Martin and Anne Sichel have provided a gift to the College of Engineering to establish the Martin and Anne Sichel Endowed Graduate Student Award Fund in Aerospace Engineering. The Fund will provide support for graduate students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering including, but not limited to, travel expenses, conference fees and experiential learning opportunities.
Professor Emeritus Martin (Marty) Sichel retired in 1998 after an outstanding career at the College of Engineering. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his PhD from Princeton University. He joined the University of Michigan as an assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering in 1961, and was promoted to associate professor in 1964 and professor in 1968. During his tenure, Professor Sichel was recognized as a world leader in the area of explosions, detonations and heterogeneous combustion science. He served on the College’s executive committee from 1974-78, as the interim chair of Aerospace Engineering in 1996, and for many years was the Department’s graduate program advisor. He also received the College’s Stephen S. Attwood Engineering Achievement Award in 1985.
Anne married Marty in 1952 and they moved to Ann Arbor in 1961. Anne and Marty enjoyed many wonderful years in Ann Arbor raising three sons (all of whom graduated from U-M). In addition, Anne was actively engaged in the community. She served in several board positions with the U-M’s Faculty Women’s Club, including a term as president in 1987-88. She also was president of the Ann Arbor League of Women Voters in the early 1980s. Anne is an avid bridge player—a Bronze Life Master—and she and Marty enjoyed figure skating for many years and traveling to many international ice dance weekends.
