The Peter M. Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER) is a leading medical simulation center training thousands of health care professionals each year to increase patient safety and enhance medical education. During this fascinating tour, members will be introduced to SimMan, a patient simulator that looks and responds like a real person. They also will view simulation theaters that can be configured to nearly any scene, from operating rooms to outdoor disaster scenes.

Location: WISER Building, 230 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cost is free but only open to OLLI at Pitt members.

Members are responsible for their own transportation.

In this follow-up to last spring’s popular “Best of Hitchcock” course, this lecture will discuss two Hitchcock films from the early 1940s, Rebecca and Suspicion, both of which focus on strange and troubled marriages. If possible, members should watch the two films on their own, in advance of the lecture. During the lecture, we will look at brief film clips and discuss key themes and motifs. Join us for another fascinating trip into the dark and unsettling world that Alfred Hitchcock created on film.

Jay Sherwin is a writer and consultant who has been watching, studying, and enjoying Hitchcock films for decades. He created a walking tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco that attracts Hitchcock fans from around the world, and he has taught online “Best of Hitchcock” courses for more than twenty OLLI programs nationwide.

This lecture explores the history of burial and funeral practices in the United States, from traditional customs to the wide range of options available today, including green burial. The presenters will examine the emotional, logistical, and financial dimensions of end-of-life choices, comparing common practices while considering environmental impact, cost, and personal values. Members will also learn how early pre-planning can reduce stress, minimize family conflict, and empower individuals to make meaningful decisions that reflect their personal, cultural, and environmental values — supporting a more compassionate approach to death.

Laura Faessel, manager of Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Slippery Rock University, where she studied burial practices across five cultures, sparking her passion for green burial and caring for the dead.

Deanna Mance began her career as an artist, arts educator, and administrator at several cultural institutions. She later combined creativity with end-of-life care, becoming a life enrichment coordinator, death doula, and founder of Pittsburgh Community Deathcare. Today, she serves as assistant manager at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park.