In This Issue:

Lucy Alperin ’52 Recalls Her Time at SEAS

Lucy Alperin '52

Lucy Alperin Corin ’52 came to the United States from France at the age of eight after two years of hiding from the Germans. Her family entered the country on a special visa given by Franklin D. Roosevelt to her father, a newspaper editor on Hitler’s “wanted list.”

“Witnessing constant destruction planted a seed and a desire to be involved in more positive aspects of life—creating and building,” she said. An excellent student, she graduated from high school at 16 and entered CCNY’s School of Engineering.

Realizing the advantage of an Ivy League degree, she transferred to Columbia Engineering, receiving her B.S. at 19. She began work at an engineering design firm, where she was “one of the guys.” Benjamin Corin joined the firm and, within a year, they married. To advance their careers, they both left the firm, and Lucy eventually moved to Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Her solution to balancing her roles as wife, mother of two sons, and part-time student was to concentrate on mathematics. She earned a masters degree and doctorate (without thesis) at NYU and began a career teaching mathematics, which she enjoyed for more than 20 years before her retirement.

Lucy Corin contacted the School after reading about other early SEAS alumnae. We are happy to share her story with you. If you are an early alumna of Columbia Engineering, please contact Margaret Kelly at mk321@columbia.edu so that your reminiscences can be published.