John Jay Lemasters – 50th Reunion Essay

John Jay Lemasters

1301 Chardon Commons

Johns Island, SC 29455

jjlemasters@musc.edu

843-697-6145

Spouse(s): Anna-Liisa Nieminen

Child(ren): Kimberly (1983), James (1987), Robert (1990)

Education: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD, PhD, 1975

Career: Faculty member (cell biology, biochemistry, drug discovery), Southwestern Medical School (1975-1977), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977-2006), Medical University of South Carolina

College: Davenport

I remember before graduation asking Steve Schwartzman what his plans were. He said he was going to Harvard Business School and that he was interested in finance. Sounded a little boring to me. I thought he might become a loan officer at a bank. I’ve since learned that finance and financing aren’t quite the same thing, although maybe it’s just the size of the loan.

For my own part, I went on to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to earn an MD and PhD. and enter a lifelong career in biomedical research. My area is cellular bioenergetics, particularly in reference to an organelle called the mitochondrion that makes ATP, the high energy compound that drives the majority of cellular processes (you remember biology class), and how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to pathobiology. After faculty jobs at Southwestern Medical School and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was recruited to an endowed professorship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Life is pleasant and enriching in Charleston. I’ll stay here when I retire, but I like what I do, and I keep kicking retirement down the road.

My three kids (Kimberly, James and Robert) were born in Chapel Hill and grew up there. The older two are pursuing their own careers in the Chapel Hill–Durham area, and the youngest, Robert, is a PhD. graduate student at Emory. There is great satisfaction and pride (and not to mention a little relief) in seeing your children find their own successful ways in life, but no grandchildren yet.

After a couple of tries, I am with my true soul mate: Anna-Liisa. She is Finnish and always keeps me firmly grounded in reality. We’re traveling more and more to check off our bucket list. Most recently, we went on an African Safari in Tanzania courtesy of Yale Educational Travel. It was terrific. I recommend YET to everyone.

I’m not sure if I will make the 50th, but it would be good to see Steve and so many other classmates. I’ll have to work on my billionaire jokes.