Harvard Lyman

I was born and raised in San Francisco, California in a family of five brothers and one sister. My parents in a zeal of hopefulness named us as following: Yale [oldest, lawyer], Harvard, [next, PhD biochemist], Stanford and Sylvia [third, set of twins, PhD sociologist, actress], Princeton [PhD, political scientist and Ambassador to Nigeria and South Africa] and finally Elliot [security guard and die-hard sports fan].

We all worked hard in the family grocery store where, by working on weekends and holidays, were able to enter the University of California, Berkeley with scholarships and low state tuition, thus getting educated and entry to the academic and political worlds.

After a BS from Berkeley, an MS from the University of Washington and a PhD from Brandeis University, I began an academic career first at Brooklyn College, followed by Senior Scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and ultimately as Professor of Biochemistry at Stony Brook University.

Prior to receiving my PhD at Brandeis, I was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean conflict. I was in the medical Service Corps as a Preventive Medicine Specialist and, among many other things became very versed in Public Health. Much of my duties involved infectious disease not uncommon in military installations and conflicts.

While at Stony Brook University I became interested in the ACLU and helped form the Suffolk County Chapter of the ACLU, in which I was active specifically in issues of free speech and reproductive rights.

I was approached by some members of the local chapter of Planned Parenthood. At the time I was a bachelor and informed them that perhaps I was not exactly suited for the organization. I was then informed that “people like me were part of the problem,” Being thus informed, I joined the local chapter that then occupied a small clinic in Patchogue. I rapidly became an outreach lecturer on topics like STDs and birth control. All that military experience came in handy. This was in the “Good Old Days” before we had the true experts we now have. Most fascinating were the quiet negotiations I and others worked on in the initial meetings to bring about the first chapter merger which was with the Huntington chapter.

I took on several positions and was involved in the extension of Planned Parenthood into Westchester and beyond. I was involved in many of the wine-related events sponsored by the chapters.

The best event of my academic career was meeting and marrying my wife, Mary Bernero. We met when we were both getting something from the stockroom where we were both getting supplies for our respective labs. I kept going back for more.

It’s been a great ride and worth every minute.