MSOE is saddened to share that Dr. Patricia Kern passed away Aug. 24, 2017. The term “paying it forward” truly encompasses the work Dr. Kern carried out. She co-founded the Kern Family Foundation in 1998 with her husband Dr. Robert Kern after they sold Generac Power Systems, a company they founded in 1959. She generously supported several organizations, including MSOE and Project Lead The Way. In 2000, MSOE awarded Mrs. Kern an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of her professional and philanthropic work in the community. Her legacy lives on at MSOE, most visibly in the Kern Center and Viets Field. We are humbled by the generosity and dedication Mrs. Kern, her husband, and foundation have provided over the years, and the indelible mark she has made on MSOE and the community. Find more details of her life contributions.