Letters, posts and emails

Professor Gary Wnek’s article in the Spring 2022 Case Alumnus and his recognition of Professor Eric Baer and the achievements of the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering brought back memories of my years as a graduate student in the Chemistry Department from 1963-67.

During this time, the school transitioned from CIT to CWRU and former DuPont scientists came to Case to form the Macro Science Department, notably professors Baer and Koenig. My thesis advisor in the Chemistry Department was Professor J. Reid Shelton, a wonderful man whose ties with synthetic rubber brought him close to the new polymer group. Professor Jerry Lando was on my thesis committee. Later on, in my professional career with Shell Chemical Co. as a research manager and campus recruiter, I had the pleasure of interacting with Professor Baer again. So I felt like I had one foot in each department during my Case grad school years and beyond.

I want to share a photo that captures

I entered Case Institute of Technology in autumn 1975. I commuted from home in Willoughby and hung out in the Case Commuter Lounge in Tomlinson Hall. Case published a magazine, Engineering & Science Review, from a small, locked room at the back of the lounge. Case also had continued its student newspaper, The Case Tech.

The newspaper published two “comedy” issues each year, at Halloween and in the Spring. My freshman year, the Halloween issue included a multiple page spread of photos of “Intersession Classes We’d Like to See.” For instance: A biology class called Jean Analysis, with a Case commuter with a pair of jeans in front of the chalkboards in Rockefeller; and a computer engineering class called Getting Your Money's Worth on the 1108 (a reference to the Univac 1108), with a Case commuter watching a sheet of fake money come out of the printer in Jennings.

My favorite, because I was in it, was a physical education class called Phallic Frolics. The Michelson-Morley Memorial Fountain, aka the Phallic Fountain, had been drained for the winter. A group of us removed our shirts and knelt in the fountain holding beer cans, footballs, whatever we had at hand. A housekeeper from Yost Hall thought we were streaking and screamed. The photographer was laughing, and we were yelling at him to

the camaraderie of fellow students during the 1960’s. This picture is from 1965. From left to right, it captures Dimitri Coucouvanis (with his daughter Electra), who went on to become Distinguished Professor in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Michigan, myself with my son Tom, Mike Kurz (with his son), who became Professor of Chemistry and department chair at Illinois State., Tony Jurewicz, who I believe joined Amoco after graduation, and Joe Levisky. Jurewicz is holding a child of fellow student Paul Caruso, not shown. Also not shown is Peter Rabideaux, who had three children while a student and went on the become Professor of Chemistry at Mississippi State. Quite an illustrious group!

Keep the wonderful articles coming!

Chris Uzelmeier, PhD 1967

Montgomery, Texas

Uzel106@consolidated.net

take the picture because it was chilly.

My question for you is: does anyone have access to the E&S Review and Case student newspaper files? I enjoy your magazine,

Paul R. Fishel, Jr. ’79

Westerville, Ohio paulfisheljr@frontier.com

Editor’s note: Thanks to University Archives, both publications are available. The Case Tech has been digitized by archivists and copies from September 30, 1903 to March 7, 1980 (2,136 issues) are searchable online at https://newspapers. case.edu/. The copies of Engineering and Science Review have not yet been digitized, but you can view them in the reading room, which is open from 1 to 4:30 pm M-F. Email archives@case.edu or call 216-368-3320.

SEND BY EMAIL TO: Casealum@casealum.org

OR BY MAIL TO: Case Alumnus Tomlinson Hall, Room 109 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44106

Remembrances of former Dean Tom Kicher — “the PERFECT first person to meet in college” — arrived from far and wide in response to our stories online and in the spring issue. Here is a sample:

I learned of Tom Kicher’s death from the fine cover story and poignant remembrances of him by other contributors in the Spring 2022 Case Alumnus.

Case initially came to my attention as a splendid fit for my doctoral program through some published papers that Professor Lucien Schmit had coauthored with his some of graduate assistants. Tom Kicher was one of those co-authors.

At Case I became one of Tom’s teaching assistants and subsequently one of his research assistants. The research assistantship for me (and about 10 other graduate students) was made possible by a large DARPAsponsored multi-year research project in engineered composite materials, a cutting-edge R&D area at that time. For this project DARPA required the putting together of a University/Industry R&D Team with a compelling plan of action over a number of years. This team consisted of Case, Union Carbide and Bell Aerosystems.

Professor Schmit and Tom Kicher assembled this team and prepared the proposal that won this program for Case.

Working closely with Tom Kicher, I witnessed his dedicated teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels; his excellence as a researcher; his ready availability for discussion, advice, and encouragement; and his superb management and leadership skills over a diversely talented group of contributors from university and industry. All of those attributes made him an immensely valued member of the Case community throughout his many years of service.

It was blessing for me to have known Tom Kicher and to have worked closely with him.

J. Frederick Stevenson PhD ’70

Blairstown, NJ jfstevenson@centurylink.net

I was so sorry, as I’m sure were many others, to hear of Tom Kicher’s passing. I first met him in the fall of 1958 as an incoming freshman residing on the second floor of Yost Hall as was Tom who, as a senior, resided just down the hall.

We never had much direct contact at Yost, but it was always good to see him occasionally and know that the curriculum (whatever one majored in) was survivable. Tom, heading toward his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in the spring of 1959, was a good example.

A few years later, in the spring of 1962, Tom got a handshake from T. Keith Glennan on the stage of Severance Hall as he received his MS degree, and I got a handshake too, receiving my BS.

Through the following years it was always good to hear of Tom’s achievements and progress through the ranks at Case to more responsible leadership roles. It gave me a feeling of continued contact with the school and belief that Case was in good hands, improving continuously with his help.

All the best wishes … and condolences … to those who knew and worked with him through the years and will miss him, as I will. It was great to have him on the stage of life at Case, setting an example and laying plans for the future.

Regards,

Karl Goering ’62 goering@wowway.com

Among the fondest memories I have in my life is my undergraduate and graduate education in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department here at Case. I had the privilege of having Dr. Thomas Kicher as my mentor and teacher.

Dr. Kicher was a caring individual towards ALL students. I learned a lot from him, including the proper manner of interacting with students as human beings with integrity. Although his passing saddens us all, knowing that his legacy will remain helps soothe the pain of his absence.

Humbly,

Majid Rashidi ’81, MS’ 83, PhD ’87

Professor, Mechanical &

Aerospace Engineering

He was such a strong, stable voice on the CAA board and executive committee during the 20+ years I served on it. Whenever he talked, we all listened. I am blessed to have served with him. Such a great example of a true leader.

Denise (Simon) Dannels, CIT ’88 denmaster3@gmail.com

When Tom was dean, the alumni association wanted the school to put together a team to compete in the Electric Car Race that First Energy sponsored in 1994 and 1995. Tom plied Ken Loparo, Wyatt Newman and me with alcohol from a buffet he kept in his office for such purposes. Everyone knew that when Tom broke out the drinks, they were going to end up agreeing to do something. BTW: our team took 2nd place in the first race and won the series in the second year. Too bad electric cars never amounted to much. :)

Playing golf with Tom was a lesson in Case history, learning cool things about solid mechanics, learning new jokes and laughing through the game. I really enjoyed it. I remember playing right through sunset one evening. Neither one of us willing to give up. It was fun to watch the ball fly away into the dark – often never to be seen again.

He was not just the first dean of CSE. He was a major force in creating it and making it successful.

Best,

Roger Quinn

Professor, Mechanical and

Aerospace Engineering

Case School of Engineering

I share the deep sense of loss felt by so many. Many of us counted Tom as a friend and as a teacher and mentor, including many beyond the University. Reading through your comments and stories, one outstanding theme is Tom’s character, his integrity, natural kindness and humanity.

Tom was the quintessential Casie, an undergraduate, graduate, faculty member, Chair, Dean, a leader, always and ever an advocate and promoter of the school. When Tom moved to emeritus status, he deliberately chose to step away from a daily presence in the Department. He didn’t go away; he did shift his focus and energies to playing a major role in the leadership and outreach of the Case Alumni Association. Our faculty lost the daily access to his help and guidance, but he felt it was the better choice for the Department for him to get out of the way. He still remained only a phone call away to anyone who sought his advice or help. This was very much in character.

Tom was a living definition of a real mechanical engineer. He was a designer par excellence. He was an expert in design and failure analyses. He was sought out by industry locally and beyond to bring his expertise to their problems. He directed many graduate students who came from or remained in industry for their master’s or PhD programs. His influence reached in a direction and distance that few Case faculty have matched. He will rightfully be honored and missed by a host of members of industry.

There is much more I could write about Tom (including a few golf stories), but there be others who will write more eloquently of him. I am deeply saddened by his death, but I am deeply grateful for his friendship and his example as an admirable human being.

Dwight Davey

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and

Aerospace Engineering,

Case School of Engineering

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Tom Kicher. When I arrived on campus in the fall of 1974, I found he had been assigned as my faculty advisor. I also leafed through the freshman calculus book and realized I already knew everything in it, from my high school work. I met with him to get his advice on what to do, and he of course asked why I hadn't just placed out of it through the ACT exam. The answer: the high school in my tiny town in eastern PA didn't offer ACT exams. So, he set up a meeting with Professor A.J.

Lohwater (another faculty legend), who at that time taught a freshman math course which met five times a week (at 8 a.m. no less!), and at the end of two semesters you'd get three semesters of math credit.

Professor Lohwater was dubious that I had the right background to keep up, but

Professor Kicher insisted that I could (based on what, I don't know). So, I got into the class. It had about 50 students. In May 1975, when we took the second semester final exam, there were 15 of us left.

I was grateful to have survived, but also grateful to have rewarded Professor Kicher's faith in me. This one intervention on his part changed the entire arc of my time at Case.

In my junior and senior years, some of my fraternity brothers and I helped Professor Kicher with STEM outreach (although it wasn't called that back then) to the area high schools. Tom Kicher was a caring educator and a truly great man. I am lucky to have known him.

Steve Fossi ’78 stevefossi56@gmail.com

It is with sadness and regret not discovering sooner the passing of Dr. Kicher. You see it was because of him that I was able to complete my matriculation at Case Tech. I started in 1972, stopped twice and finally graduated in 1983. You know the typical reasons: finances, children, two jobs etc.

He was my advisor during those years and beyond when I went to graduate school at CIT from 1999 through 2002. I would always look forward to meeting with him, even during the dourest of times. He would give advice, that smile and chuckle, which made me know that there was a future and to maintain perspective.

To illustrate that, my wife Judith and I encountered he and Janet at the Richmond Road Sam’s Club around 2004. He delighted in telling both ladies, with a gleam in his eye, that he had me as a student over four decades ago. I remember Judith telling me that I turned red.

Yet because of him, I persisted, flourished as a mechanical engineer and recently retired. For that, me and my family owe him a great amount of gratitude. ALL teachers at all levels of education should aspire to be as witty, gracious, concerning and helpful as the good Doctor. He surely is missed by many and will have a place in all of our hearts.

Philip J. Pisczak ’83

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

My father died in November 1959, while I was an 18-year-old Case sophomore. Approaching the end of that semester, I found myself in a very difficult place. On the day before my Statics final, my grade average in the class was 60, which was failing. My four-year full scholarship would be lost if I flunked any class, which would mean the end of my career at Case because my newly widowed mother could not to afford to help me. Tom Kicher was my dorm counselor in Pardee Hall, and I told him of my predicament. He said that if I would come to his room after dinner that he would help me. (Of course, he was a graduate student in civil engineering and expert in Statics.)

We stayed up all night in his room while he tutored me to prepare me for the final early the next morning. Thanks to Tom’s generous help, I got an 81 on the final, passed the course with a C, and kept my scholarship. I’m grateful that many years later when I visited Tom at Case, I was able to thank him personally again and tell him how his kindness enabled me to go on to graduate, complete my M.S., and enjoy a very long and successful career in the aerospace industry in California.

David Schwab ’62

Fountain Valley, California

Dave92708@gmail.com

Tom was the very first person I met at Case. I arrived in Cleveland a couple of days early, before orientation. I moved into Yost Hall, and the only other person in the building was Tom. Turned out, his room was next to mine.

I think Tom was president of the Newman Club, the Catholic organization on campus. By the way, I’m Jewish. He invited me to go, with him, to a mixer they were having for the incoming first year nursing students from Sinai Hospital and St. Luke’s. Couldn’t turn that down, and it resulted in my first college girlfriend.

Great next-door neighbor. He was a Junior, and I was a freshman, so he was always ahead of what I was doing and always ready to help.

The PERFECT first person to meet at college.

Saul Shulman ’57, MS ’58 saul_sandra@sbcglobal.net