William J. Rae

William J. Rae, an aeronautical engineer, researcher and professor known for his deeply respectful and loving manner, a father to four and grandfather to three, died Wednesday, July 15, in his home in Kensington, Maryland. He was 90.

Accomplished in the fields of aerospace, flight dynamics and fluid mechanics, he was a Principal Engineer at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory and its successor, Calspan, and a Professor in the SUNY-Buffalo Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering before his retirement in 2002. He received the title of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, the highest faculty rank in the SUNY system.

His engineering research contributed to everything from NASA’s space exploration missions to road vehicle dynamics and efficiency, helical particle separation, and understanding the flight dynamics of a football.

For one course at UB, he taught the fundamental properties of aerodynamic flight by having his students “fly” a football using simulation software. After years of research, he developed a theory that explained the complexity of a forward pass, and became a leading expert on football aerodynamics. In 2016 he was inducted into the Niagara Frontier Aviation & Space Hall of Fame in recognition of his long career in aviation.

Born in Buffalo as the youngest of three children, he lived for many years in Snyder with his wife of 63 years, Esther Horan Rae, before their move to Maryland in 2016.

A gentle giant, he exuded love, compassion and patience. He held a deep reservoir of faith and conviction and a lighthearted sense of humor. His manner combined a steady hum of reassurance, a quick wit, and a twinkle in his blue eyes. He also had a clear-eyed outrage over injustices, and a steady faith in people working toward fairness.

In civic and religious life, he was concerned with human rights, peace and justice. Over the years he served on the boards of HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal), Medaille College, Christ the King Seminary and the Catholic Campus Ministry Foundation, and was a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Buffalo. He and his wife were active in St. Joseph University Parish in Buffalo.

He loved sailing, both for the feeling and the fascination with the aerodynamics. One autumn day in the early 1980s, he sailed by a small island in Six Mile Lake, Ontario, where he vacationed, and saw a cottage that had fallen into disuse. The place became a cherished retreat for his children and grandchildren. He delighted in the natural beauty, the time with family and the chance to sit by the water and watch the sun set.

Surviving are his wife, Esther; two daughters, Barbara and Leah; two sons, Michael and Matthew, three grandchildren, Alex, Andrew and Ellie, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kensington Park Employee Appreciation Fund, Attn: Letty Diai, 3620 Littledale Road, Kensington, MD 20895; or Newman Center, University at Buffalo, 495 Skinnersville Road, Amherst, NY 14228.

Services

MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE:

On Saturday, July 25, our immediate family will gather for a small, private ceremony in Maryland. All of our friends and relatives are invited to share in this observance simply by dedicating a moment to remember him on this day.

You might spend a moment in silence, give a toast, tell a story, or perhaps throw a football.

See the ‘Memories’ section below for more information.

OTHER SERVICES:

A Memorial Mass in Buffalo will be scheduled at a later date.