Letter From Martin Carus, former DFS Life Bureau Chief
Dear Steve:
Looking over the 3/11/19 issue, I came upon page 27 where Looking Back features the LICONY award to Bill Flynn. Brings back memories.
I had just taken over the Life Bureau and Sal Curiale, the Superintendent at the time, lest we forget, called me and asked if I had a tux. I did and we both attended a dinner for Bill Flynn at the 21 Club. We were unaware that after several rounds of drinks and a speech (by video) from Ethel Kennedy, we were supposed to give short speeches. You know Sal and his careful speech preparation; well, he was in a panic. I didn’t even know Bill Flynn at the time nor the life CEOs there (sharing their Irish tunes in chorus).
The guy sitting next to me was a Wharton School professor who invented variable annuities or something of the sort. The only thing I could think of to say was a semi-joke, semi-real story at the expense of Wharton (one of my best friends went there). Went over well with audience, but not the professor! I remember a woman going on about being the only woman CEO there. Things have changed.
The Joke: A Wharton history teacher of longstanding constantly bragged about how his students all performed best and at the highest level and got A’s. Finally, one of the other professors told him off, noting that he gave the same final exam every year which was an essay on the importance of Mesopotamia to the development of civilization. In response the bragging professor changed his essay question to the importance of Greece as to the development of civilization. Usually, he wrote the topic on the blackboard and left. This time he did the same. The students caucused inasmuch as they had prepared their essays in advance. After brief deliberation, they all added to their essays: “Greece was important to the development of civilization but Mesopotamia was more important.” And then they handed in their pre-prepared essays!!
The Wharton guy was not happy but everyone else was!
Really enjoy Looking Back both to see where we have been and to reflect on the issues and people who got us here.
Best,
Marty
