A Tribute to Professor Ward Otis Winer

date: 04.07.2025

The global tribology community mourns the loss of one of its legends, Professor Ward Otis Winer.

The global tribology community mourns the loss of one of its legends, Professor Ward Otis Winer, who passed away on May 25, 2025, at the age of 88. News of his declining health reached me during the 79th STLE Annual Meeting in Atlanta, where I learned he was receiving hospice care. Just days later, we received the heartbreaking news of his passing.  Professor Winer was undeniably a legend of our era, not only for his invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication to the field of tribology but also for being one of the most compassionate individuals who profoundly impacted the lives of countless tribologists, including my own. His remarkable list of accolades includes the prestigious Tribology Gold Medal from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Mayo D. Hersey Award from ASME, both of which were awarded in 1986. In 1988, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

 

Professor Winer was an exemplary educator and an inspiring academic leader. He held the distinguished title of Regents’ Professor Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology and served as the longest-standing Chair of Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. During his tenure, Georgia Tech’s Mechanical Engineering Department has become one of the best in the world. Beyond tribology, his extensive research covered fluid mechanics, high-pressure rheology, lubrication, thermomechanics, and diagnostics of mechanical systems. His groundbreaking research, insightful mentorship, and visionary leadership shaped generations of engineers and scholars worldwide. Ward was deeply cherished and respected by the global tribology community, which benefited immensely from his lifelong contributions and unwavering commitment to the discipline. He was, without a doubt, a giant in our field, and his remarkable legacy will last for generations.

 

Ali Erdemir

Texas A&M University

 

 

Ward Winer Obituary can be found at: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/atlanta/name/ward-winer-obituary?id=58530787