Arthur Blum, the Grace Longwell Coyle Professor Emeritus in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, died June 21 in Ann Arbor, Mich., from complications of cancer. He was 86.
A native of Cleveland, Blum earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at Western Reserve University. He taught at the university from 1960 to 1991, where he specialized in child development, community mental health and nonprofit management. He chaired the school’s doctoral programs, directed its Practice Demonstration Program and the local Youth Development Training Center and twice served as interim director of the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations.
“He was big on innovative approaches,” David Biegel, associate dean of the Mandel School, told The Plain Dealer. “He was very intelligent, very devoted to his students.”
Survivors include his wife, two sons and four grandchildren.
A memorial event will take place on July 8 in Ann Arbor, where the Generations funeral home handled his arrangements. The family will receive friends at noon at 807 Asa Gray Drive, Ann Arbor.
His obituary can be read online.