YOUR ASSOCIATION
IN MEMORIAM
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) was saddened to learn of the deaths of the following individuals. We extend our sympathies to the families, friends, and colleagues of these individuals. Each had a profound impact on our profession and the people around them. All will be greatly missed.
the first female environmental health specialist in Minnesota and the first recipient of the MEHA Frank A. Staenson Environmental Health Professional of the Year Award in 2003. She was honored with the MEHA Life Award following her retirement from Anoka County in 2017. Casale was also a member of NEHA for 50 years. The memories and legacy Casale leaves behind are a testament to a well-lived life. Her friendly, intelligent, exuberant, and caring exterior endeared her to all. Her feistiness allowed her to face her battles with great strength and courage, and she navigated every twist and turn of life with resilience, optimism, and grace.
Richard Briley Richard Briley of Wills Point, Texas, passed away on April 21, 2023. Briley was employed at Hunt County Health Depart- ment and Garland Health Department, where he retired on June 30, 2017. He was a Regis- tered Sanitarian with the state of Texas and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Sanitar- ians. Further, he held a Certified Professional–Food Safety (CP- FS) credential from NEHA. He was also a first responder.
George A. Kupfer George A. Kupfer of Grayslake, Illinois, passed away on June 4, 2023. He served as president of NEHA from 1990–1991. He was also honored with the Walter S. Mangold Award in 2001, the highest honor NEHA bestows on its membership. The following are excerpts from his Mangold Award biog- raphy published in the Octo- ber 2001 Journal of Environ- mental Health :
Briley was active in many dierent associations. He was a mem- ber of the Lab Safety Committee at Texas A&M University–Com- merce and a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Rais- ers Association. He was also an active and longtime member of the Texas Environmental Health Association, Texas Association of Municipal Health Ocials, and NEHA. Briley was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Wills Point. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1983 and his master’s degree in 1985 from East Texas State University. He was an Elton John enthusiast and enjoyed reading and gardening. He also had a cattle business that raised Simmental cattle.
Kupfer spent his lifetime in public service and made a lasting contribution to the environmental health profession, both nation- ally and internationally. Starting as a sta sanitarian in the public sector and then moving into the private sector as an industry execu- tive, his responsibilities included hands-on inspections, teaching, program and organizational administration, business development, and entrepreneurship. In 2001, Kupfer was continuing into his 46th year in the environ- mental health profession and was serving as the executive liaison for health and environment for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). He was a major contributor at UL in the development of standards in related safety disciplines, as well as the establishment of criteria for accrediting laboratories that conduct sanitation safety certification. His time at UL was preceded by 6 years as chief operating o- cer for NSF International and 34 years as an environmental health director and specialist for the city of Milwaukee. At NSF, Kupfer worked hard to improve the quality of life through consensus stan- dards and accurate, cost-eective conformity assessment of prod- ucts and services focused on environmental and public health. Under his leadership in Milwaukee, the city developed a broad spectrum of new and innovative approaches to the prevention of environmental-related diseases. During his time as president of NEHA, he was involved in sev- eral fundamental changes in the organization’s structure. His orga- nizational leadership extended beyond NEHA to the American Public Health Association, Conference of Local Environmental
Karen Casale Karen Casale of Ramsey, Min- nesota, passed away on April 30, 2023. She started her career as an environmental health specialist with the District of Columbia Bureau of Food and Drug. She had the honor of serv- ing as the health inspector of an event at the White House to ensure food safety. After return- ing home to Minnesota, Casale worked as an environmental health specialist with the Anoka County Community Health and
Environmental Services Department for 45 years. Casale was a dedicated and lifetime member of the Minnesota Environmental Health Association (MEHA) for 50 years. She was
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Volume 86 • Number 2
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