University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

A memorial service will be held on June 7 for Charles M. Fogel, professor emeritus of civil engineering who died May 20 in Canterbury Woods, Amherst. He was 97.

The service will take place at 2 p.m. in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus. Following the celebration of Fogel’s life, a reception will be held in the CFA atrium.

Speaking at the service will be Fogel’s sons, Paul and Lorin; Dennis Black, vice president for university life and services; John R. McClive, executive director of the Rotary Club of Buffalo; George Lee, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering; and Robert J. Wagner, senior advisor to President Satish K. Tripathi.

When he retired in 1984, Fogel enjoyed the distinction of having been a UB faculty member longer than any other individual and of having served under six UB chancellors and presidents. He also helped establish the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences 50 years ago.

Fogel received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from UB in the late 1930s. After graduate studies at Columbia and Ohio State universities, he returned to UB in 1942 as supervisor of physics instruction in the war training program. Following a brief hiatus to conduct industrial research, he returned to UB in 1946 and was the third faculty member hired in the new engineering school. He remained there until his retirement.

Fogel authored the textbook “Introduction to Engineering Computations,” and in conjunction with the late Robert L. Ketter, former UB president and engineering faculty member, published a research report, “Elastic Strength of Tapered Columns,” for the Structural Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

In addition to his research and teaching duties, Fogel served in a number of administrative positions at the university, among them as assistant executive vice president, acting dean of the Graduate School and assistant to the president for educational affairs. At his retirement, he was director of the engineering school’s Industrial Liaison Office.

The first recipient of the UB President’s Medal in 1990 for his exemplary service to the university, he also has received the UB Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the 1983 Dean’s Award from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the 1996 Engineer of the Year Award from the engineering school.

Fogel was involved in community activities outside the university, joining the Rotary Club of Buffalo in 1954 and later serving as its president. He also was governor of Rotary District 7090, a director of Rotary International and chairman of numerous Rotary service committees.

He also was a trustee, member or officer in numerous other community organizations, including Temple Beth Zion, Community Welfare Council of Buffalo and Erie County, Greater Niagara Boy Scout Council, Network in Aging of Western NY, United Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Services of Erie County. He also mentored students at Lorraine Academy and tutored in Buffalo high schools, remaining an active volunteer well into his 90s.

A public memorial service will be held at a future date.

Sarah Bihr, retired assistant dean for student health and wellness, died May 16 in her Amherst home after a long illness. She was 60.

Born Sarah LoBrutto in Buffalo, Bihr earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Buffalo State College, a master’s in health science education from UB and an MBA from Canisius College.

Bihr began her career in 1973 as a staff medical technologist at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and served as the hospital's education coordinator from 1975-85.

She joined Canisius College in 1977 as director of the medical technology program and was named associate director of UB’s Student Health Center in 1985.

She became director of the Student Health Center in 1994, and was named assistant dean for student health and wellness in 2001, a position she held until 2007, when she was forced to retire because of her health.

Bihr served on the Western New York College Consortium for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, the board of directors of the University Heights Community Development Association and as treasurer of the UB Child Care Center.

She sang with the Buffalo Philharmonic Choir during the 1990s and in early 2000.