Well. Shit.

Dear Case Community,

It is with a heavy heart that I must pass along tragic news. This afternoon, Ignacio J. Ocasio, known to everyone as "Doc Oc," passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Doc Oc, a classically trained pianist and prodigiously talented chemistry professor, came to the Case campus in 1980. Since that time, thousands of students have passed through his chemistry courses and have been infected by his energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. A 1993 Wittke Award winner, Doc Oc was a permanent fixture in the lives of students. He supported them outside the classroom as well as inside, whether it was through his celebrity judging of the Mr. CWRU contest, as Hudson Relay coach to the first-year class, or as fraternity advisor.

Advisor, teacher, mentor, and friend, Doc Oc will forever remain a part of the Case Western Reserve University family. Our community will come together to mourn his loss at a memorial service in the fall semester, when all of our students and faculty can be on campus to celebrate Doc Oc's remarkable life and contributions.

We realize that many of you will want to express your feelings and share your memories of Doc Oc, in addition to participating in his memorial. In the upcoming week, an online scrapbook will be established to capture our memories of Doc Oc as well as to plan for his memorial.

To Doc Oc's family and the many devoted friends, students, and colleagues who are grieving his passing, I offer my deepest condolences.

Very truly,

Edward M. Hundert, M.D.

President