In Memoriam: Haren Gandhi

Haren Ghandi '68, '71

The College of Engineering & Science lost an extraordinary engineering colleague and a supportive alumnus with the passing of Haren Gandhi '68, '71, on Jan. 23, 2010. Gandhi received his master's and doctorate degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Detroit. He remained active with the College, serving on the E&S Board of Advisors and chairing the Ford-UDM E&S Steering Committee.

"He was one of the greatest engineers who ever lived," says E&S Dean Leo Hanifin. "He was personally responsible for some of the most important technology that reduced automobile emissions. He earned 53 U.S. patents and many more in other countries."

Gandhi worked at Ford Motor Company for more than four decades. He was hired as a research engineer in 1967 and rose to the highest ranking position of a scientist or engineer at the company—a Henry Ford Technical Fellow—a position he held for 16 years. He led the research, development and implementation of automotive exhaust catalysts. His development of the monolithic three-way catalyst revolutionized the way the automotive industry approaches emissions control.

He was the only member of the automotive industry to win the U.S. National Medal of Technology, which is bestowed by the President of the United States to America's leading innovators who have made lasting contributions to enhancing America's competitiveness and standard of living.

At Ford Motor Company, Gandhi was the only recipient to receive five prestigious Henry Ford Technology Awards, the company's highest technical recognition.

He was also recognized by the Institute of Chemical Technology in India with the Platinum Award. In 2008, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers named him among "One Hundred Engineers of the Modern Era." He was elected to the National Academy of Engineers in 1999 and as a Society of Automotive Engineers Fellow in 2006. UDM's College of Engineering & Science named Gandhi Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2000.

According to Ford Group Vice President for Global Product Development Derrick Kuzak '73, '76, in his eulogy of Gandhi at a memorial service in January, Gandhi's "list of accomplishments impacted each and every Ford vehicle globally... making those vehicles cleaner for our planet's atmosphere."

Gandhi's influence as a mentor and teacher to Ford engineers was even more profound, adds Kuzak. Gandhi possessed "a truly unique combination of technical innovation and contribution, and at the same time, a humility and commitment to teaching and mentorship, second to none."

"We will miss his input and presence," says Hanifin. "As an alumnus, Haren truly reflected the mission of the College and the University."

Gandhi is survived by his wife Yellow, daughter Sangeeta and son Anand.

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Derrick Kuzak '73, '76, group vice president, Global Product Development at Ford Motor Company, received the 2010 National Academy of Engineering Award, the highest honor and most prestigious award in the engineering community.

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Evelyn H. Hirt '76, was named IEEE-USA president in January. Hirt, who has worked in engineering for more than 37 years, is a principal professional and engineer with Battelle in the Operational Systems Directorate at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. Her professional experiences bridge the industrial, government and academic communities as both a technical contributor and technical/project manager. Her expertise is in systems (hardware, software and integration) and controls, as well as quality engineering. In 2009, Hirt received IEEE-USA's highest honor, the Robert S. Walleigh Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award for her leadership and contributions to IEEE-USA professional activities. In 2008, she received the IEEE Nanotechnology Council Distinguished Service Award. As IEEE-USA president, Hirt will focus on increasing recognition of the role engineers play in powering the U.S. economy and advancing science, engineering and technical literacy to develop future engineers and technical professionals.