91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

Remembrances

While I was a member of the Minority Affairs Committee, Frank was one person that I counted on for support. He never pulled me aside to pump me up, but instead he had this ability to speak about the issues we addressed during meetings that made one feel supported. As I pushed for the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ to have a bigger presence in K–12 education, Frank would cite the many reasons why this mattered and should matter to us all. His words help me continue to work on tough issues.

— Regina Stevens–Truss
professor of chemistry
Kalamazoo College

Frank and I were both endocrinologists, and he was a member of the inaugural Endocrine Society Minority Affairs Committee, which I organized and established over 20 years ago. I recommended him for membership on the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ MAC and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology’s Maximizing Access to Research Careers program. His work with these groups was based on his tremendous commitment to and advocacy for underrepresented minorities in science.

As the consummate academic/scientific mentor, Frank mentored everyone, from students to peers, minorities to non-minorities, and he mentored constantly, at conferences, meetings, in Starbucks, even at weddings (he was my best man). I considered myself a mentor in many of the same areas as Frank, but I always held him up as the mentor I most wanted to emulate.

Frank was also just a fun and nice guy to be around. I remember when he and I were at an International Congress of Endocrinology meeting in Osaka, Japan, we were walking around, not sure where we were or where we were going and obviously not able to speak or understand the native language. As I started to worry a bit, Frank calmly said, “Don’t worry, we will be fine. They will think that I am a famous sumo wrestler and you are my manager.”

Frank often said, “A mentor is like a tattoo. Once you have it, you have it forever.” Anyone who was touched by Frank will never forget him.

— Thomas Landefeld,
professor of biology
California State University, Dominguez Hills

Frank was a wonderful person and an important mentor, and he lived what he loved. As I look back on my many interactions with him I realize now that he was always my “guide on the side.” He never shone the spotlight on himself or what he was doing for others, but whenever needed he was always willing to share his insights and experience. It is clear to me now that Frank knew that his accomplishments would only be as deep as his legacy — and that legacy is in the many people who he mentored, guided, supported and promoted. I owe a great deal of my personal success to him, as he was a role model for me and I’m a far better person because I had him in my life, I hope to keep his spirit alive by paying forward what he did for me. He will be dearly missed, but not soon forgotten, and his legacy and spirit will live on for many years.

— Phillip A. Ortiz
assistant provost, undergraduate and STEM education
The State University of New York

Make a donation

In honor of Frank Talamantes’ commitment to mentorship and student advancement, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science has established the Frank Talamantes Memorial Travel Scholarship to help students attend the SACNAS annual meeting. To donate directly to this scholarship, go to sacnas.org,  and enter “Frank Talamantes” in the tribute message box.