Generations of Rice

Nelly Murstein has established a legacy of learning and exploration, honoring her mother and the Rice values that have meant so much to her family.

After retiring from a long and fruitful career as a French professor, Nelly Murstein Ph.D. '60 is still learning. In fact, she just completed two genetics courses at Lasell Village, an educational retirement community. "I feel I am very alive intellectually right now," she says. "And Rice gave me that hunger for learning."

Rice opened up many doors for Nelly and her family. While Nelly's mother, Rebecca Cassel Ph.D. '59, immigrated to the United States at the conclusion of World War II, Nelly and her brother, Edwin Kashy Ph.D. '59, did not join her until 1949. Once in Houston, Nelly and Edwin enrolled at Rice, completed their undergraduate degrees and began graduate programs. With all three family members on campus at the same time, attending the university was a full family affair. Rebecca received her doctoral degree from Rice alongside Edwin in 1959. Nelly would finish just one year later.

Nelly credits Rice for providing a foundation for her future career. "I loved my courses. I loved my teachers. I decided I would never get out of school because my life was so, so rich," she says, "and I never did."

Following Rice, Nelly taught at Connecticut College, where she would become the Hanna K. Hafkesbrink Professor of French and chair of the department. Her brother was equally successful. Edwin received a National Science Foundation fellowship at M.I.T. before becoming distinguished professor in physics at Michigan State University.

For Rebecca Cassel, her time at Rice was a life-changing experience. After Rebecca raised five children as a single mother, Rice gave her the opportunity to earn a doctoral degree in French literature. Nelly explains, "My mother was fulfilled by getting the degree that she had dreamed about since childhood."

To honor her mother and express her gratitude to her alma mater, Nelly established the Rebecca Elnekave Cassel Endowed Scholarship with an outright gift to allow awards to be made during Nelly's lifetime, as well as a deferred gift in her estate plan to provide future resources. Supporting undergraduates who study abroad to immerse themselves in foreign language, the fund honors the spirit of learning that was infused throughout Rebecca Cassel's tremendous life. "I am so grateful to Rice, mostly for my mother because she was able to accomplish what she had wanted to do all her life," Nelly says. "She could not have done it without Rice."