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lasted until Ricketts' 1948 death. His passing, resulting when his car was hit by a train at Drake and Wave Streets within a stone's throw of his Laboratory, sent Steinbeck into a deep depression, exacerbated by a Laboratory, sent Steinbeck into a deep depression, exacerbated by a divorce he was also going through at the time. To state he missed his pal divorce he was also going through at the time. To state he missed his pal would be an understatement. would be an understatement. "He aches me like a missing arm," Steinbeck said later of his fallen friend. "He aches me like a missing arm," Steinbeck said later of his fallen friend. The two whiled away many happy hours at Ricketts' laboratory, drinking The two whiled away many happy hours at Ricketts' laboratory, drinking Burgermeister beer and conversing on a wide range of mutual interests. Burgermeister beer and conversing on a wide range of mutual interests. "Both men, a novelist and a scientist, shared a philosophy of communi- "Both men, a novelist and a scientist, shared a philosophy of communi- ty," says Susan Shillinglaw, former executive director of the Steinbeck ty," says Susan Shillinglaw, former executive director of the Steinbeck 100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 00 100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 (Clockwise from top) The author with female admirers; Ed Ricketts of Monterey was one of Steinbeck's closest friends; (Clockwise from top) The author with female admirers; Ed Ricketts of Monterey was one of Steinbeck's closest friends; the pair spent many happy hours drinking and talking into the night at Ricketts' Cannery Row laboratory. the pair spent many happy hours drinking and talking into the night at Ricketts' Cannery Row laboratory.