Edward C. Grahn, BSME, passed away on January 21. He was 79 years old.
Photograph courtesy of R. J. Garrick.
For half a century, Grahn contributed to research and development at the Northwestern University Prosthetics Research Laboratory (NUPRL) and the Northwestern University Rehabilitation Engineering Research Program (NURERP). In 2010, he played an instrumental role in merging those entities into the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC).
A 1960 graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, Grahn served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964 and was stationed at the Army Prosthetics Research Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, where he was scouted by NUPRL founder, Clinton Compere, MD. Grahn replaced Colin McLaurin, ScD, the lab’s first director. From 1964 until 1972, Grahn directed NUPRL, and he was associate director until his retirement from Northwestern University in 2013. He was closely involved in dozens of research and development projects for both upper- and lower-limb prosthetic and assistive devices, including 22 years of project work under the Northwestern University Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (NU-RERC) for Prosthetics and Orthotics, which was funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research from 1991 to 2013.
According to a tribute by R. J. Garrick, PhD, project director, resource unit for information and education services, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, NUPOC: Grahn was recognized for his engineering expertise, accurate mechanical drawings, and meticulous attention to organizational detail. He especially enjoyed working with biomedical engineering graduate students who relied on his resourceful engineering perspectives to develop new directions, resolve drawing issues, and implement engineering concepts into tangible prototypes and functional devices. Through his years of work in rehabilitation engineering, including O&P and assistive technology, Grahn contributed to improvements in the lives of people who live with physical impairments. He was well liked by colleagues for his invariable kindness, accessibility, and modesty.
Grahn is survived by his children, Jennifer Grahn, Christina Grahn, and Edward (Michelle) Grahn; grandchildren, Jack and Matthew Holecek and Ashley and Laura Grahn; and his sister Janet Anderson.
The Grahn family has established a Legacy site where people may convey their condolences.
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from a tribute written by R. J. Garrick, PhD, project director, resource unit for information and education services, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, NUPOC.
