Robert Case

A former hurricane forecaster at the National Hurricane Center, Robert "Bob" Case (born c. 1939, died 7/19/2008) worked in various offices within the National Weather Service office for 38 years, developing a diverse background in various types of weather forecasting. He is best known for inspiring the naming of the 1991 Halloween Nor'easter as "The Perfect Storm." [NOAA News Online. [http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s444.htm NOAA METEOROLOGIST BOB CASE, THE MAN WHO NAMED THE PERFECT STORM.] Retrieved on 2007-08-02.]

Career

He entered the United States Navy at the age of 17 in 1957, and served for 3½ years. Thereafter he went to college, and earned a Bachelors Degree in math/physics from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in 1965. During 1966, he took meteorology courses as Pennsylvania State University. By 1967, he had joined the National Weather Service, and was posted to Anchorage, Alaska. The following year he moved to Juneau, Alaska. In 1971, he began work at National Weather Service Headquarters near Washington, D. C.. The next year he completed coursework for his Master's degree from Penn State. In 1973, he worked again in Juneau for a couple years. In 1975, he filled the position of a marine and aviation forecaster in Coral Gables, Florida. Promoted to a lead forecaster in 1980, by 1982 he started an eight year tour of duty at the National Hurricane Center. In 1990, he became a manager as the deputy meteorologist-in-charge in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, during a interview with author Sebastian Junger, described the weather conditions off the New England and Atlantic Canada coast at the end of October, 1991, as "perfect" for the creation of the immensely powerful ocean storm that ensued. Keying on Case's adjective "perfect", Junger coined the phrase "The Perfect Storm" as the title of his book about the storm. [(2000, June 29). " [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/06/000628101549.htm Meteorologists Say 'Perfect Storm' Not So Perfect] ", "Science Daily"] [West, James. (2000, July 6). " [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/movies/ps/psname.htm The naming of 'The Perfect Storm'] ", "USA Today"] In 1993, Case became the meteorologist-in-charge at State College, Pennsylvania. Staying in that position for two years, he retired to settle down in the town of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. In his last years Bob suffered from the effects of ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease)and passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 19, 2008.

Awards

Bob received an award for meritorious service during Hurricane Gilbert in 1989. [NOAA History. [http://www.history.noaa.gov/hallofhonor/medal1981.html Department of Commerce Medal Recipients - 1981-1990.] Retrieved on 2007-08-02.]

References