Art Freed, who has served on the J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee (JROMC) for 50 years, chats with fellow member Becky Shankland during the opening reception Thursday of the JROMC’s 50th anniversary exhibit ‘A Legacy of Learning’ at the Step Up Gallery in Mesa Public Library. The exhibit showcases never before seen photographs and artifacts highlighting the JROMC’s 50 years of accomplishments including its memorial lecturers, scholarship recipients, Oppenheimer’s triumphs and tragedies and even his wife Kitty’s life. The exhibit runs through April 24. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Attendees view the JROMC exhibit ‘A Legacy of Learning’ Thursday at Step Up Gallery. The Committee is particularly known for awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Since 1984, the committee has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships. The JROMC also is involved in the effort to get Oppenheimer’s security clearance reinstated. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Luis Pescador views photographs during the opening reception Thursday of the exhibit, ‘A Legacy of Learning’. The exhibit shines a spotlight on the J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee as well as the man himself, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Committee member Damon Giovanielli said the exhibit is a great opportunity to showcase Oppenheimer’s life and career. Giovanielli said that when Oppenheimer came to be the administrator of the Manhattan Project, he had no previous experience as an administrator. However, Gen. Leslie Groves selected Oppenheimer in part because he understood that the people were the most important part of the Manhattan Project. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
JROMC members Jim Tencate and Chris Hazard view the exhibit during its opening reception Thursday. Tencate said they tried to use as many photographs in the committee’s collection as possible to tell Oppenheimer’s story. ‘I think it’s been beautifully planned,’ JROMC member Leon Heller said. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Members of the public check out the exhibit, ‘A Legacy of Learning’ Thursday. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Attendees view the exhibit Thursday at the Step Up Gallery. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com