Bayer researcher Casper dies at 61

LEVERKUKSEN, Germany (June 2) — Rudolf Casper, head of rubber research at Bayer A.G. for more than 15 years, died May 24 at age 61 from the effects of a serious illness, according to Bayer. Casper was born in 1941 in Oberlahnstein, Germany, and studied chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, where he was awarded his doctorate in 1970. He joined Bayer in 1971, and moved quickly into a number of responsible positions. At the beginning of 1985 he took over responsibility for research in the Rubber Business Group, and in 1987 became head of Applications Technology. This was followed from 1991 to 1994 by a period in Canada as senior vice president, marketing and sales, at Bayer Rubber Inc. in Toronto. After his return to Germany, Casper was made head of the staff department in the Rubber Business Group in Leverkusen. In 1997 he was appointed head of research and development there. Casper was a member of the executive board of the German Rubber Society (DKG), and was its chairman from 1997 to 2000. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the German Institute for Rubber Technology.