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Lab Animal Resources supervisor dies Linda Hazel, a supervisor of 17 years in MUSC’s Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR), died on Feb. 18 of a heart attack. A service was held for Mrs. Hazel, of Charleston, on Feb. 24 at Graham AME Church.   Born in Charleston Dec. 24, 1959, Mrs. Hazel was the daughter of the late Lawrence Heyward Sr., and Patricia J. Heyward. She was a graduate of Newberry College.   Mrs. Hazel had been employed by DLAR since 1988.  Prior to that, she had been a rodent technician at Hazelton Labs. A recipient of the DLAR Technician of the Month Award numerous times, she was promoted to supervisor at MUSC in 1994.  Since then, Mrs. Hazel supervised facilities with all species of large and small animals.  At the time of her death, she was supervisor of DLAR’s largest rodent barrier within the Darby Children’s Research Institute.   She became a member of the Southeastern American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SE/AALAS) in 1988 and was involved in numerous roles and activities with various committees including the role as technical presenter assisting other technical personnel in preparing their submissions. For her service to SE/AALAS, Mrs. Hazel was awarded the 2005 Sally Newell-Papp Member Participation Award at its January annual meeting in Charleston. She was also elected to their board of directors for 2006.   A patient, hardworking and quiet individual, Mrs. Hazel was very devoted to her church, family and community.   Mrs. Hazel is survived by her mother, Patricia J. Heyward; husband, Richard E. Hazel Sr. and children, Richina Simmons (Allen), Aynicia J.L. Hazel, Derrick D. Hazel and Richard E. Hazel Jr. In the 17 years that Linda worked for DLAR, she never complained about her duties or about another person. It is rare that that type of statement can be made about anybody. I believe that we could all take a lesson from the way she lived her personal and professional life. She was actively involved in youth activities in her church and community and had numerous accomplishments within our field. We are grateful for the outpouring of sympathy concerning her death from other members of the MUSC family.” —M. Michael Swindle, DVM, Director, DLAR In the many years that I knew Linda, she was always pleasant and cheerful. I found Linda to have a way about her that often brought calm to the most stressful of situations. This is saying a lot, considering not only how demanding and time-consuming the work is for animal husbandry personnel, but also how stressful it can become when researchers (I can’t imagine who) become forgetful about SOPs or too ‘particular’ about the handling of their animals. For her dedication and hard work, I was pleased to see Linda rise through the ranks and attain a much-deserved supervisory position at MUSC.   I was also so happy to witness Linda being honored for her many years of hard work at the South Eastern AALAS meeting for animal/veterinary research technicians last month. Her absence will be felt sorely and her memory cherished. —Demetri Spyropolous, Ph.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine I am very sad to learn about the death of Linda. I met Linda about three years ago and she was one of the best people I had the chance to work with here. She was very patient with me, always willing and ready to help. She taught me a lot about taking care of mice and I respected her very much. I will miss her deeply. My sympathy to her family.       —Andre N. Kadima, Department of Surgery Linda started out as a technician in 1988 and rose rapidly to the position as one of the lead supervisors and was managing our two largest rodent facilities. As Linda’s manager, I observed that Linda had great organizational skills and expressed an overwhelming love and dedication to the field of laboratory animal science and biomedical research. These attributes were recognized by many, on a local level at the university and by persons in our regional professional society, where Linda actively participated in many committees.   Linda was one of the most well-liked individuals that I ever met. In speaking with numerous individuals on the campus since her passing, they can only tell me how much she was liked and that she would be so dearly missed. But when we have lived a full loving and caring life, what else can people say. —Dexter Wilson, Facility Manager, DLAR     Friday, March 10, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.