Editor’s column

Leonard Case Jr.’s enduring gift

You can’t do much more for your community than found a college. Talk about preparing one’s hometown for the future. The impact of namesake universities is evident across the country, from Duke to Stanford to Vassar. The pantheon includes many of our leading schools of science and technology: Carnegie Mellon, Rensselaer Polytechnic and, of course, Case Western Reserve.

For that, we owe everlasting thanks to Leonard Case Jr. His gift launched a well-timed college of science and engineering. Cleveland circa 1880 was emerging as a key hub in an industrial revolution. Leading citizens, including Case, saw that the city needed expertise to seize the moment and become a leader in the new economy.

We can only guess at his motivations. In this issue of Case Alumnus, professor emeritus Tom Kicher introduces us to a shy, reclusive bachelor who shunned attention. Case insisted that even his legacy gift—the Case School of Applied Science—be secret until his death. But he was raised with a sense of nobliss oblige. His father, Leonard Case Sr., arguably Cleveland’s first philanthropist, showed his son the value of supporting schools, hospitals and libraries.

The impact of the new college was immediate and profound. It attracted professors like Albert Michelson, who conducted experiments that helped earn America her first Nobel Prize in science, and Dayton Miller, who pioneered x-ray technology that began Cleveland’s strength in medical imaging. Case graduates lent the city expertise in metallurgy, chemicals and mechanical engineering. They founded companies like Dow Chemical, Parker Hannifin and Lubrizol Corp.

In 1967, a merger with Western Reserve created one of the nation’s leading research universities. The Case legacy is only part of the CWRU story. But it’s a tale rich with lessons about the power of vision, civic confidence and cultivating talent.

As we remember Leonard Case Jr. for his foresight, let’s give ourselves a pat on the back. I think he would very much like what became of his idea.

Robert Smith Editor Robert.Smith@casealum.org

The Case Alumnus is published quarterly for members and friends of the Case Alumni Association, which serves the interests of more than 20,000 alumni of the Case School of Applied Science, Case Institute of Technology and the Case School of Engineering.

Established in 1885 by the first five graduates of the Case School of Applied Science, the Case Alumni Association is the oldest independent alumni association of engineering and applied science graduates in the nation.

The Case Alumnus is a publication of the Case Alumni Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 public charity under the IRS code.

CASE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC. Tomlinson Hall, Room 109 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106-1712 216-231-4567 casealum@casealum.org casealum.org

OFFICERS Marvin Schwartz ’68, PhD ’73, President Ronald Cass ’84, 1st Vice President Sunniva Collins, MS ‘91, PhD ‘95, 2nd Vice President Joe Fakult ’90, Secretary Nick Barendt ’95, MS ’98, Treasurer Brian Casselberry ‘95, Assistant Treasurer

STAFF Stephen Zinram, Executive Director Thomas Conlon, Chief Financial Officer Emily Speer, Director of Gift Planning and Grants Compliance Robert Smith, Director of Communications Kelly Hendricks, Director of Alumni Relations Ryan Strine, Director of Annual Fund Janna Greer, Manager of Donor Relations and Grants Pamela Burtonshaw, Database Administrator Melissa Slager, Manager, Executive Office

CASE ALUMNUS Robert L. Smith, Editor Steve Toth, Toth Creative Group, Layout and Design Duke Print & Mail Solutions

PHOTO CREDITS Wetzler’s Photography Hilary Bovay Photography Roadell Hickman Photography Flaticon.com, Icons

To serve and advance the interests of the Case School of Engineering, the math and applied sciences of Case Western Reserve University and its alumni and students.

Cover Story 10 The Case Legacy

Leonard Case Jr., a wealthy and reclusive bachelor, envisioned one of the nation’s first engineering schools and set it on a course of discovery.

Features

16 Going Up!

The Case Alumni Foundation welcomed a larger-than-usual class of Junior Senior Scholars this spring.

18 Alumni Q&A

As chairman of the new Aerozone Alliance, Carlos Grodsinsky, MS '91, PhD '93, hopes to make aerospace believers of us all.

20 Global Engineer

Adriana Velazquez Berumen, MS ’86, delivered a call to action—and restraint—at the Engineers Week Reception.

28 Top Prof

Katie Wheaton '01 won the 2019 Gutti Memorial Teaching Award and students are eager to tell you why.

DEPARTMENTS

1 Dean’s Message 2 Editor’s column 4 Letters, posts and emails 6 Around the Quad 8 Alumni newsmakers 22 Case Memories 24 News Bytes 26 Class Notes 30 In Memoriam 32 Long We’ll Remember (nostalgia)

SPRING 2019 • vol. 33 • no. 1

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