HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | SEPTEMBER 2025 82 IN MEMORIAM Richard E. Grace, FASM, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away on July 24 at the age of 95. Born on June 26, 1930, in Chicago, Grace grew up in the city’s steel mill district and graduated from South Shore High School. He earned his B.S. in metallurgical engineering from Purdue University in 1951 and a Ph.D. from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1954. That same year, he began his distinguished career at Purdue as an assistant professor in the School of Metallurgical Engineering. Over the next 46 years, Grace held various leadership roles across the university. He served as head of the School of Metallurgical Engineering and later led its evolution into the School of Materials Engineering. He guided a name change that reflected the growing breadth and interdisciplinary future of the field. Grace founded the Division of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies in 1970 and served as its head until 1982. He also led the department of freshman engineering and was appointed assistant dean of engineering. In 1987, Grace was named vice president for student services at Purdue, serving in this role until 1995 and developing programs that reshaped the undergraduate experience. Upon stepping down from this position, he founded and directed the Undergraduate Studies Program (now Exploratory Studies) until his retirement in 2000. James “Jim” McGuffin-Cawley, of Shaker Heights, Ohio, died on June 27 at the age of 68. He received his undergraduate degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University and went on to earn a Ph.D. in materials science from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). His career as a professor began with six years at The Ohio State University after which he returned to CWRU to teach and conduct research until his retirement in July 2024. During his years at CWRU, McGuffin-Cawley served in several administrative roles including faculty director of Think[box], interim vice president of research and technology, interim dean of engineering, associate dean of research, and associate dean of academics in the engineering school. He also served as chair of the department of materials science for several years. Charles Edwin (Ed) Neu, FASM, died on April 28 in Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, at the age of 87. He was born on February 6, 1938, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia. He served in the United States Army Reserve then went on to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in metallurgical engineering and materials science from the University of Pennsylvania. Neu began his career at Bethlehem Steel Co., then worked for the Sun Ship Company, and later the Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania. There, he was known for developing applications criteria for aerospace steels, titanium, and aluminum alloys used in naval aircraft. Following retirement, he was self-employed as president of Forensic Sciences Inc. and frequently served as an expert witness in investigations surrounding equipment failures. For over 60 years, Neu was an active member of ASM International and served as chair of the Liberty Bell Chapter (1995-1996). His continued contributions to the chapter were recognized by his awards including the Delaware Valley Materials Person of the Year award in 2004, the Albert Sauveur Lecture Award in 2000, the Meritorious Service Award in 2009, and the Chapter Distinguished Service Award in 2013. Neu also was recognized by the chapter in 2010 for Outstanding Company Support for his consulting company, Forensic Sciences Inc. McGu in-Cawley Neu IN MEMORIAM Grace IN MEMORIAM
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