Love letters
By Dr. Edward Becker | TLT STLE History January 2026
Shirley E. Schwartz’s honors and accomplishments would fill a book in their own right.
STLE History Interest Group
STLE has started the History Interest Group to share historically important topics with the readership. The STLE History Interest Group explores the people, discoveries and events that have shaped STLE and the field of tribology and lubrication engineering. By sharing historically significant topics, the group helps preserve our community’s rich technical heritage and highlight innovations that continue to influence the industry today. Watch for occasional articles from the group in TLT.
For many years, Dr. Shirley E. Schwartz wrote the column “Love Letters to the Lubrication Engineer” for the magazine Lubrication Engineering (TLT’s direct predecessor). Upon receipt, many readers would almost reflexively turn the magazine over and open the back cover to devour Shirley’s column, before even perusing the table of contents. A selection of her columns was published in the book
Love Letters to the Lubrication Engineer.
Shirley’s honors and accomplishments would fill a book in their own right. She served on the STLE Board of Directors, chaired the STLE Wear Technical Committee, chaired the STLE Detroit Section and received both the STLE P.M. Ku Award for outstanding and selfless achievements for the Society and the Wilbur Deutsch Memorial Award for the outstanding paper written on the practical aspects of lubrication. She was affectionately known as “Sister Sludge” because she was a world famous expert on engine oil, and is generally acknowledged as the “mother” of the oil life monitor found in most GM vehicles, which is responsible for not having to change oil nearly as often as we did previously or, conversely, not ruining your engine if you don’t change often enough. She was the holder of over 20 patents and wrote 173 published technical papers and essays. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996 for her accomplishments in the field of chemistry and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2000 “for contributions to lubrication engineering and for enriching the technical community through freelance writing.”
Shirley was born Ellen Shirley Eckwall on Aug. 26, 1935, in Detroit. She enrolled at the University of Michigan as a language major in the mid-1950s, and eventually spoke French, German, Spanish, Swedish and Japanese. She participated in collegiate sports at a time most women did not, becoming a champion swimmer and diver. She was active all her life, becoming a nationally ranked player on the senior circuit in both table tennis and volleyball. She later became a biochemistry major and earned master’s and doctorate degrees at Wayne State University in Detroit.
This month, STLE will be offering copies of Love Letters to the Lubrication Engineer, available for the cost of shipping only. It’s an industry-inspired collection that makes a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for colleagues or anyone who appreciates the art and science of lubrication. Keep an eye out for the announcement and consider sharing a little tribology-themed appreciation.
Shirley was often underestimated, but her keen sense of humor and lifelong overachievement always kept her positive and warm. She genuinely cared about everyone she met and would strike up a conversation, almost always finding some shared interest. She frequently attended STLE meetings at all levels. Her presentations were always thought-provoking and insightful, as were the questions she would ask of other presenters.
Shirley was a true “Renaissance Woman” and getting to know her was one of joys of belonging to STLE. She passed away in May 2016. Her wit, wisdom and company are greatly missed.
Ed and Jean Becker
Ed Becker is a Fellow and Past President of STLE. He is currently president of Friction & Wear Solutions, LLC and can be reached through his website at www.frictionandwearsolutions.com.