JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETV OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 71 The Seventeenth Medal Award December 1, 1965 Hotel Biltmore, New York City Dr. Sophie Louise Plechner, Associate Research Director of Carter Products, was honored by the Society of Cosmetic Chemists for her scientific achievements and for her services to the Society. Dr. Plechner received the Medal of the Society during its annual Dinner Dance. Mr. James H. Baker acted as toastmaster and Mr. Robert Kramer was the eulogist. Dr. Paul W. Jewel, as President of the Society, pre- sented the Medal with the following citation: Award to Sophie L. Plechner for Outstanding Contribution to the Art and Science of Cosmetics.

72 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS Sophie Louise Plechner EULOGY BY ROBERT A. KRAMER* My fellow members and friends of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists: This evening we are recognizing an unusual woman for her contribu- tions to the art and science of cosmetics. That grand lady is none other than our charming colleague, Dr. Sophie Louise Plechner. We do honor to Dr. Plechner for the more than three decades she has spent in fostering the growth of cosmetic science. Like Jack Benny, our honored guest is an ageless 39. She was born Sophie Louise Coppersmith and has spent her entire life in New Jersey. At the age of 20, she graduated with honors from the New Jersey College for Women at Rutgers University on a Newark High School Alumni Scholarship. Sophie majored in mathematics but turned to chemistry when she decided to improve her marks in that subject, with the result that she became both a good mathematician and an excellent chemist. Then came three years of teaching chemistry, algebra, and geometry in New Jersey high schools, following which she earned her Master's Degree in 1927 and Doctorate in 1929 at Columbia University. Her college ties with Rutgers have always remained strong. She was a director of her College Alumnae from 1939 through 1947 its treasurer from 1947 to 1953 and vice president from 1953 to 1958. Her contri- butions through her alumni work brought her an Award for Alumnae Service from Douglass College in 1948. The year 1929 was an historic one for Sophie. After receiving her doctor's degree from Columbia University, she joined Bristol-Myers as a cosmetic research chemist, then culminated this glorious year of 1929 by marrying Walter W. Plechner on that memorable October 26th, the day of the stock market crash. Still keeping in step with renowned events, her son, Richard, was born when Roosevelt was first elected in November of 1932. He and his loving wife, Eleanor, are with us this evening, and it is they who have made Sophie a grandmother three times over during the past ten years. The only time we delve into the personal background of a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists is on occasions such as this banquet * Evans Chemetics, Inc., New York, N.Y. 10017