I would like to share with you part of a song that I wrote during my first semester of college, in 1995. Although this song was not written for my dad, I feel as though all of my songs and poetry are written because of his encouragement, his creativity, and his love.

I chose these words to share with you because over the last few weeks, I have been privileged to see how much my dad has greatly influenced the lives of so many others.

I feel so very lucky to be where I am right now
Standing among my friends, upon this sacred ground
People hold so much beauty, more than I have ever known
Voices so soft and sweet, remind me I am home

Tell me, in softest whisper. Tell me, oh do you see
If I had never met you then I would not now be me.
Someone so very different, someone who I'll never know
That is who I would have been, if I had let you go.

So, I thank you, dad, for taking the time to understand.
And I thank you for helping to make me who I am.

First I'd like to read a few words that Arlene, my mother and Roland's wife, asked me to read on her behalf.

Many friends have expressed deep sympathy for me. After all, losing a husband while still in my fifties is, of course, a tragedy. But somehow I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have been able to share my life with one of the most moral, faithful, and kindest men on earth for 35 years. He has kept me on a righteous path and led me to be a better person by his example. What I have enjoyed during these 35 years, some women won't have in a hundred years of marriage. Even though Roland's life ended much too soon, he lived life to its fullest. His influence will continue to be reflected in my life and in the lives of our children.

[Now for my own comments.] Today we are gathered to say goodbye to Roland Weinsier.

• He enjoyed playing the piano after dinner
• He enjoyed cooking (he was best known for his salad dressings, fruit salads and smoothies)
• He enjoyed making and watching family movies
• He enjoyed working out at the JCC
• He enjoyed UAB basketball games
• He enjoyed Alabama football
• He enjoyed sitting outside in the hot tub on cold nights
• He enjoyed working in the yard, especially his garden
• I remember the look of pride on Dad's face when he was able to serve something at dinner time that he had grown in his own garden, whether it was lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, figs, or some mutant vegetable that we didn't know what it was until we cut into it. He got a real kick out of that.
• He enjoyed fixing things, and felt like he could fix anything.
• I remember when our 25-year old clothes dryer finally broke down a few years ago. Mom was all excited that she was finally going to get a new dryer after all those years. But not so fast. Dad and I carried the dryer down to the garage, took it completely apart, removed the heating element, called every mom-and-pop appliance store in town looking for the part. When we finally found one, we brought it back and popped it in, and to my mother's dismay it worked like a charm. The dryer sounded like a tornado when you turned it on, but it worked fine and continues to work to this day.

Rather than watch television or read the newspaper during dinner time, Roland encouraged us to sit down together and describe what we did with our day, what we learned, what challenges we faced, and how we addressed those challenges.

Our father taught us many things:

• He taught us if you're going to do something, do it right, or don't bother doing it at all.
• He taught us to exercise regularly
• He taught us to eat right
• He taught us how to play sports, despite the fact that when he was growing up he never learned how to play basketball, baseball, or football. So we learned together, which made it all the more special.
• He taught us to be patient by example, whether in teaching us how to hit a tennis ball or drive a stick shift car.

Roland truly loved his job. When the topic of retirement came up, Roland said he wanted to retire somewhere within an hour of Birmingham, so he could come back to UAB to work occasionally. But to be honest none of us think he ever would have retired. He enjoyed his work that much.

No matter how busy he was at work, Roland never missed one of his children's sporting events, concerts, or graduations. If it was important, he was always there with video camera in hand.

"As long as we live in the same city, I'm coming to your game to watch you play whether you like it or not"

Roland was a very generous person. He would ask graduate assistants or physicians doing a sabbatical in Birmingham to stay with us at our home for weeks or even months so they were not on their own in a new city. Roland would also help out financially when his friends were in need, and of course, expect nothing in return.

Roland was an outstanding speaker. Whether it was a presentation of the latest nutritional study he had completed, or a toast at one of his children's weddings, he always made it look effortless.

Roland had no interest in money or material possessions. It wasn't that he was cheap, he just didn't like to waste.
He chopped his own firewood from trees in the backyard.
He laid his own brick walkway, brick by brick.
He built the kids a swing set and our dog Lacy a doghouse by hand.
In fact I had been looking forward to putting together my daughter's first swing with Dad from the time she was born. When it became clear that he would not be able to assist me in this project, Dad sat down with me, wrote out the exact instructions and measurements. Now I will be building that swing with only my father's instructions, and his spirit, by my side.

We feel blessed that Roland was able to spend some time with his first grandchild. Of course, at the same time we are saddened that those not yet born will only know their Grandpa through pictures and stories.

These past 6 months were difficult for Roland in many ways. In the past, people had come to him from near and far for advice. I know he had trouble adjusting to the fact that the tables had been turned.

In the days before his death Dad told me that when the time came he couldn't work, couldn't eat, and couldn't work outside in the yard, then it was time to go, and he said goodbye.

Roland lived a perfect life. He had an incredible wife and kids that loved him more than anything. He loved his work and was world-renowned in his field.

His favorite flower was a magnolia; his favorite food was mango; his favorite color green.

Roland Weinsier was a truly wonderful man. He was the kindest, most generous, unassuming, and patient person I ever met and could handle stressful situations with ease. The respect and admiration we had for him simply cannot be put into words.

To our father, our husband, our brother, our colleague, our friend:

• Thank you for the time we spent together
• Thank you for providing for us
• Thank you for being our role model
• Thank you for listening and for your patience
• Thank you for your coaching and your teaching
• Thank you for your kindness
• Thank you for never raising your voice
• Thank you for making us laugh
• Thank you for always being there when we needed you
• Thank you for the memories, we will cherish them forever

I look forward to telling my children stories about you. I look forward to passing on the lessons you taught me.

We love you
We will miss you
We will never forget you

Roland Weinsier moved his family to Birmingham in 1975, where he joined UAB as an Assistant Professor of Medicine, in the Division of Nutrition. When the Department of Nutrition Sciences was founded in 1977, he directed the Division of Clinical Nutrition. I joined the Department in 1981 as a clinical nutrition fellow, so I had the privilege of working with Roland for 21 years. I would like to say a few things from the "UAB perspective.

Accomplishments

The UAB community and the international nutrition science community will remember Roland Weinsier as a "quadruple threat" for a steady stream of accomplishments in the three areas of academic medical endeavor (patient care, teaching, and research) plus the area of administration. These were detailed in a marvelous festschrift symposium held ten days ago, in which speakers from around the U.S. and Switzerland recounted their collaborations with Roland and the impact of his work on nutrition science. They might be divided into the following "chapters" spanning four decades.

1. In the 1970's Roland built the Division of Clinical Nutrition, the Nutrition Clinic (which those of us who followed him have expanded into 4 clinics serving distinct patient populations), the Nutrition Support Service (providing inpatient nutrition consultations), and the first-year UAB medical nutrition course, which has for nearly 25 years been the most extensive such course in any medical school in the U.S. In this chapter Roland began to distinguish himself in patient care and teaching.
2. In the 1980's Roland solidified these programs and published research findings from them. He began training physician nutrition specialists (of which I had the privilege of being the first) and building a career in published obesity research. He distinguished himself in the areas of training and research.
3. In the 1990's, after becoming Chairman in 1988, Roland built a larger, stronger, and better-funded Department of Nutrition Sciences, including establishment of a research group focusing on obesity, energy metabolism, and body composition (he further distinguished himself in administration and research). His research productivity expanded significantly during his chairmanship, a remarkable accomplishment that few chairs are able to achieve. And this research productivity was not just as a co-author on others' publications; Roland directed the development of his research efforts during his years as Chairman.
4. In the 21st century, until his illness gradually sidelined him over the last several months, Roland's research was more vigorous, better funded, more productive, and more enjoyable to him than at any prior point in his entire career. It is difficult to say whether his research career had even peaked. Without doubt, he planned to continue it for years to come, and I am one of many people, along with others present today, who looked forward to working alongside him for years to come as well.

Personal qualities

Roland's accomplishments were truly remarkable. But the UAB community and the international nutrition science community will equally remember Roland for his marvelous personal qualities. He was:

1. A quiet, humble leader; he always started by establishing programs locally, but then he "went national" with all his endeavors in patient care, teaching, research, and administration, through publications, national and international collaborations, and major involvement in national societies. Yet he never grabbed the limelight for himself, because he was:
2. A mentor and role model; he always encouraged others along the way, congratulating them on their strengths and successes, helping them shore up their weaknesses, and carefully plotting courses that would lead to advancement in their training and careers.
3. Finally, all of Roland's activities were supremely characterized by integrity.

Integrity in patient care: he treated patients with compassion and discernment.

Integrity in teaching: he taught students with a clear eye to what they should learn, not just what he would most like to teach them.

Integrity in research: he always followed where his research data led, never twisting them (much less burying them) because they did not lead where he expected them to.

Integrity in administration: when establishing programs and priorities, when hiring and evaluating faculty and staff, when submitting reports and managing budgets, to my knowledge he never gave unfair advantage or inserted a needless hurdle, he never withheld a rightful reward or encouragement, and he never fudged a figure or a fact. He never advanced; in fact, he was repulsed by the notion of advancing; his own interests or career on the backs of others. Quite to the contrary, he invited others to advance their careers on his back.

Integrity in his personal habits: everything Roland believed, he immediately faithfully applied to his daily lifestyle. Although he never said this to me, I think it would honor his memory to presume that he would say that although appropriate lifestyle choices do not eliminate the risks of chronic diseases; they certainly did not do so in his case (for reasons that can be understood); there is increasingly substantial evidence that they make a significant impact. And he would highly recommend them.

In remembering him as a humble yet superb leader among nutrition scientists, educators, clinicians and administrators, a mentor and role model to all who worked with him, and a friend who always displayed complete integrity, the UAB community and the international nutrition science community have lost a great man in Roland Weinsier. We will miss him very much.

Dear Roland,

How often does one have the opportunity to say to another, “You have made a difference in my life” or “I am a better person for having known you?” But to you, my dear friend, I can honestly and whole-heartedly say both.

I know that I’m a better wife because of your example. For seventeen years, I’ve watched you be a loving and devoted husband to your best friend. I’ve watched you many times as you’ve answered your phone, heard Arlene’s voice, leaned back in your chair with your hands behind your head with a special smile created only for her and simply said “Hi, Ar.” I find myself striving to be the kind of wife that creates in Bill a lasting love like the one that you feel for Arlene.

I know that I’m a better mother because of your example. Remember when we held clinic in the Webb Building every Thursday? All the staff knew that you needed us to be present and at our best on Thursdays for you to have a most successful clinic. Se we worked through our flu symptoms, our headaches, or our stomach viruses because you needed us at work. Unless of course, one of our kids had a ballgame, cheerleading tryouts or a field trip that day. Well, that was different. We knew that you would excuse us from clinic then. How did we know? Because of your example. Many times, you asked us to reschedule your patient load because David, Steven or Nancy had a ballgame, or diving competition, or some other event. We knew that it was important for you to be there, as much for yourself as for them. Despite your uncompromising dedication to your patients, your students and your research, we all know and understand that everything at UAB, everything, takes a backseat to your children. Oh, you try so hard not to boast, but in your own humble way, we occasionally are privileged to hear some great accomplishment from one of your three. We are always touched by your love for them. And then came Lauren. The circle now seems complete.

I know that I’m a better employee because of your leadership. While other supervisors use their employees’ job descriptions as a guide to daily task assignments you instead look at yesterday’s achievements, bring those into today and say “OK. Let’s go just a step further.” Do you realize just how much confidence and motivation this produces in your employees? Do you know how puzzled I am every time you call me into your office and say “Tell me your thoughts about this idea” or “Tell me if I’m wrong but…?” After seventeen years, I’m still baffled. I look into your face, then look up at that Harvard degree hanging just above your head, look back at that sincere question and think “Why?” Why do you ever ask me or anyone our opinion about anything? You’re the one who seems to know all the right answers. The rest of us are just simply trying to keep up as best we can.

I know I’m a better person in general because of your example. You’ve heard me say many times that God has blessed my life but are you even aware that you are one of those blessings? For reasons I may never understand, He gave me a front row seat to your life. I have watched your character, your highest of standards and uncompromising honesty and integrity. I have watched you treat people with such patience, such compassion, such attentiveness and such, in my opinion, sometimes, perhaps, undeserved dignity and respect. But, Roland, that’s who you are. That’s the great man that you are. Rather than treat someone the way we deserve to be treated, you instead threat us the way we need to be treated. You have an uncanny gift of knowing what a person needs on any given day and the caring compassion to be able to fulfill that need in such a perfect way that only you seem to be able to do.

Even though I may be a better wife, a better mother, a better employee, a better person in general for knowing you, I will never be able to master these roles the way you have. If I can just come close . . . well, that would be great.

So, let me close by saying that you, my dear friend, second only to my family, are the love, joy and happiness of my life. I thank God for knowing you and will forever and always remember your warmth, your kindness, your wisdom, your integrity, your sweetness and most of all, your friendship.

Your friend forever,

Love, Nancy