2008 Woodie Awards
In memory of Dr. Robert B. Abel
Internationally-recognized senior scientist at Davidson Laboratory passes away
Sheeraz Hyder
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Campus News
- Page 1 of 1
Robert B. Abel, Director of International Programs at the Davidson Laboratory of Stevens Institute of Technology, passed away on October 10 of kidney disease at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine.
According to his October 19 Washington Post obituary, Abel launched his career as an oceanographer for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Massachusetts in 1947. In 1950, he moved to, what was then known as, the Navy's Hydrographic Office. After NHO, Abel served as assistant research coordinator of the Office of Naval Research. In 1965 and 1966, he held a joint appointment as staff oceanographer to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr.
In 1967 Abel became the founding director of Sea Grant. He would go on to lead the program for 10 years establishing it as a "nationwide governmental and academic partnership" which would compile "oceanographic and marine science information." After Sea Grant, he was a Vice President at Texas A&M University before moving to New Jersey. In New Jersey, Abel served as President of the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium from 1979 to 1993.
The year 1993 brought Abel to Hoboken and Stevens Institute of Technology where he was a senior scientist in the Davidson Towing Tank Laboratory until his death. Abel was born in Providence and served in the Navy during World War II. A graduate of Brown University, he received a master's degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in public science administration in 1972. Abel also taught at many universities across the U.S. including the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rutgers University.
Abel also managed "16 cooperative projects during the past quarter century" in the Middle East which lent him expertise on the role of cooperative technology. The United States Institute of Peace sponsored his "The Influence of Technical Cooperation on Reducing Tension in the Middle East" and he received two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. He has also been honored internationally by Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Egypt. Abel also received a posthumous lifetime achievement award from Monmouth University in Monmouth, N.J. His widow, Nancy K. Abel accepted the Ocean and Coastal Leadership award on her husband's behalf following the University's Urban Coast Institute's third annual Ocean Future Symposium on October 31.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy K. Abel of Shrewsbury, N. J.; two children, Deborah A. Glazer of Rockville and Alan S. Abel of Fort Lauderdale, FL.; a sister; and two grandsons.
According to his October 19 Washington Post obituary, Abel launched his career as an oceanographer for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Massachusetts in 1947. In 1950, he moved to, what was then known as, the Navy's Hydrographic Office. After NHO, Abel served as assistant research coordinator of the Office of Naval Research. In 1965 and 1966, he held a joint appointment as staff oceanographer to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr.
In 1967 Abel became the founding director of Sea Grant. He would go on to lead the program for 10 years establishing it as a "nationwide governmental and academic partnership" which would compile "oceanographic and marine science information." After Sea Grant, he was a Vice President at Texas A&M University before moving to New Jersey. In New Jersey, Abel served as President of the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium from 1979 to 1993.
The year 1993 brought Abel to Hoboken and Stevens Institute of Technology where he was a senior scientist in the Davidson Towing Tank Laboratory until his death. Abel was born in Providence and served in the Navy during World War II. A graduate of Brown University, he received a master's degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in public science administration in 1972. Abel also taught at many universities across the U.S. including the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rutgers University.
Abel also managed "16 cooperative projects during the past quarter century" in the Middle East which lent him expertise on the role of cooperative technology. The United States Institute of Peace sponsored his "The Influence of Technical Cooperation on Reducing Tension in the Middle East" and he received two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. He has also been honored internationally by Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Egypt. Abel also received a posthumous lifetime achievement award from Monmouth University in Monmouth, N.J. His widow, Nancy K. Abel accepted the Ocean and Coastal Leadership award on her husband's behalf following the University's Urban Coast Institute's third annual Ocean Future Symposium on October 31.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy K. Abel of Shrewsbury, N. J.; two children, Deborah A. Glazer of Rockville and Alan S. Abel of Fort Lauderdale, FL.; a sister; and two grandsons.