Maxine Mallach, dead at 86.

[David Linwood]

Dear IGS People,

An historical note. Ms. Maxine Mallach who just last year received the J. Talbott Winchell Award for her lifetime contributions in support of the Institute of General Semantics, has passed away at her home in Lime Rock, Connecticut. Her house is in easy walking distance to the Institute of General Semantics when the Institute was located in Lime Rock in the old Leonard Richardson mansion.

Maxine served faithfully from 1946 to 1973, first hired as a typist and assistant editor to the Director, Ms M. Kendig. In later years, after Charlotte Read had moved to the Columbia University area with her husband Alan Walker Read, and M. Kendig was feeling the onset of ill health and advancing old age, Maxine took on the role of Acting Director, with the aid of a few associates. She kept the General Semantics Bulletin and the Newsletter in publication, and served the Membership.

Maxine relates how Alfred Korzybski used to come visit with her father, Joseph Mallach, who was an aeronautical engineer and mathematician, and hold long conversations with him. "Mac" developed a great affection and admiration for Korzybski and was devoted to the promotion of the goals of the Institute.

She died in her sleep, July 29, 2008, at the age of 86, after a short illness. A dozen people were present at the funeral celebration, including IGS member Bob Potter, who also received the J. Talbot Winchell Award, and a surviving nephew, and household caretakers, were present at the funeral, held in Canaan, CT. Although Maxine was not religious -- in the absence of a Catholic priest, services were performed by a local Eucharistic Minister. Bob Potter relates that the weather was "absolutely perfect." He apologized for the GS-forbidden words -- but insisted the description was less than adequate.

Bob invites anyone interested in visiting Maxine's gravesite (as well as that of Korzybski, Kendig, and Gates) to contact him. He lives nearby in West Cornwall, CT, telephone
860-672-6191 or write to address: 337 Town Street, West Cornwall, CT 06796.

Sincerely,

David Linwood
[e-mail]

PS. A thank you to Janet Manko, Editor of the Lakeville Journal, and a neighbor of Maxine, for her obit and help with the final arrangements.
Also a big thank you to Bob Potter for his help. DL

[Bruce I. Kodish]

Sigh!
Though I didn't know her, I honor her, one of the quiet helpers indispensible in keeping things going at the Institute for so long. Thanks for letting us know.

[Bruce I. Kodish]

The cat on the lap of the man sitting in front on the right of the photo—Daffodil?

Do you have a date for the photo?

[David Linwood]

The date I have is Dec. 1954. Daffodil dates back to 1948 at least, I believe -- somewhere around there.

You are looking at one of the local "White Hollow" breed -- it could be Daffodil, since cats of that breed, and pampered as they were, lived about 13 to 15 years. The White Hollow breed had a luxuriant gray coat with a pure white, fluffy undercoat that inflated their "size". They had a lovely disposition and appreciated being fondled and fed. I have not seen that breed anywhere else -- but then, I'm certainly no cat fancier.

I recall several of those cats around. Daffodil was a favorite. The name of the breed came from the fact that the IGS address was on White Hollow Road in Lime Rock.

If you would like I can look through some other pictures. I recall that my wife loved that kind of animal, and I believe I have a shot of her fondling one during one of our visits to IGS.. I'll get back to you after I compare the two pictures.

Regards,

David

[Bruce I. Kodish]

Ralph remembered Daffodil as the cat of Charlotte [Schuchardt Read].
From your account it sounds like Daffodil belonged to the White Hollow 'clan' (sounds like a family in the Ozarks).

Re the photo above:
Maxine Mallach looks like a very attractive young woman in the photo. She has a startling resemblance to my mother at a similar age. I recognize two friends of mine, a young Allen Flagg, still with us, and Tom Nelson, alas no longer with us. I wonder if anyone else in the group besides Allen is still alive.