Robert Case
Encyclopedia
Robert Allen "Bob" Case (December 16, 1939 — June 19, 2008) was a meteorologist who worked for the National Weather Service
(NWS) for 28 years. Over the course of his career, he worked in NWS various offices, developing a diverse background in various types of weather forecasting
, including a lengthy stint as a hurricane forecaster. He is best known for inspiring the naming of the 1991 Perfect Storm as The Perfect Storm.
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 at the Pennsylvania State University
(Penn State). 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, Case began work at NWS 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, this time remaining there for two years. Then, in 1975, he filled the position of a marine and aviation forecaster in Coral Gables, Florida
. He was promoted to a lead forecaster in 1980.
In 1982, Case began working at the National Hurricane Center
. In 1990, he became a manager as the deputy meteorologist-in-charge in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, during an interview with author Sebastian Junger
, Case described the unusual combination of weather conditions off the New England and Atlantic Canada coast at the end of October, 1991, as being "perfect" for the creation of the immensely powerful ocean storm that ensued. Keying on Case's use of the adjective perfect, Junger coined the phrase The Perfect Storm as the title of his book about the storm.
In 1993, Case became the meteorologist-in-charge at State College, Pennsylvania
. He held that position two years before retiring from the NWS in 1995. Case then settled in the town of Lewistown, Pennsylvania
, where he occasionally taught school. In the latter years of his life, Case suffered from the effects of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
. He died peacefully in his sleep on July 19, 2008 at his home.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) for 28 years. Over the course of his career, he worked in NWS various offices, developing a diverse background in various types of weather forecasting
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
, including a lengthy stint as a hurricane forecaster. He is best known for inspiring the naming of the 1991 Perfect Storm as The Perfect Storm.
Career
Robert Case entered the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1965. During 1966, he took meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
courses at the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(Penn State). By 1967, he had joined the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
, and was posted to Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. The following year, he moved to Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
.
In 1971, Case began work at NWS Headquarters near Washington, D. C.. The next year he completed coursework for his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Penn State. In 1973, he worked again in Juneau, this time remaining there for two years. Then, in 1975, he filled the position of a marine and aviation forecaster in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
. He was promoted to a lead forecaster in 1980.
In 1982, Case began working at the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
. In 1990, he became a manager as the deputy meteorologist-in-charge in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, during an interview with author Sebastian Junger
Sebastian Junger
Sebastian Junger is an American author, journalist and documentarian, most famous for the best-selling book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea, his award-winning chronicle of the war in Afghanistan in the 2010 movie Restrepo, and his 2010 book War.-Background:Junger was born...
, Case described the unusual combination of weather conditions off the New England and Atlantic Canada coast at the end of October, 1991, as being "perfect" for the creation of the immensely powerful ocean storm that ensued. Keying on Case's use of the adjective perfect, Junger coined the phrase The Perfect Storm as the title of his book about the storm.
In 1993, Case became the meteorologist-in-charge at State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
. He held that position two years before retiring from the NWS in 1995. Case then settled in the town of Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...
, where he occasionally taught school. In the latter years of his life, Case suffered from the effects of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. He died peacefully in his sleep on July 19, 2008 at his home.