Howard Strauss, 87; chemical engineer loved to teach

Howard Strauss, a chemical engineer who held patents for some of the technology used in heart-lung machines, sonar and even a disposable flashlight, died March 6 at his Shorewood home of heart disease. He was 87.

A former adjunct professor for the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Strauss died of heart disease and anemia.

During World War II he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority as a research and development engineer, and was an operations engineer for the Vanadium Corp. of America. He also served as a U. S. Army Air Forces Reserves officer, 1944-46.

After the war, he attended graduate school at Columbia University in New York, earning his Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1949.

Over the years, he worked for various battery and manufacturing companies, such as Electric Storage Battery Co. in Philadelphia and the Gould Battery Co. in Mendota Heights.

The New York City native moved to Bloomington around 1970.

Seven years later, the former INCO Electro-Energy Corp. in Philadelphia enticed him away with a top executive post, making him responsible for nearly 90 manufacturing operations and five research and development centers in 22 countries. Over the years, INCO made Exide and Ray-O-Vac batteries, motors and electronics.

When he returned to the Twin Cities in 1984, he began teaching part time at the University of Minnesota.

"He just loved it here, the way of life and the amount of culture," said his wife, Nancy.

At the university, he was also responsible for recruiting business people to teach at the school, and he helped graduate students set up management systems in their workplaces, such as Rochester's Mayo Clinic.

He held about 20 patents, many involving battery technology.

He loved to analyze things, said his wife.

In addition to his wife of 57 years, he is survived by his sons, Michael of Paris, France, Steven of Apple Valley, and Allen of Bloomington; a sister, Elaine Levin of Fort Lee, N.J., and three grandchildren.