David M. Himmelblau Ph.D.

David M. Himmelblau, Ph.D. David M. Himmelblau, Ph.D., age 87, died Wednesday April 27, 2011 at his home in Austin, Texas after losing his valiant battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty Hartman Himmelblau; his children and their spouses, Margaret and Don Nellor of Austin, and Andrew Himmelblau and Ellen Hurley of Bedford, MA; his grandchildren Travis Nellor of Austin and Stacie Nellor of Portland, OR; his brother Leo Himmelblau and family of Chicago, IL; and his sister-in-law Barbara Hartman of Wilmette, IL and family. Dad was born in Chicago, IL, the son of David and Rhoda Mautner Himmelblau. He graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where he first met Mom in elementary school. He then enrolled in the chemical engineering program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps. With the war in full swing, he transitioned into being an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, including service in Japan after the war. When he was discharged, he returned to MIT and earned his B.S. in chemical engineering in 1947. At a party with friends, Dad reconnected with Mom, and they were married in 1948. Dad worked for the International Harvester Company and earned his M.B.A. in business administration from Northwestern University. He returned to the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a military instructor at Fort Riley, KS. Dad then worked for Simpson Logging Company and the Excel Battery Company in Seattle, WA before turning to his true calling as a chemical engineering professor. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington in 1957. After graduation, he moved the family to Austin where he joined the Chemical Engineering faculty at the University of Texas. Dad was the Paul D. and Betty Robertson Meek and American Petrofina Foundation Centennial Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at U.T. where he taught for 42 years. He was the author of 11 books and over 200 articles on the topics of process analysis, process optimization, and fault detection using artificial neural networks. Dad's book, Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering , was recognized as one of the most important books in chemical engineering by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He was a President of the CACHE Corporation (Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering Education) as well a Director of AIChE. He received numerous awards, including the CACHE award from the Chemical Engineering Division of the American Society for Engineering Education for his significant contributions to the development of computer aids for chemical engineering education; the Joe J. King Professional Engineering Achievement Award, which recognizes a U.T. faculty member who has made significant contributions in furthering the profession of engineering; and the AIChE Founders Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the chemical engineering field. He was also recognized as a University of Washington Outstanding Alumnus. Dad was an avid swimmer, loved to read, watch U.T. football, the Dallas Cowboys, and Judge Judy, travel, walk his dog (really Mom's dog), and eat large and rich meals (if it contained butter it was good). Vacations were trips to summer conferences, exploring abandoned silver mines (his children were encouraged to participate in these expeditions), trips to Disneyland (he liked the rides), or fishing trips. He had a dry wry sense of humor, which at times was not clearly apparent to co-workers, graduate students, and family members. The family would like to thank Edith Perez for her dedication and assistance to the family, Dr. Demetrius Loukas and the staff at Texas Oncology, the staff at Seton Medical Center's Patient Admissions and Seventh Floor North, his care-givers from Nurses Unlimited, and Shelley Baker and the wonderful people of Hospice Austin for their care and concern. Dad elected to forego a visitation or service. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Friends of Alec, U.T. Cockrell School of Engineering or Hospice Austin. Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com