Tribute — George Havens ’49

George Havens ’49 was looking forward to his 70th reunion in 2019, but seemed to have a premonition, which he shared with former Dean Tom Kicher ’59, MS ’62, PhD ’65. “He said, ‘You know, we better have it this year (2018). We’re losing people,’” Kicher recalled.

The ad man with an engineering degree pivoted. He sent letters to surviving classmates inviting them to what he proclaimed to be the first 69th class reunion in Case history.

“You made it this far,” he prompted, “don’t miss this great event!”

The alumni came. Kicher addressed the luncheon. Dean Ragu Venkataramanan Balakrishnan popped in to say hello. The room resonated

with bonhomie.

It was to be Haven’s last hurrah on a campus he loved. The advertising and marketing legend passed away October 7, 2019, at the age of 95. He left a legacy of creativity and loyalty that will long endure.

While building a stellar career and raising three sons, Havens shared his optimism and boundless spirit with Case and CWRU. He infused new energy into reunions, devised innovative marketing campaigns to boost enrollment and served on strategic planning committees, often working side by side with Ginny, his wife and companion of more than 70 years.

“George was one of the most positive people that you can imagine,” recalled Kicher, who helped launch the modern Case School of Engineering in 1992. “George was the one who got us all together and got everyone on board. He was very good at that.”

From 1983 to 1984, Havens served as president of the Case Alumni Association, which honored him with its Samuel Givelber ’23 Award in 2002.

Former CAA director Roger Cerne, who knew Havens for nearly 50 years, described a convivial genius. When Case’s enrollment fell following federation with Western Reserve in 1967, he said, Havens devised a direct mail branding campaign that attracted fresh prospects.

“It was the first time this had been done,” Cerne said. “Enrollment started to jump. This guy’s mind was always working.”

A native of East Cleveland, Havens graduated third in his class from Shaw High School and came to Case School of Applied Science on scholarship. Though he majored in chemical engineering, “I didn’t see myself in a plant,” he told Case Alumnus in 2017.

He took his science background to a fledgling Cleveland advertising agency, The Jayme Organization, and built it into a national powerhouse. He also taught leadership courses for the Weatherhead School, where he earned his MBA.

Upon retirement, Havens kept going. He launched a consulting business and established a second home near Bozeman, Montana — where he and Ginny liked to backpack. His seventh book, Heroic Leaders, published in 2017, included a profile of former Case president T. Keith Glennan.

In the last years of his life, the Havens made their home in Judson Manor, a short walk from Case Quad and the campus imbued with his spirit.

Find the obituary that ran in The Plain Dealer at tinyurl.com/havensobit