Howard E. Strauss

Published December 5, 2013 This content is archived.

Howard E. Strauss, a professor emeritus of mechanical and aerospace engineering and former associate dean in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, died on Nov. 13 in Canterbury Woods, Amherst. He was 92.

A native of Buffalo, Strauss earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from UB.

He joined the UB engineering faculty in 1947 as an instructor teaching courses in thermodynamics and energy systems, and authored a book-length study, “The Effect of Localized Heat Transfer Coefficients on the Temperature Distribution Within an Infinitely Long Cylinder,” published in 1954.

He also served in a variety of administrative posts, was chair of several universitywide committees and founded the UB Engineering Alumni Association.

He was appointed assistant dean in 1966, then served as acting dean for the following academic year. He was promoted to associate dean for student services in 1978 and also served as associate dean for undergraduate engineering education.

He was the university marshal from 1975 to 1977.

Strauss also served as chair of the Buffalo Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was active for many years with the Engineering Society of Buffalo.

He received several honors for teaching, including a pair of Instructor of the Year awards from the Engineering Student Honor Society, Educator of the Year in 1984 from the Professional Engineering Society of Western New York and the Dean’s Award for Engineering Achievement.

He retired in 1985.