October 22, 1959
Dear Dr. Ochoa,
Although the excitement obvious in the sparkling picture on page 1 of the New York Times last week seemed unbeatable, you should know that the atmosphere around here was also supercharged. We were all so very pleased and excited to hear of your receiving the Nobel Prize. Russell and I tried to get you on the telephone, but it quickly became obvious that you were wanted on the telephone or in person by millions of others as well, and we gave up trying.
Both Dan and I would like to add our congratulations to those of the rest of the world. Dan has considered it a great privilege to have mat and talked with you. For myself, my connection with you and with polynucleotide phosphorylase, through Dr. Heppel, was exciting and interesting long before the events of last week -- they have only enhanced it. I am sure you realize how wonderful the past three years in this laboratory have been for me. In particular, I look back on the time you so graciously spent with me at the NYU lab, and on that very exciting time we all had talking about the first primer experiments at the Chicago Federation Meeting in 1957.
With very best wishes, I am,
Respectfully yours,
Maxine Singer