obituary

A few years ago, a printed picture of a heart-shaped locket quietly appeared on a student-run bulletin board. Pictured inside the locket: a headshot of longtime Case School of Engineering faculty member Jim McGuffin-Cawley (GRS ’84, metallurgy and materials science). Students’ and colleagues’…

Members of the Case Western Reserve University community are mourning the loss of Larry Howard, a campus security officer known for his kindness, professionalism and deep respect for others. He passed away Feb. 18 at the age of 72. Howard, who began working at the university in 2023 after…

Growing up in Osaka, Japan, Hisashi Fujioka always had a love for biology and the natural world around him. That passion drew him to earn his PhD at Nagoya University before forging a 30-year research career in different aspects of science at Case Western Reserve. Now, the Case Western Reserve…

It’s rare to be able to make everyone around you feel seen, valued and inspired, but Mary Garrity had that gift. Whether she was mentoring a colleague or forging connections with alumni and researchers, Garrity brought genuine warmth to everything she did. Now, the Case Western Reserve…

Throughout his career, Jerry Silver dreamt of restoring meaningful function to the millions of people with spinal cord injuries worldwide. His commitment to groundbreaking research in neuroscience and neural regeneration combined with his entrepreneurial spirit brought extraordinary discoveries to…

For nearly the past two decades, Gary Pillar’s work has been evident across Case Western Reserve University, especially through the athletics programs and facilities that his engagement with donors helped support. Now, the campus community, alumni and friends are mourning the passing of Pillar,…

Throughout her legendary career in developmental neuroscience, Lynn Landmesser was driven by a fascination for understanding species’ behaviors. It’s one that took root when she was a child in California, where she explored diverse environments ranging from tide pools to deserts and mountains. And,…

Most entrepreneurs are accustomed to hearing the word “no” from inherently skeptical potential investors. But not from Bob Sopko. His positivity and guidance nurtured new and seasoned entrepreneurs at Case Western Reserve University—and throughout the region—for years. Those who worked with and…

If you ever walked around Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine’s admitting or radiology clinics and heard someone say, “we can do it,” there’s a good chance that was Sue Opsitnick. A radiology technician who dedicated nearly two decades to Case Western Reserve University,…

At 4 years old, Charis Eng was captivated by her uncle’s career as a physician—an early fascination that wound up shaping her future. By age 16, she had already enrolled at the University of Chicago, marking the start of a journey that would eventually lead her to become a pioneering figure in…