J. Michael McBride at 65 - An appreciation

On the occasion of his 65th birthday, a retrospective of the ongoing career of J. Michael McBride (hereafter Mike), Professor of Chemistry at Yale University since 1966, is offered. An analysis of Mike's pioneering studies of organic crystals is followed by a report on his iconoclastic approach to teaching organic chemistry. Mike's professional colleagues are likely unaware of his innovations in the classroom, while Yale students may not know what he does in the laboratory. This essay aims to illuminate the other side of Mike for his respective audiences. Nevertheless, it is a challenge to summarize his work. Mike McBride's scientific publications are an incomplete record of his professional life, and his presentation of organic chemistry changes with each passing year. A combination of memories, interviews of sympathetic witnesses, and our analysis of the written record give one view of the achievements of a brilliant, one-of-a-kind teacher and scholar.