Bob Ewald SCHUTZ

SCHUTZ, Bob Ewald
Dr. Bob Ewald Schutz, professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin, succumbed to glioblastoma on June 7, 2015. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, and is survived by Barbara, his wife of 46 years, sons Will and John, daughter-in-law Domi, and grandchildren Bianca, Clara, and Anthony. He will be greatly missed by many.

Bob was born to Lola and Ernest Schutz in 1940 and lived in San Antonio before attending the University of Texas at Austin. He received his doctorate at UT Austin in 1969 and held his position in the ASE-EM department and as Associate Director for the UT Center for Space Research until his death.

Bob was passionate about his roles as teacher and researcher, and valued the relationships formed with colleagues. During his tenure, he held the Joe J. King Chair in Engineering and the FSX Professorship of Space Applications and Exploration. He was honored as a Fellow in the American Astronautical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the International Association of Geodesy. In 2008, Bob received the Dirk Brouwer Award from the American Astronautical Society in recognition of his years of educational and professional contributions to astrodynamics and the aerospace profession. He is best known as co-founder of the International Laser Ranging Service and as Science Team Leader for the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), the primary instrument onboard the initial NASA ICESat mission which measured global topography including tracking changes in polar ice.

In 2014, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to satellite laser ranging and global positioning systems used to study earth system dynamics. The University tower was illuminated on the occasion, and Bob stated that he was "grateful that others chose to recognize his small contributions".

While space geodesy occupied most of Bob's thoughts and time, he also enjoyed spending time with family, researching family genealogy, and collecting coins.

Bob's wife and sons wish to express their gratitude to family, friends, and colleagues for the outpouring of support and concern during his illness. They also thank Hospice Austin for gentle and loving care during Bob's final days.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th St, Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Hospice Austin, www.hospiceaustin.org, or the Cockrell School of Engineering's Friends of Alec Program, www.engr.utexas.edu/friendsofalec.