DR. PROFESSOR EMERIT MARTIN SCHETZEN

1928 - 2017

SCHETZEN, Professor Emeritus Dr. Martin A longtime resident of Brookline died peacefully at home after a long illness on Friday, September 8, 2017. He was 89 years old. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he attended the Horace Mann High School in Riverdale, NY. Upon graduating in 1945, Martin was drafted into the US Army where he did his basic training at Fort McClellan, AL, then transferred to airborne school at Fort Benning, GA, where he served with the 501 Parachute Battalion. He was discharged in 1948.

Martin earned his Bachelors Degree from New York University, graduating with honors in Electrical Engineering in 1951. He received both his Master of Science Degree (1954) in Electrical Engineering and his Doctor of Science Degree (1961) from MIT for his Thesis, "Some Problems in Nonlinear Theory".

While Assistant Professor at MIT, he did research for NASA on the Apollo 11 program which put Astronauts on the moon. Martin won the Apollo Achievement Award in 1961 for his theory that landed the Lunar Lander on the moon and the Certificate of Commendation from MIT in 1961 for his contributions in Primary Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems.

In 1962, Martin transferred to Northeastern as a Full Professor in the Electrical Engineering & Computer Department teaching courses in Control and Linear and Nonlinear Systems. While at Northeastern, he did theoretical research and wrote four books: The Voltera and Weiner Theories of Nonlinear Systems (Wiley), Linear Time-Invariant Systems (Wiley), Discrete Systems Laboratory (Brooks/Cole) and Airborne Doppler Radar Applications, Theory and Philosophy (AIAA). He retired from Northeastern in 2003.

Martin's main interest was in science but he was very much interested in art, music, philosophy, history, and politics. His students appreciated that he could discuss and argue with them on any subject they were interested in and make them defend their position. He taught them to think.

Martin leaves his beloved wife of 34 years, Jeannine (Desrochers) Schetzen and was uncle to Hannah Cohen and several additional nieces and nephews.

Services were held at the Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., BROOKINE, on Sunday, September 10, 2017. Burial was at the Beth El Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury.

Shiva from 1-4pm daily at his late residence.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202; or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241. Levine Chapels, Brookine

(617) 277-8300

www.levinechapel.com