| Edwin R. Corey, at 84, retired Harvard professor
By Katie Curley, Globe Correspondent, 5/30/2004 Edwin Raymond Corey, a professor at Harvard Business School for more than 50 years, died Friday at his home in Wellesley due to complications following abdominal surgery. He was 84. "He felt strongly that we are given certain gifts and have to use them to make the world a better place, and one of his gifts was teaching," said his son David, of Newton. "He had one class of 180, and he memorized all their names." Born in Detroit, Mr. Corey graduated from Amherst College in 1941 and then began a yearlong accelerated training program for officers specializing in war production at Harvard Business School. After service as a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, Mr. Corey returned to Harvard Business School and graduated in 1946 with a degree in business administration, first in his class. Upon graduation, Mr. Corey enrolled in a doctoral program in economics at Harvard. In 1949, he joined the Harvard Business School faculty, and he finished his studies for a doctorate a year later. Mr. Corey taught the principles of consumer marketing at the business school. He also taught marketing at training programs for General Electric and IBM employees. Mr. Corey began to develop a course on business-to-business marketing while conducting training programs at General Electric, which sold its products mainly to other businesses. His second-year course in industrial marketing was the first of its kind in the country, his son said. Published in 1962, his textbook on industrial marketing became widely used in the field for 30 years. He authored seven other books on marketing, distribution, and organizational strategy. At Harvard Business School, Mr. Corey chaired a program of intensive classes for business executives. In 1983, he organized a series of research forums to mark the school's 75th anniversary. While serving as director of research, Mr. Corey came to believe that there was a need for a business school publishing house. With funds distributed by Harvard University, he began the Harvard Business School Press and oversaw the publishing of 127 books and thousands of teaching cases during his tenure, his son said. After retiring in 1990, he received the Distinguished Service Award from Harvard Business School. Mr. Corey enjoyed sailing, golf, and woodworking projects with his grandchildren. In addition to his son, Mr. Corey leaves his wife of 36 years, Charlotte Worrall Corey; another son, Frederick of Natick; three daughters, Margaret Stockton of Cohasset, Joy Mills of Charlton, and Mary Stockton of San Diego; and nine grandchildren. This story ran on page B10 of the Boston Globe on 5/30/2004. |