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GERARD CASE
MEETING SUMMARY:
Meeting Date: April 9, 1994.
Meeting Site: Saddle River Valley Cultural Center, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Official Attendance: 34.
Meeting Program: Talk by amateur paleontologist.
Notes:
Gerard Case was suggested as a guest by author Charles Pellegrino.
Meeting Memories:
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 1994 Philip J De Parto:
We had both a good turnout and good weather for one of our more unusual speakers on Saturday, April 9, 1994. The meeting was held at the Saddle River Valley Cultural Center in Upper Saddle River and featured paleontologist Gerard Case.
Mr Case is one of the few surviving members of a formerly numerous breed: an amateur hobbyist who is recognized as one of the leading authorities of an area of science. Although he has contributed to our knowledge of prehistoric snakes, mammals, and insects, his reputation rests primarily on his expertise with prehistoric sharks and shark-like fish.
Among the props he brought with him were millions-year-old sharks teeth (not fossils, actual teeth; sharks' teeth are amazingly durable), a small preserved shark-in-a-bottle, a couple of small sharkskins, and numerous publications in which he has appeared, including his book, A PICTURAL GUIDE TO FOSSILS published by Krieger Publishing Company, Post Office Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542 (407) 724 - 9542.
There was very little in the way of a formal talk. After a few opening remarks, he asked if there were any questions. Hands shot up, then more hands shot up, then still more hands shot up.
A certain amount of conversation revolved around the dinosaurs, reptiles which evolved well after sharks. This line of questioning was sparked by the renewed interest in the creatures sparked by JUARASSIC PARK. Mr Case was the frist person to speculate on the possibility of cloning present day dinosaurs from the DNA in blood-sucking insects trapped in amber which formed the scientific underpinning of the book and movie.
In summary, it was a highly successful program by a speaker who is well off the beaten track of people we usually consider for our meetings.
Before Mr Case began his talk, we went around the room and asked various people what they had read recently or were currently reading. The responses included THE GOD PARTICLE by Lederman (Bobbi Bauer), THE ATLAS OF IMAGINARY LANDS (Thomas Bauer), THE DEMOLISHED MAN by Alfred Bester (Nancy Denker), NIGHT SIDE OF THE LONG SUN by Gene Wolfe (Michael Doolittle), the "Valdemar" books by Mercades Lackey (Steve Ferrara), the new STAR WARS "Jedi" books (Paul Erik Graversen), THE BOOK OF COMMON DREAD by Brent Monahan (Mark Jenkins), THE ROGUE WARRIOR II: RED CELL by Richard Marchenko (Cynthia Soroka), MORE WHATDUNITS edited by Mike Resnick (Christopher Wamsley), and MOVING MARS by Greg Bear (Taras Wolansky).
In other news, Sharon Archer, Nancy Denker, Paul Erik Graversen, Brian Keveney, William Molendyk, and Micky Nelson won books. Joining Mr Case for dinner at Steak & Ale before the meeting were Nancy Denker, Philip De Parto, Steve Ferrara, Elizabeth Redly, Carol Smith and Taras Wolansky.
Thanks go to Paul Dellechiaie for getting the 15 or so of us seated together at the Horizon Diner, Charles Garofalo for the refreshments, Roy for the tea, Sharon, Jacqueline Hecht, Pamela Webber, and everyone else for pitching in during the set up and clean up.