Vera-Anne Corwin

Dr. Vera-Anne Whittier Versfelt Corwin of Royal Oak, Michigan was born November 12, 1932 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She was 92 years old when she passed away on December 7, 2024. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband John M. Corwin, brother Porter L. Versfelt, Jr. (Mary, then Doreen), and parents Vera and Porter Versfelt of Caldwell, NJ. She is survived by her three children Gail (Norman), Gregory (Leslie), and Lynn (Charles). She has 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Vera-Anne was always proud of her middle name Whittier, having been named after John Greenleaf Whittier, the famous poet she was a descendent of. Vera-Anne grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey surrounded by a large extended family living all around her block where she enjoyed festive family holidays and summer picnics filled with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins who were also her best friends. She took dance and music lessons throughout childhood and into adulthood. She had a natural gift for music, easily learning the piano and singing, and becoming quite accomplished at both. She also played the violin and briefly the saxophone while growing up, and later learned to play the pipe organ. After high school she taught piano lessons at the Monomonock Conservatory and continued teaching piano lessons through Corwin Studios in Michigan while raising her children. She was in church choirs nearly her entire life and toured with her college choir with whom she even sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Vera-Anne taught high school math in Wayne, New Jersey for a year, then married her high school sweetheart, John. They were very devoted to each other all their lives. They moved to Highland Park, Michigan where they were both employed at Chrysler Corporation. John’s required six months of full-time duty in the Army Reserves took them to Aberdeen, Maryland, moving back to Michigan just before their daughter Gail was born. Next came Greg and then Lynn, raising their children in Royal Oak, Michigan. Their family of five were an active bunch between scouts, music lessons, dance lessons, swim team practices, and swim meets. There were classes, lectures, and special events at Cranbrook Institute of Science, and church choirs, classes, VBS, youth groups, and other events. Every Christmas and most summers they drove to New Jersey to be with family. They also traveled all around the United States, showing their children the beauty of our country. Vera-Anne had a real passion for chocolate, not letting a single morsel go to waste! She loved baking for holidays. To honor her Swedish heritage, she created Swedish tea rings for Thanksgiving and Christmas, in addition to a wide variety of other delicious holiday treats. Her family enjoyed her numerous apple pies and apple sauce as well, using the apples from their own tree. She was an avid seamstress and knitter when her children were younger, creating many outfits and costumes for both them and their Barbie dolls. She enjoyed playing board games and cards, doing crafts, and drawing. Each Christmas, she would get out Styrofoam balls, sequins, and straight pins, and everyone would create a unique ornament. Vera-Anne was a nature lover as well. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, hiking and exploring, and animals of all kinds. Many animals graced their house while their children were growing up, ranging from cats, gerbils, and guinea pigs to a pet toad, a salamander, and a snake. Their yard was filled with wildlife too: deer, fox, opossums, groundhogs, and a plethora of birds, chipmunks, and squirrels. They made for great entertainment while at the kitchen table. Vera-Anne was dedicated to lifelong learning. She was a New Jersey Scholar (1950-51), earning a scholarship for college. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics from Upsala College in 1954 (Gold U recipient), a Master’s in Education degree in Mathematics from Wayne State University in 1972, and a PhD in Mathematics and Evaluation & Measurement (Statistics) from Wayne State University in 1977. She attended numerous continuing education classes and seminars as well. Dr. Vera-Anne Corwin had a varied career focused on math, computers, statistics, and educating others. She ran a preschool at her house for her own and other neighborhood children. Next, she taught high school math from 1968 to 1978 for Royal Oak schools. She loved all forms of math, but especially geometry and statistics. In the mid-1970s she created the computer labs at both Kimball and Dondero High Schools. She was the Chairperson of the committee to select the computer system. She purchased, supervised, and participated in the installation of the entire DEC computer system, along with all the student workstations within the specially designed laboratory classroom. She worked on the computer programming, wrote the curriculum for computer classes, and started up a very popular computer club at Kimball. It was quite an achievement to do all of that on her own time, especially being in an unconventional field for women in the 1970s. In 1978 she went back to the automotive industry, “providing comprehensive solutions to industry problems and expansion initiatives.” She returned to Chrysler Corporation, performing statistical studies and developing software application systems. She developed real-time computer testing systems for the emissions test cells and for engine testing at the Mound Road Engine Plant, then worked in the business and finance area developing financial software application systems, including a system for tracking product changes based on financial criteria. After seven years at Chrysler, first as a Math Analyst Engineer, then Management Science Specialist, then as a Financial Analyst, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) lured her away in 1985 for a couple more years of computer programming and statistical projects, this time for General Motors as a Senior Systems Engineer. She was the Project Manager for their anti-lock brake computerization project at Delco Moraine, and provided plants with plant floor computer system alternative solutions, consulting with them on SPC, DOE, Project Management (PM) standards and techniques, and Remote Diagnostic Systems (RDS). In 1987, she decided to start her own small business, Unique Solutions, Inc. (USI). As founder and President of USI, Dr. Vera-Anne Corwin developed computer systems and taught Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), Measurement System Methods and Analysis (MSMA), Taguchi Quality Methods (TQM), and team building to automotive companies and over one hundred other companies in a wide variety of industries throughout the US and Canada. She was hired as a consultant to run statistical analyses to determine what was causing part failures. She was employed as a Statistician Expert Witness for several lawsuits, providing the needed expertise for her clients to win their cases. In addition, she was a statistical consultant for Teltech, Inc.’s Expert Access Service and an adjunct professor teaching MBA Statistics at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan - Dearborn. While an undergraduate student at Upsala College, Vera-Anne was inducted into the Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Fraternity, becoming President of their local chapter. In addition, she was their first woman inducted into the Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honorary Society, becoming the Secretary of their local chapter. She was also the Secretary, then President of the Mathematics Club and Secretary of the Physics Club at Upsala College. She enjoyed her sorority, as well. During her teaching career she was a member of the National, Michigan, and Detroit Area Councils of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, MCTM, DACTM). For DACTM, she was a Journal Editor and the Recording Secretary, and she presided and spoke at conferences. She was also a member of the Michigan Association of Users of Computer Applications to Learning (MACUL), Association of Educational Data Systems (AEDS), and the National, Michigan, and Royal Oak Education Associations (NEA, MEA, ROEA). In her corporate career she was quite involved with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) as a senior member, trainer, conference presenter, member of their Statistical Methods Committee, and participant at their monthly dinner lectures. She was the Chairperson from 1988 to 1994 of the Design of Experiments Subgroup co-sponsored by SAE and AIAG, responsible for writing DOE guidelines for the automotive industry. In addition to SAE, she was a senior member and presenter for the American Society for Quality (ASQ). In 1998 she earned the much-coveted title of ASQ Fellow for her “significant contributions in the field of quality.” She then served on ASQ’s Quality Press Standing Review Board (SRB). Vera-Anne was also a senior member and trainer for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), a member of the American Statistical Association (ASA) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP), and a member and presenter at the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD). She was inaugurated into the Who’s Who of American Women (1992), the International Professional & Business Women’s Hall of Fame (1994), 500 Leaders of Influence (1994 & 1996), the Who’s Who in Finance and Industry (1995), and 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 20th Century (2002), amongst others. She authored multiple professional publications regarding the application of statistics. Vera-Anne was an extraordinary volunteer. She was in charge of the music for the Jefferson Elementary School plays in the 1960s, including The Sound of Music, amongst others. She volunteered at school parties and fairs and played the piano for numerous school and church events. She and her husband served food at homeless shelters. They taught computer skills and assisted with résumé building at the Welcome Inn to help people with obtaining employment. They volunteered with the Community Concert Association of Troy which brought musicians from around the world to perform in their local community; Vera-Anne was the Vice-President and Secretary, working on database management, as well as producing the programs, tickets, brochures, and mailings for over 2,000 participants. She was the President and also the Road Commissioner for their neighborhood association. They also delivered Mobile Meals for many years, stopping and chatting with each of the recipients and getting to know them. At the church, Vera-Anne was involved in many different roles, including as a Trustee, and as a member of many committees: Financial, Stewardship, Endowment & Financial Management, Christian Education, and Evangelism. As the Chairperson of the Computer Committee, she created and maintained the Joyful Journeys computer room, and taught weekly classes in computer skills and Bible lessons to both children (KIC Club) and adults. She was a long-time choir member and volunteered in a variety of ways for the Chancel Choir, Presbys, Lunch Bunch, Forward in Faith, Women’s Day of Renewal, and Three Score & Ten. She played piano at many events at the church and brought her electric keyboard to play at church retreats. Vera-Anne graduated from the seven-year Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) program, along with her daughter Gail and grandson, Tyler. She played piano for both the adult and children’s programs there. Vera-Anne and John also belonged to a bridge card game club, which rotated between the members’ homes for many, many years. In their forties, Vera-Anne and John took up downhill skiing after their son, Greg, had joined the junior high ski club. The family all took lessons at Pine Knob Ski Resort then ventured up north for more challenging skiing. That led to a ski trip to Colorado and eventually a ski trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. They fell in love with the natural beauty and abundance of fresh powder skiing in Alta, Utah, returning there once or twice a year to go skiing nearly every year thereafter. Their children and grandchildren have many fond memories of skiing there with them and dining at Goldminer’s Daughter overlooking the slopes. As their grandchildren were growing up, Vera-Anne and John traveled to attend all their special events such as concerts, dance recitals, theater plays, and graduations. In their later years, Vera-Anne and John traveled the world by land, sea, and air. They visited countries on all seven continents, marveling at the natural beauty and enjoying the uniqueness of each culture. They saw polar bears at the North Pole, walked among the penguins in Antarctica, and marveled at koalas and kangaroos in Australia. They experienced whales breaching and dolphins jumping near many coastlines and saw the majesty of Mount Kilauea erupting in Hawaii. They walked among the ruins of ancient civilizations in Europe, China, Japan, and Mexico. They marveled at the uniqueness of architecture in Russia and Asia and Europe. They snow skied in New Zealand, snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef, hiked the Swiss Alps, rode on a camel in the Middle East, zip-lined in Costa Rica, and snowmobiled through Yellowstone National Park. They attended a nephew’s wedding in Portugal and watched a granddaughter perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. They also traveled extensively in their motorhome, exploring throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their children and grandchildren came along with them on some of their journeys. John and Vera-Anne were great adventurers and loved to share their experiences with family and friends. Vera-Anne had a zest for life along with a love of learning and sharing that drove her throughout her life. Her loving, adventurous spirit and infectious smile will be greatly missed. Her Celebration of Life service will take place at 2:00 PM on March 16, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak.

Vera-Anne Corwin

November 12, 1932 - December 7, 2024