In memory of Joseph F. Louvar, 1935–2023, former Editor-in-Chief of Process Safety Progress

Abstract

1 REMEMBRANCE BY DANIEL A. CROWL, FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, OF PROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS

Joseph F. Louvar passed away on December 11, 2023, at the age of 88.

Louvar was best known as an outstanding advocate for process safety and undergraduate chemical engineering instruction in process safety.

Louvar was born on September 27, 1935, in south Chicago, IL. He was the son of a Chicago fireman.

He received his BS degree in 1957 from the Missouri School of Mines and Technology (currently Missouri University of Science and Technology), his MS degree from Carnegie Mellon in 1961, and his PhD from Wayne State University in 1983, all in chemical engineering.

Louvar was in ROTC during his undergraduate years and graduated with the rank of second Lieutenant.

In 1960, Louvar joined Corn Products as a process engineer.

In 1961, Louvar married Berenice “Diane” Wassil who was working on her chemistry degree at Carnegie Mellon. They were married for 62 years until her passing in June of 2023. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

In 1962, Louvar and his wife were hired by the Catholic Extension Society to manage St. Joseph's Orphanage in Bethany, Oklahoma. They directed a staff of 12 and cared for up to 70 children.

In 1965, Louvar joined Wyandotte Chemicals (now BASF) in Wyandotte, MI as a development engineer. He held many positions at BASF, including Director of Inorganic R&D and Director of Chemical Engineering. His job functions included systems engineering, process design, R&D management, and small-scale production of chemicals. He retired from BASF in 2000.

In 1983, Louvar received his PhD degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. His Ph.D. advisor was Dr. Daniel A. Crowl.

In the summer of 1985, Louvar convinced Crowl to spend a summer working at BASF in Wyandotte, MI. Through this experience, Crowl recognized the importance of process safety to industrial operations and the necessity for undergraduate instruction in process safety. Louvar and Crowl form an inseparable team for process safety education.

In 1987, Louvar became chair of the CCPS Undergraduate Education Committee, which would be renamed SACHE: Safety and Chemical Engineering Education in 1993. Louvar would also serve as chair of the AIChE 11a committee, Chair of the Loss Prevention Symposium, and Chair of the Safety and Health Division.

In 1987, Louvar and Crowl decided that a textbook on process safety for undergraduate chemical engineers is essential. Their first edition was published in 1990. It is currently in the fourth edition.

In 2000, Louvar was appointed Research Professor at Wayne State, a position he held until 2010.

Louvar authored or coauthored 35 publications, 10 patents, and 2 books.

In 1986, Louvar was recognized as the Chemical Engineer of the Year by the AIChE Detroit Local Section. In 1996, he became a Fellow of AIChE. In 1997, he received the Exceptional Accomplishment Award at Wayne State University. In 1998, he was inducted into the Distinguished Academy of Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. In 2000, he was inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Chemical Engineers. In 2001, he received the Norton H. Walton/Russell L. Miller Award in Safety/Loss Prevention, the premier award from the AIChE Safety and Health Division (now the Process Safety Division).

On a personal note, I wish I had noted the day Joe first walked into my office at Wayne State University. On that day, my life and the world changed for the better forever!