David Schiraldi, PhD, elevated the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering as a professor, researcher, and chair. A spirited innovator and mentor, Dave founded the Envoys Program, which brought bright but disadvantaged Cleveland high school students to the Case School of Engineering for rigorous scientific training that often led to STEM degrees. The Case Alumni Association honored him with a Meritorious Service Award in 2013. The beloved emeritus professor died January 13, 2025, at age 68.
You can read the full CAA tribute to Dr. Schiraldi here.
Oliver “Ollie” Poppenberg ’59 supported Case and the university for decades as a volunteer, advisor, donor, and cheerleader. His enthusiasm extended to his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, for which he helped secure and renovate an off-campus house for a new generation of brothers. SAE national honored Ollie with its Merit Key award. In 1998, he was given a Meritorious Service Award by the Case Alumni Association. The ultimate volunteer died May 24, 2025, at age 88.
Richard Garwin ’47, PhD, helped to develop the hydrogen bomb, the world’s most powerful weapon, but also gave humanity many peaceful and life changing innovations and devices—including laser printers, MRIs, GPS technology, and computer touchscreens. The world-renowned physicist was awarded the Gold Medal by the Case Alumni Association in 2002 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2016. He died May 13, 2025, at age 97.
You can read the full CAA tribute to Dr. Garwin here.
Raymond P. Koenig ’68 was the third generation to run the family business, Koenig Equipment, a John Deere dealership in Botkins, Ohio. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Ray became a leader in his community and in the wider agricultural industry. He was president and trustee of the Shelby County United Way and served as president of the Ohio Equipment Dealers Association. In 2023, he was inducted into the Lessiter Publishing’s Farm Equipment Hall of Fame. Ray died Dec. 14, 2024, in Grand Junction, Colorado, at age 78.
Jim Diener, MS ’61, introduced personal computers, robots, and bar coding to Lincoln Electric, the Cleveland welding giant, where he worked for 41 years as an engineer and project leader. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Jim applied his curiosity and problem solving skills as a pilot, skydiver, sailor, scuba diver, and a lifelong player in community theater in his hometown of Shaker Heights. He died Dec. 19, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida, at age 91.
Gary Pillar, the senior director of national development and assistant athletic director at Case Western Reserve University, elevated the CWRU athletic programs as a fundraiser, visionary, and supporter. Gary helped to secure funding for such landmark projects as DiSanto Field, Nobby’s Ballpark, and the Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center. He also promoted alumni engagement and helped establish a visiting committee for CWRU athletics. The ultimate fan died Dec. 21, 2024, at age 71.
Robert “Bob” Sopko directed CWRU LaunchNet, the campus startup consultancy, and helped hundreds of students and alumni pursue startup dreams. A renowned connector and catalyst in the entrepreneurial community of Northeast Ohio, Bob was beloved from Sears think[box] to the Youngstown Business Incubator to CES, the giant electronics trade show in Las Vegas, where he guided Case innovation teams for 11 consecutive years. He died Dec. 3, 2024, at age 64.
Rimvydis “Rim” Bajoraitis ’57 came to America as a refugee after fleeing Lithuania during World War II and lived life to the fullest. He introduced titanium springs into commercial airplanes as a metallurgical engineer for Boeing, where he led the Boeing Ski School. Rim skied until age 85. With Anika, his wife of 43 years, he also hiked, rafted, kayaked, played tennis, and traveled, finally returning to his hometown in Lithuania in 1989. He died May 21, 2024, in Tacoma, WA, at age 96.
Brian Ketcham ’62 was a leading advocate for cleaner commuting decades before such ideas became fashionable. The automotive engineer promoted mass transit, started bicycle clubs, and fought air pollution in his adopted home of New York City, where he led environmental efforts for the administration of Mayor John Lindsay. Brian is credited with conceptualizing “congestion pricing,” whereby tolls rise at peak drive times to dissuade car commuting. He died in August in Manhattan at age 85.
Richard Gedney, PhD ’71, was project manager for NASA Glenn’s Advanced Communication Satellite Program (ACTS), which revolutionized high-speed satellite communications and became a test bed for a new generation of sophisticated, global communications satellites. Later in life, he followed his dream and purchased “At Long Last,” a 30-foot sailboat, and spent weekends sailing Lake Erie with his family. Richard died May 31, 2024, at age 88.
Edmund “Ted” Mann ’45, earned his chemical engineering degree at Case Institute of Technology through the popular Navy V-12 program, which prepared young men for sea duty in World War II. He also captained the baseball team and lead Phi Kappa Psi as president. Ted worked in sales at Dow Chemical for 40 years while supporting Case and many other groups and causes. In 2004, he received a Meritorious Service Award from the Case Alumni Association. Ted died January 27, 2024, in Pensacola, Florida, at age 99.
Elizabeth Ann Vallen ’86, PhD, served on the faculty of Swarthmore College for 29 years and distinguished herself as a researcher, a professor of biology, and a cheerleader for science education. Liz instituted Swarthmore’s Biology Scholars Program, twice served as department chair, and founded and led Science for Kids, a summer camp where faculty lead science enrichment workshops. She died at her home in Swarthmore on April 10, 2024, at age 59.
Albert John Juhasz ’60, PhD, helped NASA put a man the moon as a space power and propulsion engineer for the space agency for more than 60 years. An immigrant from Hungary via Germany, he was fluent in four languages and fostered a lifelong passion for classical music, poetry, mathematic and engineering. Albert
attained his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Cleveland State University at age 68. He died January 11, 2024, at age 87.
Joseph Hendrie ’50, PhD, advanced the field of nuclear energy as an engineer, innovator and safety expert at a time of public alarm. John was chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the Three Mile Island crisis of 1979, when a reactor overheated and the nation feared a nuclear meltdown. The Case-trained physicist later became president of the American Nuclear Society. He died Dec. 26, 2023 at age 98.
John Walker ’71, an esteemed and reclusive software engineer, co-founded Autodesk in 1982 and was its chief executive when the company introduced AutoCAD, bringing computer aided design to the architecture and engineering masses. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Case Institute of Technology, where he discovered computer programming on the campus UNIVAC and switched his major from astronomy. John died at his home in Switzerland on February 2, 2024, at age 74.
Arnold Caplan, PhD, enhanced lives and advanced regenerative medicine by leaps and bounds as a teacher, researcher and innovator for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Tom Conlon As chief financial officer of the Case Alumni Association, Tom Conlon handled a dizzying array of financial systems and challenges. He balanced the budget, helped donors create legacies, and found grateful professors the funds they needed to renovate a lab. But he spoke most proudly of his efforts to help students — nearly a generation of them — as they strove to attain their Case degrees.
Frank Ryan, PhD, excelled on the playing field and in the classroom. As quarterback, he led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL championship in 1964. He joined the faculty of Case Institute of Technology in 1967, the year he made his third Pro Bowl, and distinguished himself teaching advanced mathematics. Frank went on to teach at Yale and Rice and in 2013 became an honorary member of the Case Alumni Association. He died Jan. 1, 2024, at age 87.
James C. Wyant ’65, PhD, a pioneering scientist in optics and photonics, served CWRU as a trustee, trustee chair, and a benefactor who endowed professorships and helped build the Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center. Jim was awarded a Gold Medal by the Case Alumni Association in 2014. The Case-trained physicist died of ALS Dec. 8, 2023, at age 80.
Harry Farmer ’55, MS ’65, anchored the line for the Rough Riders in the 1950s and remained a bulwark for Case the rest of his life. The former Air Force pilot and mechanical engineer served on the board of the Case Alumni Association for 18 years, led the board as president from 2011 to 2013, and served on the board of the Case Alumni Foundation. Harry was honored with a Meritorious Service Award in 2005. He died August 24, 2023, at age 90.
Frank Ilcin ’61, MBA ’66, helped pioneer network computer technology as president of Chi Corp. before becoming a partner and consultant for Deloitte. Throughout his career, Frank shared his skills and outsized personality with the Case Alumni Association, which awarded him a Meritorious Service Award in 2011. He died May 13, 2023, at age 83.
Dwight Racioppo ’65 helped introduce control theory to information technology as an influential engineer for IBM and UNIVAR as he embraced a wide range of interests and passions. An architecture enthusiast, Dwight staged remodeling projects in each of the nine homes he lived in with Michelle, his wife of 56 years, and designed and built one himself. He died June 8, 2023, in California at age 80.
Sheldon Lee Tucker ’55 received many awards as an electrical engineer for space contractors, most notably the prestigious NASA Silver Snoopy Award, which is presented by astronauts to support staff who ensure the success and safety of their missions. After retiring in 1994 from what is now Lockheed Mar-tin, Sheldon embarked upon a busy second career as a volunteer literacy tutor, tax preparer and woodworking teacher. The prolific handyman and hobbyist died August 4, 2023, in Kerrville, Texas, at age 91.
Ted Stirgwolt ’43
A whirlwind on campus, centenarian Ted Stirgwolt never stopped seizing the day. When he died at age 100, those who loved him recalled his enduring zest for life.
T. Urling “Tom” Walker ’57 took his engineering degree from Case Institute of Technology to New York Air Brake in far northern New York State and helped lift a city. He’s credited with breathing new energy into Watertown as a two-term mayor, teacher, civic planner, and philanthropist. Walker and his wife, Mabel, helped build the Walker Cancer Treatment Center at the city’s main hospital. His death on Jan. 3 at age 97 evoked grief and remembrances throughout northern New York.
Emeritus Professor Malcolm E. Kenny, PhD, was the first chemist many Case students met and was often the one they remembered forever. He arrived at Case Institute of Technology in 1956 and taught chemistry for the next 60 years, often to freshman, with zeal and curiosity. A groundbreaking researcher, Kenny attained 30 patents for inventions and innovations. He died at home in Cleveland Heights on Nov. 28, 2022, at age 94.
Emeritus Professor John Angus, PhD, led Case Institute of Technology as a scientist, educator, and administrator. He joined the newly revived Department of Chemical Engineering in 1963 and taught for 40 years, serving as department chair (twice) and interim dean. A pioneer in diamond research, John was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He was long involved in the Ohio Scottish Games and for several years served as chairman of the games. He died in February at age 88.
Roger Brockett ’60, MS ’62, PhD ’64, earned three degrees from Case Institute of Technology on his way to renown as a pioneer in the field of control theory. The farmer’s son from Seville, Ohio, taught at Harvard for 42 years, founded the Harvard Robotics Laboratory, and co-authored the classic text Finite Dimensional Linear Systems. In 2012, Roger was awarded the Gold Medal by the Case Alumni Association. He died March 19 in Lexington, Mass., at age 84.
F. Thomas Krotine ’63, MS ’65, PhD ’68 directed labs at Gould and served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Research and Development at Sherwin-Williams Corp. while supporting his alma mater. Tom earned three metallurgy degrees from Case Institute of Technology, where he was a football standout. As an alumnus, he served on scholarship and audit committees and as president of the Case Alumni Association from 1986-87. He received the 1988 Meritorious Service Award. Tom was also a CWRU trustee and a member of the Case Advisory Board. He died November 28, 2022, at age 81.
John “Jack” Horner ’52 enjoyed an impactful career in the construction industry and shared his building and leadership expertise with Case. As president of the alumni-founded Sam Emerson Company, Jack supervised construction of the Olin and White buildings on Case Quad. His years of service to the Case Alumni Association included serving as president from 1998-99. In 2009, the CAA awarded him the Samuel Givelber ’23 Fellowship Award. He died November 13, 2022, at age 95.
Jim Biggar ’50 pioneered the frozen food industry while boosting Case and the city he loved. With a pair of engineering degrees from Case Institute of Technology, he joined his father-in-law’s company, Stouffer Corp., and built the fledgling frozen food division into an iconic brand. Jim became CEO and president of Stouffer’s and later CEO of its parent company, Nestle USA. Active in civic affairs, he helped build Jacobs Field and Gund Arena as Chairman of the Gateway Economic Development Corp. In 1988, he received the Gold Medal award from the Case Alumni Association. He died October 28, 2022, at age 94.
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.
Rev. Gerald “Jerry” Cavanagh ’53, PhD, was a lifelong educator who pioneered the field of business ethics. “Father Jerry” earned an engineering degree at Case Institute of Technology and helped build aircraft landing gear before beginning his studies for the Catholic priesthood. In his four decades at Detroit Mercy University, the Jesuit priest served as professor, dean, provost and trustee. His classic textbook, American Business Values, remains required reading at business schools across the nation. He died Nov. 8, 2022, at age 91.
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