Carl F. Lorenzo

Beloved husband of 63 years to Margaret A. (nee Domann). Loving father of Mary (Patrick) Stafford, Ann (Russ) Wahlay, James (Christine) Lorenzo, baby Rosemary (deceased), Carol (Joseph) Palko, and Margaret “Margie” (Rich) Strekal. Dearest grandfather of Sarah (Lauren) Pawlowski, Elizabeth (fiancé, Shaun Hooks) Wahlay, Jonathon Wahlay, Megan Wahlay, Michael (Janessa) Lorenzo, Emily Lorenzo, Kathleen Palko, Alyssa Palko and Alexander Strekal. Great-grandfather of Lennon Hooks. Dear brother of Donna Zurava (deceased), Jo (Jimmy Slechta) Blazer and Mary (Ron) Martucci. Dear uncle and friend of many.

Carl was dedicated to the pursuit of math and science, which led to an illustrious career at NASA spanning over 60 years. In 1956, while studying engineering at Fenn College, he worked as a co-op student for NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Upon graduating Fenn in 1957, he began work as a mechanical engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center (previously, Lewis Research Center), where he worked in the area of aeronautics, focusing on propulsion, instrumentation and controls. His roles ranged from project engineer to chief engineer of the Instrumentation and Controls Division to chief of the Advanced Controls Technology and Systems Dynamics branches.

While still in college, Carl helped organize the Fenn Rocket Club, which was the first student branch of the American Rocket Society (ARS) in the state of Ohio. He co-authored a paper that won the 1958 ARS-Chrysler Corporation Student Award. He presented the winning paper at the ARS student conference in New York City that year.

In 1965, Carl earned a Master’s degree in Mathematics from John Carroll University. He also completed a number of doctoral-level classes.

Over his long career, Carl authored or co-authored hundreds of technical papers, many of which were accepted for publication by scholarly journals around the world. He presented countless papers at professional conferences across the US and Europe. He earned a number of NASA awards, including the Exceptional Service Medal, the Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Distinguished Publication Award.

In 1999, Carl officially retired from NASA but was awarded the role of Distinguished Research Associate (DRA). As DRA, Carl continued his research at NASA, focusing his work on fractional order systems, fractional calculus and fractional trigonometry, while continuing to author and co-author papers and present at conferences around the world. He earned international recognition for his work in the development and application of fractional calculus and fractional trigonometry. Carl worked as a DRA until 2017.

In 2016, at the age of 81, Carl, along with co-author Tom Hartley, (formerly a professor at the University of Akron), published the book, ¬The Fractional Trigonometry: With Applications to Fractional Differential Equations and Science. The book, which outlines effective and efficient methods for describing complex structures, is frequently used as a textbook for graduate- and PhD-level courses in fractional calculus.

Having an endlessly curious and imaginative mind, Carl had a wide variety of hobbies, including photography, drawing, computing, machining and woodworking, among others. He could fix anything in the house, and if he couldn’t fix it, he could make a new one in his basement machine shop. He was a voracious reader, interested in a broad range of subjects. He loved music and felt it in his soul. His favorite music was anything his wife Marg played on the piano.

Above all, Carl loved and lived for his family. Of all of his accomplishments, what he was most proud of was the warm and loving family that he and Marg created together.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs at Brooklyn Pointe Assisted Living and Miracle City Hospice who, in a very short period of time, made a lasting impact on Carl and our family.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 25, 2023, from 3-7 PM at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home 20820 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park 44126. Funeral Mass Monday, June 26, 2023, at 12 Noon at St. Mark Catholic Church 15800 Montrose Ave. Cleveland 44111.

Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Carl's memory to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank 13815 Coit Rd. Cleveland 44110 (support.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.corrigancraciun.com for the Lorenzo family.