Dear Friends:

"Dr. Reid" was my graduate statistical mechanics instructor back around 1986. I remember his lessons vividly to this day as he tried to do something truly marvelous: To turn statistical mechanics into something more than an exercise in mathematical techniques. He drew all sorts of diagrams attempting to make sense of many complicated mathematical tools. My class consisted of brainiacs and soon-to-be theoreticians so I often felt incapable of success. I was not good at SM, but Dr. Reid never gave up on me. I remember the final grade for the semester in which he commented "B+, but this is a solid B+". I was elated I had passed. Dr. Reid's style, demeanor, and joy for teaching led me to pursue methods of improving my own instruction. I eventually became a convert to physics modeling instruction that I have successfully employed for many years teaching introductory and advanced physics courses. At the heart of modeling instruction is the multi-representational approach that Dr. Reid was such an expert at. He was a role model I am honored to have known.

Kind regards, Jamie