Alumni News

30s Richard F. Gretsch, Sr., (BSE ME '30), recently celebrated his 90th birthday with a surprise party in Danbury, CT. At the festivities, attended by seven of his eight children, 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, cousins, and friends, he received a proclamation from Danbury Mayor Gene Eriquez, a birthday card from President Clinton, and a letter of recognition from Sen. Christopher Dodd. The retired executive moved to Connecticut in 1946 as president of the Danbury Gas and Electric Co. and retired in 1973 as an executive with the Connecticut Light and Power Co. In addition, Gretsch has served as director, president, and chairman of both the Danbury Industrial Corp. and the Housatonic Industrial Development Corp. He has been credited with providing leadership and vision that helped transform Danbury from a one-industry town into a diverse and thriving industrial center. 40s Carroll J. Haas, Sr. (BSE '47), chairman of Colonial Engineering, Inc., was the invited speaker at the U-M Pi Tau Sigma Winter Term Banquet in April. He also continues as a member of MEAM's External Advisory Board (EAB). 50s William W. Mortimer (BSE ME '59) writes that he is now retired and lives in Adrian, MI. 60s Stephen R. Elpern (BSE EM '67), president, Access Technologies, and David G. Elpern (BSE ME '69), director, Allied Signal Aerospace Equipment Systems, were recently issued a patent for a remote controlled, electrically operated, deadbold door lock. This is the first invention of Access Technologies, a new company formed to develop commercial products. They are currently working on a security device for notebook computers that uses some of the same technology. Marshall G. Jones (BSE ME '65), a senior research engineer and project leader at General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, NY, received the Golden Torch Pioneer of the Year Award from the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). An ASME Fellow, he is considered one of the foremost authorities in the field of laser technology and was cited as an "engineering trailblazer" in the society's announcement of his award. He has recently self-published a book, Never Give Up, which chronicles his professional and personal experiences. Michael E. Korybalski (BSE '69, ME '73), chairman and chief executive officer of Mechanical Dynamics, Inc., was the alumni class representative for the Class of '69E at the U-M Commencement Ceremony in May. He is a member of MEAM's External Advisory Board (EAB). 90s Kristina L. Bosker (BSE ME '96, MSE '98) and Karl W. Henn (BSE ME '98) were married in Troy, MI, in May 1998. Kristina is an engineer with Ford Motor Co. and Karl is an engineer with Lear Corp. They live in Dearborn, MI.	MEAM Connections Run Deep MEAM Connections Run Deep as the MEAM tradition strongly flows through several generations of two MEAM faculty families. Courtesy of M.S. Wooldridge Assistant Professor Margaret S. Wooldridge, left, followed her grandfather, Robert E. Hayes (BSEM '33, BSEEM '33), into the field of mechanical engineering (although it was called engineering mechanics when he graduated). Courtesy of M.S. Wooldridge As a young man, Hayes, who was fascinated by flying, designed model airplanes, both gliders and with engines. Hayes, who was trained as a pilot at the Boeing School, owned at least two small planes during his flying days. Today, he enjoys sailing his 32-foot Hunter sailboat. Courtesy of R.D. Ervin MEAM Research Scientist Robert D. Ervin, right, jointly appointed with UMTRI, proudly poses with his son James Ervin (PhD '99) (center), his grandson, Ethan, born the week that Jim completed his PhD, and son Greg Ervin, left, a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering at U-MDearborn.
	Gerald Brusher (PhD '93) was promoted to supervisor of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Integration and Global Architecture Process (GAP) Section in Vehicle C3P (CAD, CAE, and CAM) CAE Development Department at Ford Motor Co. He previously served as an optimization technical specialist at Ford. Jeffrey M. Cox (BSE ME '94), a patent attorney, holds a law associate position in the Ann Arbor office of Harness, Dickey and Pierce, PLC, where he specializes in patent procurement in mechanical and electromechanical technologies. David L. Dominic, Jr., (BSE ME '93) has recently been promoted to a new position as an engineer in Chassis Analysis at DaimlerChrysler in Auburn Hills, MI. Jennifer Kadlowec (MSE '95, PhD '99) and Paris von Lockette (PhD '99) will begin as assistant professors of mechanical engineering at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, in September. Part of their responsibilities will include developing a laboratory for dynamics/vibrations, controls, and mechanics of materials. David B. Miller (BSE ME '96) graduated with an MSME from Stanford University in 1998. After driving around the country for six weeks, he began work as an engineer in the Fiber Optic Communications Division of Hewlett-Packard in San Jose, CA. He writes that he'd be interested in hearing from his old engineering pals, so e-mail him at dbmiller@alumni.stanford.org. Michelle (Shelly) L. (Sanborn) Calloway (BSE ME '98) is an engineer in the Structural Test Laboratory at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, MI. She is taking engineering graduate classes and was married in August.