In Memoriam
There are some Ohioans in STEM whose careers came to an abrupt and tragic end. OSRMP wants to ensure that the legacy of individuals is not forgotten about.
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Warning: Due to the tragic nature of these individuals deaths, these stories may be upsetting and/or distressing to some readers. Please read the advisories (if applicable) for each figure before proceeding.
Rene Favoloro (1923-2000)
Image Source: Google Arts and Culture
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Born: July 12, 1923 in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died: July 29, 2000 in Argentina
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Connection to Ohio:
Immigrated to the United States in 1962 to work atthe Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He stayed there until 1971, when he moved back to Argentina.
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Warning: Rene Favoloro’s cause of death was suicide, so his story is not suitable for everyone, especially young children and people who suffer from mental illness. If you are struggling with your mental health, whether it be with a therapist, or in more serious cases, calling a crisis hotline like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline (https://988lifeline.org/) or another related hotline, and in life-threatening situations your local hospital/emergency room.
About:
Surgeon who performed the first successful coronary bypass surgery. Established the Favaloro Foundation to give the poor access to quality healthcare.
Learn More:
Online Articles:
Lew, Michele. "Favaloro, René Géronimo." Case Western Reserve University, 30 Nov. 2022, https://case.edu/ech/articles/f/favaloro-rene-geronimo.
R. L. Armentano, L. J. Cymberknop and L. Kun, "Dr. René Favaloro: A Visionary With Pioneering Innovations and a Humanitarian Approach," in IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 109-114, March 2024. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10496877.
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"René Favaloro: etched in our hearts." Google Arts and Culture, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/ren%C3%A9-favaloro-etched-in-our-hearts-fundacion-favaloro/6gUxbFZ9v6IiKQ?hl=en. *
*Includes Videos
Google Doodle:
"René Favaloro’s 96th Birthday." Google Doodles, 12 July 2019, https://doodles.google/doodle/rene-favaloros-96th-birthday/.
Favaloro Foundation:
https://www.fundacionfavaloro.org/. **
** Some parts of website are in Spanish, so non-Spanish should use a translator if they have not learned the language.
Video:
Televisión Pública (Youtube). “12 de julio: Nacimiento de René Favaloro - Historia al Día”. Run Time: 2 min 31 s. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFUBj9nGzO4. ***
***Video is in Spanish. Non-Spanish Speakers need to translate/use subtitles if they have not learned the language.
Book:
Favaloro, René. De La Pampa a los Estados Unidos. Argentina, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Argentina, 2012.
Judith Resnik (1949-1986)
Image Source: American Flyers
Born: April 5, 1949 in Akron, Ohio
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Died: January 28, 1986​
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About:
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Astronaut who became the first Jewish woman and the second American woman to fly into space. Flew on the inaugural voyage of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984 as a mission specialist. Was one of the seven astronauts who died in the Challenger Disaster.
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Warning: Judith Resnik died as a result of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, an event that was recorded on film. The footage, which is on Youtube, but is not included here because it may be upsetting to some viewers, so watch it at your own discretion.
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Learn More:
Online Articles:
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"Biographical Data." NASA, Dec. 2003, www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/resnik_judith_with_photo_0.pdf.
"About Judith Resnik." American Flyers, https://americanflyers.com/resources/financing/judith-resnik-memorial-scholarship/about-judith-resnik/.
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Bane, Wesley A. "Judith Resnik." Maltz Museum, www.maltzmuseum.org/blog/judith-resnik/.
Cohen, Lynn. "Judith Resnik." Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 20 March 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/resnik-judith.
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Sands, Kelly. "NASA Lewis Welcomed Judy Resnik, One of First Female Astronauts." NASA, 15 July 2021, www.nasa.gov/history/nasa-lewis-welcomed-judy-resnik-one-of-first-female-astronauts/.
Historical Marker:
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"24-77 Astronaut Judith Resnik." Remarkable Ohio, https://remarkableohio.org/marker/24-77-astronaut-judith-resnik/.
Videos:
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SciShow Space (YouTube). “Great Minds: Dr. Judith Resnik and the Icebusters”. Run Time: 5 min 19 sec. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqHiFQ1tZhQ.
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Howard Halifax (Youtube). "Astronaut Judy Resnik interview 9th April 1981". Run Time: 4 min 43 s. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaafRyuwA8w.
Archive: ‘I’m not scared’: Space Shuttle. , Global News. https://globalnews.ca/video/2481377/archive-im-not-scared-space-shuttle-challenger-astronaut-dr-judith-resnik.
Scholarship:
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"Judith Resnik Memorial Scholarship." American Flyers, https://americanflyers.com/resources/financing/judith-resnik-memorial-scholarship/.​