July 7: Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ’54 Dies at 88

Donald Rumsfeld ’54, who served as secretary of defense under two presidents and played a major role in the Cold War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, died last week at 88 of multiple myeloma. — The New York Times
 
In their new book, A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication, psychologist Michael Friendly *70 and statistician Howard Wainer *68 trace the history of statistical charts to argue that “visual thinking … has had a profound effect on the way we approach problems.” — The New Yorker
 
Democratic pollster Mark Mellman ’78 said even big governing achievements can’t sway Americans these days from their entrenched political stances. — The New York Times
 
Latina medical student Briana Christophers ’17 is among the women in medicine posting #BigHoopEnergy to protest “a big movement to police women of color and how they present themselves in medical spaces.” —The Lily
 
Randy Altschuler ’93, CEO of Xometry, which connects companies in need of manufacturing with those who make goods, is showing that “American manufacturing is not dead.” — Tech Crunch
 
Christine Whelan ’99, a clinical professor of consumer science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said Amazon gets customers hooked with ease of service, feeding “the hedonic treadmill” of consumer addiction. — KCRW

“I was glad to thank David and tell him how grateful I am that there were people like him who took risks and spoke up in the face of fear, disease, and bigotry.”

— B. Andrew Zelermyer ’85, who was deeply closeted while at Princeton, wrote about reconnecting with and thanking David Robinson ’86 for his activism on LGBTQ rights and people with HIV and AIDS. — WBUR

Shani Am. Moore ’02 is one of the first two screenwriting fellows of the new Inevitable Foundation, which seeks to fund and mentor the next generation of disabled screenwriters. — Variety
 
Astrophysicist and Princeton emeritus professor David Spergel ’82 will be the next president of Simons Foundation, which works to advance research in science and math. — The Chronicle of Philanthropy
 
Toni Townes-Whitley ’85 is leaving her position as the president of Microsoft U.S. Regulated Industries for “her next big transformational role in a new industry.” — ZDNet
 
Ralph Nader ’55 wrote a list of 10 “mind-stretching summertime book recommendations,” including books on water, war, and healthcare, and capped with Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. — Eurasia Review

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