Memorial Resolution

on Behalf of

Abraham Max

March 7, 1910 – December 17, 2004

Abraham Max, 94, died on December 17, 2004 in Rehovot, Israel. Professor Max was Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI where he served the department, the school, and the students with dedication and distinction.

Professor Max was born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. At age 14, his parents, Abe, and his younger brother moved to Israel where he lived for four years. He returned to the United Stated to finish high school and attend college. He earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin. During this time, he met and later married his wife, Alice Seltzer Max.

After his graduate studies, Professor Max worked for the General Motors Corporation in Detroit and for the Helena Rubinstein Company. In the early 1940s, he and Alice moved to North Dakota, where he taught communications in the Accelerated Specialized Training Program for the Air Force at the University of North Dakota. In 1944, he and Alice moved to Indianapolis where Abe worked for RCA Victor from 1944 until 1968. In 1968, he began teaching at IUPUI full time. In 1976, Professor Max retired, and he and Alice moved to Israel, where they joined their children, who were all living in Israel at that time. He taught at Ben Gurion University for several years. Alice died in 1986. During his latter years, Abe traveled widely to visit his family and his acquaintances, including frequent visits with his IUPUI colleagues.

As Group Supervisor of Engineers in the Development Section of the Record Department at RCA, Abe Max won the RCA Award of Merit in 1948 for improving metallizing and plating processes, thus improving the quality of records and enabling the development of the 45-rpm record.

He started teaching at Purdue University, Indianapolis part-time while working at RCA in the 1950s. His attachment to teaching led him to take a full-time position in the fall 1968. He led the engineering program in its development from a two-year preparation program to a full-fledged, degree-granting division, awarding Bachelor-of-Science degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and interdisciplinary engineering. He was chair of the Division of Engineering from 1968 to 1976.

At Purdue, he was awarded the outstanding faculty award on at least two occasions in recognition of his distinctive dedication. Upon his retirement, a distinguished faculty award was created in his honor. As expressed by Dean Yurtseven:

“Professor Max was a pioneer engineer and educator, our first chairman for our engineering programs at IUPUI, and a great source of inspiration to all of us. As we choose another promising faculty member to receive the prestigious 2005 Abraham M. Max Distinguished Professor award, we will continue remembering him fondly.”

Abe Max was involved beyond his professional career. He was active in his Indianapolis synagogue. He taught the ninth grade of Sunday school for over 20 years. Upon moving to Israel, he was one of the earliest members of the conservative movement synagogue in Rehovot.

He was a quiet, gentle man whose caring and involved presence was felt by all who knew him. Those of us who knew him remember him as cordial, considerate, and pleasant person, who always carried a smile.

Professor Max is survived by his daughter, Rachel Max, Rehovot, Israel; his sons David, Plantation, Florida, and Arthur, presently living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

THUS, BE IT RESOLVED: that this memorial resolution be adopted by the Faculty Senate of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI and placed in the school’s minutes and its permanent archives; that a copy of this memorial resolution be delivered to his children.

This resolution is written on behalf of Abe’s students, staff, and fellow faculty. This resolution was prepared in a cooperative effort of friends of Professor Max, Ted Cutshall, Amir Naghdi, Marvin Needler, John O’Loughlin, and Charles Yokomoto. Special thanks are given to Rachel Max for her valuable contributions.