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Robert Klassen posted a condolence
Sunday, January 23, 2022
My deepest condolences to Neva and the family. Clay was a rare person, who was an outstanding scholar, connected with and deeply cared for everyone he met, and positively impacted so many students. He was truly a wonderful mentor! He is deeply missed and fondly remembered.
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Lee Krajewski lit a candle
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
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My deepest sympathy to Neva and the Whybark family. It is hard to describe the sadness I felt when I learned of Clay's passing. Such memories ... the initial meetings of the Midwest DSI, the first annual meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute in New Orleans, the trip to IBM to attend a workshop conducted by Joe Orlicky to learn about a new and exciting inventory management system called Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) that consumed the research efforts of many academics for years, and the numerous interactions and research presentations over the many years of his career. He was at the forefront of international efforts to promote the field of operations management, and with his travelling companion Neva, visited his many international colleagues for research presentations and just plain fun. I always looked forward to seeing his smiling face at conferences. His passing will be sorely missed; however he is headed to the next phase and I am sure the Good Lord has plenty of operations problems that need solving. God Bless!
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Sukran Atadeniz posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
We are sad beyond words. Clay was a very special man loved by everyone lucky enough to cross paths with him. He was also a most respected scholar. We will remember him always with admiration and respect. Sukran and Ilhan Atadeniz.
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David Johnston posted a condolence
Friday, January 14, 2022
I will forever remember and respect Clay for the honesty, good humor and exuberance he brought to everything he did. He was truly one of a kind and I will miss him.
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Rob Handfield lit a candle
Friday, January 14, 2022
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Always missed Clay's good humor, positive attitude, and excitement at meeting people. He was genuinely interested in getting to know everybody he met! And his humility and openness was an inspiration to so many PhD students and young professors, myself included.
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Maling Ebrahimpour posted a condolence
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
I am really sad. I am sorry that I lost a great colleague, a leader, a truly gentle soul, a creative mind, and a great thinker. I am sad that many of our new members will not have the chance to meet him and learn from him. Clay was indeed a kind human being and a gentleman. While he was a giant among us, I cannot find anyone more humble than him. He was like a strong tree full of fruits, and hence his branches of knowledge made him even more humble.
I truly miss his smiling face and upbeat personality at the DSI meeting.
DSI and The Academy lost one of their giants.
Rest in Peace, my Friend; rest in Peace.
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Maling Ebrahimpour lit a candle
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
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Please accept my deepest sympathy as I see myself grieving losing him—a gentle and kind person who truly cared about others.
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WC Benton posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
I knew something was wrong when I did not receive Clay and Neva's 2021 Christmas letter! In 2020 their note was filled with astute observations and well-crafted insights. I will cherish this final note.
From both a personal and professional standpoint, I am profoundly saddened by the news of the death of Professor Clay Whybark. As my professor, Clay was an extraordinary mentor and teacher. He had a sixth sense when it came to generating ideas based on theoretical underpinnings. He always asked the right question that prodded me to see the forest and the trees. He was a consequential scholar who helped define and create operations management as a discipline. I never tired of listening to his lectures. On a personal side, I remember class and the numerous individual meetings at Clay's home. Clay was a wine maker. Also, no one makes a better chocolate chip cookie than Neva. Theirs is a great love story and partnership. After I passed my general examination, we rode motorcycles for hours through the streets of Bloomington. Clay was bigger than life in everything he did. So be it! I will be forever indebted to Clay and grateful for his many influences on my life.
Rest in Peace,
W. C. Benton
Semper Fidelis!
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Gil Souza lit a candle
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
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Clay advised me on my first paper, the first-year summer paper at UNC, along with Harvey Wagner. He took me to a masking tape manufacturer in NC, where we had our idea for the project. He had a very positive energy, and it was always wonderful to meet him and Neva at conferences, including a Budapest conference on inventory research, and a GMRG meeting in Madrid. We miss you.
Gil Souza, Indiana University
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Gyula Vastag uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
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Clay was, more than anybody, my gateway to the profession of Operations Management and, with Neva, they introduced me to America in 1989. He was my mentor, friend, advisor, confidante, and professional father; his insights, humor, and wisdom are very much missed. One of his many lasting contributions was the creation of the Global Manufacturing Research Group; the attached photo is one of the first group meetings in 1992, Puebla (Mexico).
Gyula Vastag
Research Professor
Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
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Kathy Stecke posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Clay, I miss you already. I will smile at every conference, thinking of you and Neva.
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Roger and Marlene Schroeder lit a candle
Monday, January 10, 2022
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There will never be another Clay Whybark in our profession, he was one of a kind. Clay was a true leader widely known for founding and leading the GMRG, a renowned international research group on manufacturing and supply chain management. Marlene and I knew Clay and Neva from the many national and international conferences we attended together. He was always there inspiring colleagues for research and teaching excellence. His sense of humor was renowned. Every time Clay would see my wife Marlene he would say, "are you still with that guy." Clay's energy was boundless and an inspiration to Ph.D. students, junior faculty and senior faculty. Our condolences to Neva and Mike. He was a true treasure and will be sorely missed.
Roger Schroeder,
Donaldson Chair in Operations Management Emeritus
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
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Shitao Yang posted a condolence
Monday, January 10, 2022
I miss clay so much. He was my Ph.D. advisor at UNC-Chapel Hill. My greeting card of 2021 should had reached him before December 23. Shitao Yang, Case Western Reserve University
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Brian Tomlin lit a candle
Monday, January 10, 2022
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I just learned today of Clay's passing last month. I was a colleague of Clay's at UNC for seven years. I was a junior faculty member and Clay, as a senior colleague, was always immensely kind and enthusiastic in all our interactions. His energy was infectious. It was joy and a true honor to have spent many years working in the same group as Clay. I have so many fond memories of him.
Brian Tomlin
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Kasra Ferdows posted a condolence
Monday, January 10, 2022
This is such a big loss. Clay was indeed a giant intellectual leader in our field, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him as a fried knew that he was also an incredibly warm, wonderful, and inspiring individual. I had the privilege of knowing him for over 40 years. I never saw him in a bad mood--always playful with a great sense of humor, even while discussing serious and profound research questions. What a rare gift! I'll miss him greatly. My condolences to Neva and the family.
Kasra Ferdows
Georgetown University
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Kathleen McFadden lit a candle
Monday, January 10, 2022
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I was so sad to hear of Clay’s passing. I fondly remember our European DSI conference in Budapest in 2013 when I really got to know Clay and Neva. I always looked forward to seeing them at every DSI conference because they would light up the room with their loving presence. I think of Clay and Neva together because I always saw them together and they were always so happy. Clay was such an accomplished man and yet he was so humble, kind, and genuinely interested in every person he met. He has been a true inspiration and a great man who will be dearly missed. My sincere condolences to Neva and the rest of his family.
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R. Nat Natarajan lit a candle
Monday, January 10, 2022
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Dear Neva and Mike,
Deepest sympathies and condolences on Clay’s passing. I will miss his warm friendship and mentorship, wit and wisdom, cheerful outlook, and kindness. He was a great teacher, scholar, and outstanding leader who built and nurtured learning communities. He always had a word of encouragement and support for junior colleagues. Clay’s legacy and work will endure.
R. Nat Natarajan, W.E. Mayberry Professor of Management, Tennessee Technological University
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Art Hill posted a condolence
Monday, January 10, 2022
Oh my … what a loss. Clay played a huge role in my life – clearly one of the most important people in my entire life. He was my operations prof when I was a student in the MSIA program at Purdue. He recruited me to the PhD program at Purdue and became my mentor and friend. Clay and Neva had me over for dinner many times – and served me wonder green things (avocados) and other great food with great love. I even did some childcare for Susie and Mike. Clay and Neva demonstrated great love for one another – I remember they would also kiss at dinner. Clay was a great mentor for my thesis and really supported me in my job search. I’m sure that he played a large role in me get a job offer at Harvard. What a great man. Greatly missed. I thank God for Clay and Neva.
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Ram Narasimhan lit a candle
Monday, January 10, 2022
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I was saddened to hear of Clay’s passing. It was my privilege to have known him through various professional academies. Paulette and I have shared many enjoyable moments over the years with Clay and Neva at annual conferences in many different countries. He was a good friend. Always cheerful and gave a helping suggestion or advice to doctoral students and junior faculty alike. The OM community will miss him. Our condolences to Neva and Mike.
J
Jayashankar Swaminathan lit a candle
Thursday, January 6, 2022
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Clay Whybark was a leading scholar in the world of operations. He was an amazing colleague with boundless energy. He was always positive, enthusiastic and free spirited He loved being a teacher and took pride in the transformations that he brought in his students. I will cherish my interactions with him and remember him for his positive spirit and high energy.
Jayashankar Swaminathan
Distinguished Professor, UNC Kenan-Flagler
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Stuart lit a candle
Thursday, January 6, 2022
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Clay was my teacher at Kenan-Flagler… although I was far from being his most talented operations student.
Today, when I teach there, every moment in the classroom is inspired by Clay. He is my model and exemplar. His boundless energy, bounding enthusiasm, direct connection and dialogue with each student - all of it is what I aspire to be for my students, just as Clay taught me, and was for me
Thank you.
Stuart Pearman
Professor of the Practice
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Mabel Miguel posted a condolence
Thursday, January 6, 2022
His energy, positive outlook, cheerfulness....so much will be missed.
He was generous with his spirit and knowledge and a truly unique person. We overlapped at Kenan-Flagler for years and each encounter was a joy.
Neva, Mike, our thoughts are with you.
Mabel Miguel
Mustafa Gultekin
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Tommy T lit a candle
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
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I owe a lot to Clay. He was one of the first mentors to help get a small student group off the ground at UNC back in 2001. That student group would become the vehicle through which I met my future wife, learned about entrepreneurship and leadership, and ultimately changed the whole course of my life. Clay remained a mentor and friend to so many over the years. He didn't just give advice or help you make connections. He also gave his joy and warmth and laughter. And he was generous with his time. It was impossible for anyone to feel like a stranger around Clay.
Clay, you will be missed. We love you and will remember your impact on so many of your students, mentees and friends.
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Paul Nawrocki posted a condolence
Friday, December 31, 2021
Dearest Neva and Mike:
Our (my) adoration of a role model for 'life'. That's Clay.
One of our (my) life's heroes, his strength always sent 'love'. That's Clay.
In our hearts, we feel his care for all 'humanity'. That's Clay.
Serenity Prayer. That's Clay.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can,
and the WISDOM to know the difference. Clay 'knows' the difference.
Forever in eternity in our hearts. That's Clay.
Love, All Our Love.
Paul & Jill Nawrocki
17240 Lake Avenue
West Olive, Michigan 49460
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Zebrina Warner lit a candle
Thursday, December 30, 2021
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There aren't enough words to express what it means for us to lose a Giant Among Us like Clay. He was a teacher, a mentor, a friend. He was someone who loved with all his heart to not one or two, but to villages of people wherever he went. For me, he was my mentor. He challenged me to do better, to be better. Watching him in action was the best. A brilliant mind masterfully taking students on a journey. Everything was a lesson in life. My admiration for him didn't end at his retirement, but how he handled aging with grace and confidence was inspiring. It's no surprise because of his bride of 64 years by his side. Their love for each other is unending and one of the most beautiful sights to see. To Neva and Mike, my prayers and love are with you both. I know it will be difficult, but know that you both are loved by many. ❤️
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The family of David Clay Whybark uploaded a photo
Thursday, December 30, 2021
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