Henry “Hank” Haller ’57, MS ’60, played his way into the hearts of generations of polka fans after earning mechanical and aerospace engineering degrees from Case Institute of Technology. By day a rocket scientist for NASA and the U.S. Defense Department, he was busy nights and weekends as the indefatigable leader of the Hank Haller band. An accordionist and song writer, Hank played ethnic festivals, clubs, cruises and television shows for more than 60 years, sold an estimated 250,000 albums, and is enshrined in the National Cleveland-style Polka Hall of Fame. He died November 26, 2022, at age 87.