Dr. Ronald K. Eby

DR. RONALD K. EBY, (Age 77)

Passed away on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 due to complications arising from congestive heart failure.

Ronald K. Eby was the Robert C. Musson Professor of Polymer Science (Emeritus) and an Ohio Eminent Scholar (Emeritus) at the University of Akron. His interests covered the physics of polymeric materials, including the structure, morphology, and properties of plastics, rubber, advanced fibers, silks, laminates and composites. His research areas included physical acoustics, non-destructive evaluation, microscopy, X-ray scattering, thermal analysis and computer modeling.

Professor Eby was the author of more than 185 publications. In his academic career, he guided more than 35 students to graduate degrees. Before starting at the University of Akron in 1990, he was a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University for six years. Prior to joining the university, he was employed for 21 years in the Polymers Division at the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology) in Gaithersburg, MD. He served as Chief of the Polymers Division for 16 of those years, and he was a Charter Member of the U.S. Government's Senior Executive Service. Immediately following his graduate work and receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Physics from Brown University, he was employed at the DuPont Experimental Station in Delaware for six years. His Bachelor of Physics

degree was from Lafayette College.

Professor Eby was widely respected and widely honored in his field. He received the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Research Award, the International Research Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Japanese Government Research Award. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Acoustical Society of America, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the North American Thermal Analysis Society. He served as chair and division councilor for the American Physical Society Division of Polymer Physics, as chair of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry, and as chair of the ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics. He served for 23 years as the North American Editor for Polymer and on the editorial boards of several other journals.

Professor Eby was recently recognized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a Member of the NBS/NIST Distinguished Scientists, Engineers and Administrators, and he had previously been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal of the Department of Commerce. He was a member of the 1970s U. S. Agency for International Development (AID) team which established standards for Korea and Thailand, and which led to the establishment of the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Professor Eby's high quality in and love for teaching and mentoring led to the establishment in 1999 of the Professor Ronald K. Eby Award in Polymer Science, for graduate students at the University of Akron. The careers of many notable scientists and students in the field of polymeric materials were profoundly impacted by Ron Eby's advice, mentorship, networking, and advocacy. His great kindness and his great humor have left an indelible mark on all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, and by his sons Ronald Jr. (Jennifer) and Douglas (Ardis) both of Bethesda, Maryland, as well as five grandchildren.

Memorial Service will be held at First Congregational Church, 292 E. Market St., Akron, OH, where he was a member, on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Professor Ronald K. Eby Award in Polymer Science, Department of Development, Martin University Center, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-2603. (BILLOW FAIRLAWN CHAPEL, 330-867-4141)