her camper outside Duane’s mother’s house in Colorado proofreading my NIH grant (of course, with typical Janis ‘superprecision’). But above and beyond our exciting scientific interactions, my most vivid memory is the image of Janis and Duane dancing together at her 50th birthday party. Janis was absolutely glowing with happiness and it struck me how perfectly matched these two soul mates were. Indeed, I believe the most significant and meaningful components of her life were the beautiful relationship and experiences she shared with Duane and her intensely loyal friendships with so many colleagues. Her passion for science was matched by her zest for living life to the fullest. I miss her terribly, but am certain that her scientific and personal legacy will forever be a part of the many fortunate colleagues and friends whose lives she touched.”
“Janis Giorgi was a totally committed warrior in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Her scientific contributions were substantial and will be lasting; however, she will be remembered as much for her warmth, charm and soothing effect on colleagues and friends as she will be for her many other accomplishments. She will be sorely missed.”
“As my post-doctoral mentor, Janis was a beacon that guided my intellect and shaped my professional career. As my friend, Janis never denied me the most valuable commodity of all – her time and gentle patience. As a person, Janis was dynamic, vibrant and had a style all her own. Janis taught me how to balance stubbornness and tenacity with compassion and leadership – all in the name of good science. I will miss the sight of Janis’ long hair draping around her face to the desktop while she incessantly studied the raw data that ultimately defined her place in the world. Janis’ passing is such a tragedy – we have all been robbed of a very special person.”
“I remember the first time I came to Los Angeles. Janis insisted that my husband and I absolutely had to stay with her and Duane. She made me fall in love with California that weekend. When she brought us to Los Angeles four years later, she set about making sure we saw all that is magical about Los Angeles. I see her in so many of those places I have come to love, places which have become a part of me."
“In the decade I knew Janis, she taught me countless lessons, but her greatest gift was to teach me what it means to be a woman in science. If you are lucky, someone like Janis comes into your life and touches your soul. I salute the woman who for too short a time was my friend.”
“I met Janis in 1987 when I answered a classified add in the Los Angeles Times for a position in her laboratory. I had just received my Master’s degree and had moved to Los Angeles from South Dakota. Knowing her and working with her has been a great and wonderful journey. Janis always approached life and work with an irresistible enthusiasm and energy. Her integrity and ability to lead and inspire those around her to excellence in all things is what I will remember most.”
“It is impossible to convey how much Janis has meant to Lance and I and our family. Lance began working for Janis in March of 1984, when our son Eric was two years old, just one month before our daughter Gillian was born. I had never aspired to work in science but the enthusiasm that Lance and Janis displayed toward their work in HIV drew me in and four years later I joined Janis’ laboratory. Janis’ keen scientific intellect will be well remembered by all of us who had the privilege of working with her. We will in fact continue to try to answer the scientific questions posed by Janis over the next few years. Although this provides satisfaction on the work front, it does little to ease the pain of missing our dear friend. Janis has always been there for the big events. We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, including Eric’s 18th birthday in February. Janis was there working on moving day when Lance and I bought our first home and she hemmed Gillian’s dress for her first school formal. We spent countless wonderful hours with Janis and Duane over the years doing everything from the Getty Museum to the Saugus Demolition Derby. It was all great fun and always more special when Janis was a part of it. She will be greatly missed at our table.”
“Janis and I met for the first time in 1983 as the MACS “team” coalesced to begin its work. For the 17 ensuing years she steadily gained my admiration for achieving crucial balance—combining intelligence and dedication in pursuit of clear answers to clear questions while drawing upon integrity, humility, joy and good humor to meet success and disappointment with equal grace. We will remain indebted to her as a true colleague and friend whose countless contributions will continue to guide us.”
“My most memorable experience with Janis was a MACS paper we did together in 1997-98. This was my first manuscript as the lead author and it would not have been possible without Janis as my mentor. We completed the paper while Janis was continuing chemotherapy treatments. Our discussions were often unrelated to the paper. We also became friends. I am forever grateful.”
“I was so sorry to hear that Dr. Giorgi passed away. Even though I met her only once when I visited UCLA in summer of 1997, my impression of her is very strong. As I said before, she gave some comments to my manuscript while she was sick. It was great and I really appreciate her so much. She was warm and strong.”
“To Janis: A pioneer in the filed of cellular immunology, a champion for new concepts in HIV pathogenesis, and a dear friend, we will greatly miss you.”
“Janis brought energy, insight, candor and humor into the HIV field. She could make the stodgy, serious, scientific sorts smile and force people to think about what she recognized was important. I was always glad to see her at meetings—I knew she would brighten our day and renew our commitments. I know she fought hard and I am sad we’ve lost her.”
“I have known Janis since the very early days of AIDS research, probably around 1986 or so. She has been a wonderful colleague not only to me but also to some of my colleagues, Dr. Marijke Roos, Peter Schellekens and Hanneke Schuitemaker here at CLB. We met at numerous meetings large and small over the years, which were held at all kind of cities all over the world. Janis, when we met at these occasions, used to hug me and probably others as well in the typical American way - something I, a real Dutch guy, only gradually got used to over the years. I remember having dinner with Janis, and with small groups of people, at many occasions. These dinner parties were a pleasant mix of science and social and sometimes even more private conversations and a lot of fun - it was really fun to be with Janis. Janis was a dedicated scientist who had strong opinions but was a liberal, social, soft and warm person. She was not interested in political game play but just wanted to do good work and she succeeded in doing a lot of it as most of us clearly appreciate!"
“Specifically I remember that we had her over for a European Immunology Meeting in the summer of 1997 in Amsterdam with her friend Duane and for a couple of nights we dined at several places in the city with various people from my lab and with my wife as well. Both of them loved the city. I believe that was the last time we actually met."
“It makes one very sad to hear that Janis passed away at such a young age and I realize that there are not many colleagues for whom I have such warm feelings. I wish her beloved ones all the strength to bear this loss.”
“I have known Janis since she first came to UCLA and we worked together on some of the early immunologic descriptions of HIV and AIDS. Not only was she a superb and extremely insightful scientist and a great collaborator, but I always felt she was truly interested in how people were doing as individuals. Her ready smile and delightful laugh made it a pleasure to see and talk to her at any time. I shall miss her smiling face and her caring very much.”
“I have always been in awe of Janis’ capacity for hard work. By doing the Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride, I want to demonstrate that I have learned the lesson she taught me about believing in myself and reaching my goals. Participating in the ride was initially a tentative decision for me but Janis always talked to me as if it was a definite thing. She knew that I could do it even before I had convinced myself and she gave me money to help buy my bicycle. This is the kind of faith that she had in all of the people around her.”
“First meeting in the MACS, late 1984. Who was this raven-haired young woman in cowboy boots, who spoke with such clarity and perception on immunology and viruses, the murky science that I also loved? Janis, to become my close companion and friend for so many years. A partner in solving the puzzles of the host's fight against this formidable foe. Always challenging the borders of our limits. With a smile and a laugh, but most of all, with a never wavering attitude. God bless.”
“Janis was one of my earliest “outside” supporters, scientifically. She provided me with gentle criticism, ideas, and public support at a critical time in my early career—before I could really stand by myself in the scientific community. By taking some of my ideas into her own research, she provided me with an important validation that gave me a strong motivation to keep going. By example, she taught me that a positive approach to science (and life!) was much more productive than continually fighting negative criticism with negative attitudes. But most importantly, Janis used our common research interests to foster a close intellectual friendship that quickly developed into a personal friendship that I always treasured.”
“I had the opportunity to work with Janis on a senior project. She was always eager to share her knowledge as well as listen to my some of my ideas and opinions. Through this experience, I realized Janis was much more than a scientific mentor. She offered me respect and friendship and that is something that I will always remember.”
“When Janis joined the UCLA flow cytometry laboratory in 1984, her ideas and enthusiasm for science created a very stimulating and scientifically proliferative environment. However, beside her dedication to science, Janis had also a remarkable human side. When she told me that her cancer had recurred, I asked: “What can I do to help?”, she thought for a moment, grabbed both my hands, and then said: ”Just be yourself”. Now, thinking back over the 16 years when Janis directed the laboratory, I realize that this is the essence of what she provided for me; she has given me the greatest gift any mentor can give to a person. Like a good mother, she guided, goaded, and challenged me to reach my potential as a person and a scientist, and to be myself. I will always thank her for that.”
“At first, what struck me about Janis was her openness and honesty, the questions that could be naive and piercing at the same time. What endeared Janis to me was her unrelenting enthusiasm for science and for life, her high ethical standards, and the discovery in her of someone who was more of a “control freak” than I was. And, toward the end, what I marveled at was her selflessness, her genuine concern for the welfare of others and for the continuation of the research. Because Janis demanded so much from herself, those around her were also inspired to strive to be better --- a better person, a better scientist, a better cook.”
“Janis never took no for an answer, was always ready to face challenges and refute dogma and luckily had a good sense of humor".
“She was totally dedicated to research in general and to research on the immune abnormalities in HIV infection in particular and made essential contributions".
“Janis built up a Core Flow Cytometry laboratory and research laboratory of the highest quality with a staff who was totally dedicated to her and to what she stood for".
“Her integrity and vision are an example for every researcher. She was extremely supportive to colleagues, particularly to other women scientists".
“Quality was her first priority both in her professional and personal life. She loved life, music, good food and American Indian Art, but above all she loved Duane. Janis enormous achievements may have been different without the support of both Duane and her dedicated staff.”
“...Janis allowed technicians to be more then just techs... We were treated like co- collaborators on various research projects. And we were allowed to develop new techniques and/or procedures and display our abilities at major conferences throughout the United States. She was a Scientist’s Scientist.
“Janis was a wonderful friend and colleague who was always enthusiastic in everything she did, and fiercely loyal to her people. My last telephone conversation with her was entirely dominated by discussion of ways that I could help insure that her people were cared for after she was gone."
“Janis was equally enthusiastic about her work, and about our recent collaborations. Her comments and insights guided us into directions that we were originally not considering, yet were critical to the work. She will be greatly missed.”
“The things I loved/love about Janis: her explosive laughter; her moral courage; her delight as data accumulated and revealed a story; her outrage at injustice and unfairness; her 100-watt smile; her ability to connect with colleagues on a personal basis; her propensity to think outside the box; in the end, her sweetness, which was her essence.”
After a long battle with cancer, Dr. Janis Giorgi passed away peacefully on May 30, 2000. Those of you who knew Janis will remember her as a vibrant, charming, and enthusiastic scientist and friend who was well-liked by all who met her. Janis made many significant contributions to the field of Flow Cytometry and was a constant contributor with meeting presentations, publications, and, most recently, as member of NIAID Council. Janis will be greatly missed.
