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WILLIAM HARRISON CORCORAN
1920-1982
BY CORNELIUS ]. PINGS
WILLIAM H. CORCORAN, Institute Professor of Chemical Engi-
neering, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), died on
August 21, 1982, while vacationing in Hawaii with his wife, Mar-
tha. A scientist and engineer of extraordinary talent and achieve-
ments, he departed in the midst of a brilliantly productive career.
Dr. Corcoran attained great distinction as a research expert, edu-
cator, educational administrator and fund raiser, industrial consult-
ant, and as the author or coauthor of more than ninety scientific
papers and three books.
At Caltech he demonstrated his research virtuosity in a range of
studies in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering kinetics,
engineering design, process development of pharmaceuticals, rock-
etry, and transport processes.
Particular attention came to him from the international scientific
community for his laboratory studies of the fluid mechanics of artifi-
cial heart valves. In these studies Dr. Corcoran and his research
colleagues applied laser-Doppler anemometry (using laser beams to
measure accurately the flow of fluid through the heart valves). He
contributed significantly toward the development of improved artifi-
cial valve designs.
It was "in recognition of his outstanding scientific accomplish-
ments and his great contributions of the past 27 years" that Caltech
bestowed upon him the title of Institute Professor. Institute profes-
sorships are prestigious faculty positions and Caltech's highest honor
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54
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
for members of the faculty. When Dr. Corcoran was appointed to
this position in 1979, he became the third person so honored in the
history of the Institute.
As an Institute Professor, he took the leadership responsibility for
developing a Caltech energy program to make a unique contribution
to the Nation's energy needs.
As highly versatile as he was capable, Dr. Corcoran possessed
fund-raising skills that had a tremendously beneficial impact upon
the California Institute of Technology. In the decade 1969 through
1979, as First Vice-President for Institute Relations, he was respon-
sible for all Caltech's fund-raising activity, including a $71-million
campaign and a $130-million campaign, both completed with total
success.
Dr. Corcoran was a most dedicated educator whose bright record
clearly testifies to his total devotion to the cause of higher learning
and especially to science and engineering. Dr. Harold Brown,
Caltech President from 1969 to 1977 and later Secretary of Defense,
said the following of Dr. Corcoran:
Bill Corcoran displayed devotion to the institution and to chemical engineering
as a professorial discipline. He was an outstanding researcher, and remarkably
talented at raising money as Vice-President for Development. But what
impressed me most of all about Bill and Martha was how much they cared about
Caltech students, undergraduate and graduate not only as a group, but as
individuals. Bill regarded his own research students as members of his family.
He cared about their development as citizens, as caring people, as mature
adults as well as professional scientists and engineers. No wonder they, and all
of us who knew him, miss him so much.
Born in Los Angeles on March 11, 1920, this long-time resicient
of San Gabriel, California, earned three degrees from Caltech: B.S.
in applied chemistry, 1941; M.S. in chemical engineering, 1942;
and Ph.D. in chemical engineering, 1948. He was one of the first
two people to receive this doctorate from Caltech. In the course of
his undergraduate years, he played four years of intercollegiate base-
ball.
His graduate work stopped temporarily for World War II, but in
1942 he was still on campus, at this point as a Research Supervisor
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WILLIAM HARRISON CORCORAN
55
and Development Engineer for the National Defense Research
Committee for the Office of Scientific Research Development. His
work focused on the interior ballistics and processing of propellant
for artillery rockets and on the firing mechanism of the atomic
bomb.
In 1948 he joined the Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley as Director
of Technical Development. Caltech persuaded him to return to cam-
pus in 1952 as an Associate Professor, and five years later he was
awarded a full professorship.
Many professional educational organizations were proud to claim
Dr. Corcoran as one of their leaders. Among these were the Ameri-
can Institute of Chemical Engineers (which he served as President in
1979), American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemists,
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for
Engineering Education, American Ordnance Association, Catalysis
Society of California, American Association for the Advancement of
Science, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and
National Society of Professional Engineers.
His scholarship and research contributions earned him an array of
honors, including the Engineer of the Year Award from the Institute
for the Advancement of Engineering in 1980, the same year he was
elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Among his other
honors were the Lamme Award of the American Society for Engi-
neering Education for excellence in his profession, the Western Elec-
tric Fund Award for excellence in teaching, the Founders Award
from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for impact on
his profession, and the Educational Achievement Award from the
California Society of Professional Engineers. Dr. Lee A. DuBridge,
President of Caltech from 1946 to 1969 and later Science Advisor to
the President of the United States, reflected as follows:
The characteristic which made Bill Corcoran such a highly valued member of
the Caltech faculty was his versatility his very broad range of interests and
talents. He was a first-class chemical engineer, a superb teacher, a fine adminis-
trator and a valued friend and counsellor to both students and faculty. He was
always an asset to each of the many Institute activities in which he engaged-
academic, athletic, social or administrative. Above all, he was a man of high
ideals, sterling character and a fine husband and father.
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
To win the enthusiastic accolades and discerning admiration of
one's colleagues and contemporaries is a most meaningful triumph
for a rigorous scholar and educator. Such was the recognition
accorded William Corcoran in the many realms of higher learning
that he inhabited and enriched.
His example is to be admired, certainly, emulated if possible, and
looked to as a source of inspiration always.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
heart valves
