David Darrin's Legacy
Alpha 566
by Dr. Chuck Boylen A1593, boylec@rpi.edu
Alpha Alumni from the past 30 years certainly remember the Darrin Communications Center as the location of their freshmen core class lectures and the dreaded “F Tests”. They may even recall that it is named after a Theta Xi brother. Fewer may be aware of a project that David and his family spearheaded that was, literally, closer to home for them. His wife and son have continued the work that they began together over 40 years ago.
The Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) is a research center of RPI (www.rpi.edu/dept/DFWI) that first opened at Lake George on Smith Bay in 1967. The Darrins had a home on the lake and David visited the site often and would talk to researchers like myself about our research and the health of the lake. I recall him to be fiercely protective of the lake and water quality. He was interested in the 'new' laboratory and gave the young off campus research center a lot of support within the RPI administration. His enthusiasm [for FWI] was infectious. You couldn’t help but become excited about your own research just talking to him. Before his death he established the first of various endowments to the FWI to be used exclusively at Lake George and provided funding to purchase the new site for FWI. During the 1980’s as Director of the DFWI, I got to know Peggy and started many dialogues with her about her continuing support of the FWI. In 1995 a new
laboratory was built at the Bolton site and at that time renamed the David and Margaret Darrin Fresh Water Institute. The Darrin's love for the lake continues with their children and grandchildren and DFWI is a fitting tribute to carry the Darrin name.
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David Darrin at Lake George 1973
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 Darrin & Chuck Boylen at Lake George 2006.JPG)
Margaret (Peggy) Darrin & Chuck Boylen at Lake George 2006
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