rest in peace uncle bob i barley knew you but always ment to send you a pic of my daughter ect i hope all you guys are holding up sorry for this loss.

Dad you taught me many lessons about life, both throught your work ethic and in you nonprofessional life. You taught me the importance of hard work. The most importancework lesson is that if you put in your maximum effort the result will come out ten fold. Another lesson was the importance of treating everyone with respect, whether they are colleagues or everyday people. Your respect and love for America: its beauty, its nature and its people was the most lasting lesson. As a young child I had a hard time learning to read and even understanding what I read, I watched and heard you passion for reading, and decided I had to learn to read as well. This was a long and difficult process but after six or seven years of hard work I perservered. Now I can't go through a day without reading. On the days I went into work with you at NIST, as a teen, I learned the importance of knowing what you should do and or what you expected to happen in an experiment before you even started that experiment. I remember being at the University of Wyoming 1977 when you were introduced as the only person who had writen over 100 papers and never having been proven wrong once. I saw how much you loved the work you did, and hoped that when I grew-up I would be the same. I was able to carry these leaaons on to my own working live. I LOVED bring a Pediatric Nurse. I knew the importance of learning Anatomy and Physiolog in school and was able to carry this Knowledge into my nursing practice. By the time I changed paths and moved into Home Health,your teaching me that all people deserve to be treated with respect helped me tremendously. I never had problrms, unlike other nurses, no matter what neighborhood I was sent into. Your love of nature, minerals, National Parks and Forests, as well as America itself was my favorite lesson. I will never forget our family camping trips. I always remember you leaving the tent in a three piece suit, to go to a meeting in Knoxville, while were were camping at Smokey Mountain National Park. Our summer trips to Alasks and Maine were also highlights of my youth. During these trips we played in rivers and lakes, saw wildlife first hand and I learned to build a fire in the rain in Olympia National Park. This trick with a fire came in handy in all my years in Girl Scouting. Best of all you were able to pass on all these lessons to your Granddaughters. They loved when you read to them and always looked forward to visiting you. Thank you for all the time they were able to spend at the cabin in Victor as well as all the trips to the Western National Parks you and mom took them to. We will all miss you.

I'm very sorry to hear the news of Bob's passing. Bob was my very first Materials mentor (starting 35 years ago!) who gave me a strong appreciation for phase equilibria and crystal chemistry in ceramic systems. Bob always had a passion for solving the equilibrium conditions and getting the diagrams right (critical for data coming from a standards organization). My early-career summer experiences at NIST/NBS were formative for me and the crystal-chemistry theme continues for me even now. Best wishes to all of his family and friends.

Bob's impact on my life was enormous.  He took me in and started my hands-on experience with science and I began to understand! My life has been so enriched by my interactions with him.  It is hard to believe that 20 years ago I left my position at NIST with Bob to go to continue my “formal” education.  For me Bob has remained as he was 20 years ago.  I have so many fond memories of him teaching me endless things.  We had so many adventures at work and lived to tell about it!  I had so idea work would be so much fun, it was the most productive time of my career but it was relaxed and we had time to think about things.  When his door was closed it was lunch and he was reading the sports page.  When looking for the WD40 in his bottom I found his emergency tie.  He took me everywhere and introduced to me so many people.  I remember coming in on the weekends and taking turns reading out load to proof read papers and dinners at Bob and Audrey's!  Thank you Bob – you are missed by myself and countless others and your influence lives on through those you have trained and touched their lives.

For almost 50 years, my office was in near proximity to Robert Roth's office and Laboratory.    Although I was not formally in his group, I had numerous fruitful interactions with Bob.  In fact, he was the source of the first crystal I worked on at NBS which was a borate with rhombohedral symmetry. 

 Over the years, my overall impression was that Bob was a world-class crystal chemist with a solid "foundation all the way down the line"(discussed below).  This trait was characteristic of the other pioneers in the field of solid-state chemistry such as A.D. Wadsley, M.J. Buerger and L. Pauling.  Along with his obvious abilities, he demonstrated an absolute love and enthusiasm for his area of research. This fact was very significant as his enthusiasm was transmitted to all those around him.

 What is especially noteworthy is how engaged Bob was in all aspects of his scientific research. He conceived what crystals would be of scientific (or technological) importance to prepare.  He then went on to synthesize the crystals and characterize them - unit cell, symmetry, & space group - via precession photography.   The structures were then solved via powder or single crystal x-ray or neutron diffraction techniques.  Finally, the research results were published in prominent scientific journals.  Although he served as section/group leader for years at NBS/NIST, he never left the laboratory. His precession cameras were constantly in motion.  

Due to the fundamental nature and extent of his scientific research, Bob collaborated with many scientists at NIST/NBS and at other laboratories â€•both nationally and internationally.  In addition to his scientific abilities, he was a patient and an excellent teacher.  All liked Bob and learned a lot from their experience in his laboratory.  Thanks in part to their productive experience with Bob, many did extremely well in their careers -- including one becoming the head of the chemistry department of a major US University.  Bob will be missed by all but his accomplishments will live on.

Love is the greatest happiness in life, and dad loved his wife and family with every breath he took. My parents marraige was one of mutual love and trust; and this gave my father "a home and all that it means; a fireside far from the cares that are, four walls and a roof above; But oh! so cramful of cosy joy, and crowned with a woman's love — a woman dearer than all the world, and true as heaven is true." This allowed dad the luxury to work, and achieve his dreams. Dad believed that one spends way too much of ones life at work to be unhappy there. His enthusiam for, and genuine love of his science was an inspiration to so many people. He instilled in me a great work ethic and a need to enjoy life to its fullest.

Dad was a man of great complexity. He believed deeply in passing on knowledge, and you knew you were indeed blessed, if he chose you to be one of his relatively few proteges. Some of these people: Tyke Negas, Bob Cava, Peter Davies, Ben Burton, Dunbar Burnie, Anna McHale, Terrell Vanderall, Claudia Raun came into our lives and became family. Our extended family was also treated to visits from great scientists from all over the world, and we even got to travel to visit them too. David Wadsley, Sandy Mathieson,  Ian Grey, Brian Gatehouse, Nev Stevenson, Peter Goodman, Alex Moodie, Rod Hill, Locklan Cranswick, Drago Kolar, Sten Anderson, Paul Fang, Jean-Claude Galy, Hanil Yoo, Mikio Takano, Bernie Jaffee, Alex Navrotsky, Mike O'Keeffe, Jane Welch, Eric Peterson...so many of whom enriched our lives.

Dad loved mountains. All mountains, but especially the Grand Tetons. He would spend hours gazing at the cloud cover and the everchanging vistas. He instilled in all his children and grandchildren the love of nature, rocks, and wildlife. His legacy to us is a log cabin in South Eastern Idaho, right over the Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We intend to keep this in the family, and all of you are welcome to visit with us and his mountains during the summers.

June 24
Dear Audrey and the Roth family,

It has made me very sad to learn of Bob's passing. I'm sorry that I won't be there today.  There are a few people in my life of whom I can truly say that I owe so much to that its impossible to thank them enough. For me, those people are my parents and my best teachers, Bob and Bernie Wuensch.  I look back on my summers with Bob as a grad student and my time with him as a postdoc as guiding me to the work that I would do for my whole scientific life. I was insatiable about Bob's kind of science, and somehow, and I don't know how he was so patient with me, Bob spent hour on hour with me explaining everything, time and time again,  until I understood. I remember that he drove me back and forth to work at NBS often and spent the whole time telling me what he knew, answering question on question and somehow never getting tired of me. I learned so much from him, and looking back I know that in spite all those things he taught me while I was there, and in countless phone calls during my early scientific career, I never reached the end of what he knew – there was always more to learn from him.

But Bob was infinitely more than just a great teacher, as were you Audrey. At a time in our lives when Kate and I were having trouble with our family, you and Bob took us into your lives and made us feel like part of your family, comforting us through some very tough times. I remember staying with you during our visits to Washington, your love and endless generosity towards us, and your perfect soft boiled eggs for breakfast.  You cared more for us as people than anyone could expect for just a postdoc and his wife passing through Bob's professional life –you were like a second mother and father. We often think of that and can't say enough to thank you.  So not only did I learn from Bob how to be a scientist, I learned from you and Bob how to treat people who you work with, and that we were entering more of a family than a profession. I learned from Bob that passing knowledge and enthusiasm for science to a younger person every day is a wonderful thing, and from both Bob and you that caring about the people who you work with is equally wonderful. I try to pass what you taught me to my own students and postdocs , and in them a little bit of you and Bob will live beyond all of us.

It is with the greatest of sadness we have just become aware of Bob's passing.  Bob was, and will remain, one of the true giants of solid state chemistry.  I had the great fortune to work with Bob on a number of crystal chemical problems related to microwave dielectrics, experiences I consider the most valuable of my career.  No one could interpret phase equilibria or x-ray patterns like Bob; he was one of a kind.  Through those professional interactions my wife and I were fortunate in being able to develop a close friendship with Bob and Audrey and spend time with them at their wonderful retreat in Idaho – the view of the “other side of the Tetons” from their home was truly spectacular.  While we may have lost Bob, we will never lose our fond memories of the many hours we spent with Bob and his family.  We consider ourselves extremely fortunate they have been part of our lives.   To Audrey and Bob's family we would like to express our deepest condolences.

One can truly appreciate Bob's talent as a scientist after working closely with him.  He was always passionate about his work, and his enthusiasm was contagious.  I shall be forever greatful for all the lessons learned through his patient mentoring.  My sincerest condolences to Audrey, Gail, Diana, and Stan.

I am very saddened by the passing of Bob. Bob was my hero. He was a giant in the field of crystal chemistry and phase equilibria. By pursuing his interests with unflagging dedication and conviction, he has set a great example for the younger generation of scientists to follow. I was privileged to have collaborated with him on crystal structure determination for a number of years. Needless to say, I learnt a great deal from the master. 

Bob is well known for his extraordinary memory. For example, I remember him frequently citing space groups and lattice parameters of various compounds from memory with great accuracy. His love for crystal chemistry is certainly contagious. A long time ago, he told me: 'Remember! The only real science is solid state chemistry. Nothing else is out there'. I must admit this has had a great impact on me. 

Good bye Bob. You will always live in our mind and through the important phase diagram and structural work that you left behind.

My deepest sympathy for your loss.Draw close to God during this difficult time and He will draw close to you.James4:8

It was with great sadness that I heard of Bob's passing. I always looked forward to seeing Bob and Audrey in Idaho each summer. We thoroughly enjoyed Bob's years as our summertime visiting scientist from NIST and we appreciated his putting up with the less-than-needed training for him to turn on an x-ray diffractometer in Idaho without too many comments. The time spent with him at lunch and at his cabin was a high point of each summer for me for over 25 years. I will miss him greatly.

Sincerely, Jane Welch

I am so very sorry to hear of Bob's passing. When I came to NIST nearly 24 years ago, Bob was the only person who came to my office to welcome me. I will never forget this small gesture. Bob was an inspiring, dedicated researcher whose work has had tremendous impact worldwide and will remain of great importance for many years to come. Remarkedly, Bob continued his work with vigor throughout various illnesses over the years since his retirement from NIST. On a personal note, Bob and Audrey opened their home to NIST researchers, something that is quite rare. He will be dearly missed by all at NIST.

So sorry! I was privileged not only to work with Bob but also to know him personally. What a wonderful man! He was a great scientist, for many researchers in the field of inorganics the name NIST was associated with Robert Roth. In spite of his appearance of a tough, no nonsense pioneer, Bob was a romantic person, in love with nature, with Grand Teton Mountains, and off course with Audrey. I learned this first-hand when I visited with my son his home in Idaho. And his hard, unstopping work to the last days of his life was also very romantic. I will always remember you, Bob Roth.

To the Roth Family,
Our deepest sympathies are with you in your time of need. Growing up I had fond memories visiting with Bob and Audrey in Idaho during my summer vacation. For as long as I remember I visited every year and now that I have a family of my own I was able to take my wife in 2009 and my wife and our one year old son to visit last summer. Bob is someone I looked up to and will be missed. "The greatest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude." - Thornton Wilder 
The Roth Family
(Matthew, Danielle and Jaxson)

I am so sorry for your loss.  He was such an incredible person in all ways.  He was a very special mentor to my Bob.  I still have your (not so secret) recipes, Audrey.  And we will never forget the fun times we had together.     With lots of love, -Katy Cava

Laurel and I were sorry to hear about Bob's passing.  We fondly remember and always looked forward to visiting Bob and Audrey during the summer at their cabin in Victor, ID.  He will be missed.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Audrey and his family.

To the Roth Family:
 Maureen and I wish to express our deepest sympathy at the loss of Cousin Bob. We have been fortunate enough to have been guests at your Victor, Idaho home for more than the past twenty summers where we have been fortunate to share fun times with our children Matt and Theresa, our daughter-in-law Danielle and our grandchildren Andrew, Veronica and Jaxson.
 Some of our fond memories include Bob barbequing meat for dinner each night; picnics at Jenny Lake and Mesa Falls where Bob cooked lunch with his â€œnewspaper smoker barbeque;â€  Bob letting our son Matt use his John Deere lawn mower; Matt and I helping Bob cut down trees on the property; fly fishing with Bob and his neighbor Ed Piece on the Snake River; Bob forcing Matt's friend Brett Sitomer to eat his veggies even though Bob didn't eat his veggies; and eating â€œsquareâ€ ice cream  at Swan Valley. The memories go on and on â€¦â€¦

Bob was truly a unique individual and will be missed greatly by our family.


Maureen and Ira Roth

Memories from Melbourne, Australia
It has been a special privilege and a pleasure to have shared a friendship with Bob and Audrey during their many visits to Melbourne. Their close association with Melbourne spans more than 40 years and began in 1963, when Bob came to work for 9 months with David Wadsley at CSIRO. Wadsley, who was usually restrained in his praise, subsequently wrote in a letter ...He (Bob) knows more about oxide systems than anyone I have met... Together they solved the crystal structures of a number of complex phases in the Nb2O5-WO3 system, using crystals that Bob had grown under carefully controlled conditions and published a seminal series of papers on the work. It was during that visit that Bob and Audrey established lifelong friendships with a number of Melbournian scientists and their wives, including the Goodmans, the Gatehouses, the Mathiesons and the Moodies.
In 1991 Bob was invited to Melbourne as the keynote speaker to open the A.D. Wadsley Laboratory at the CSIRO Division of Minerals. He and Audrey subsequently returned to Melbourne every two to three years, for periods of 2-3 months, their last visit being in 2004. During these visits, Bob worked at the Division of Minerals, providing invaluable phase equilibria and crystal chemistry input to a range of projects, from high temperature mineral processing to the engineering of new semiconductor phases for renewable energy applications. Bob was liked and highly respected in the Division. He had a special talent for stimulating those of us who worked with him, with his enthusiasm, his wry humour and his vast knowledge and expertise. We will greatly miss him, and our thoughts are with Audrey, Gail, Diana and Stan and families.
Ian and Marianne Grey

Audrey, Beth and I would like to express our deepest sympathy to you and your family.  Bob was a respected and valued colleague and a good friend.  We collaborated frequently in a number of important scientific investigations during our careers at NBS/NIST.  I will always remember the little sign displayed above his desk, which summarized his attitude when working towards a solution to a difficult scientific problem.  â€œRoth is not always right, but he is NEVER in doubtâ€ ... Joe & Beth Ritter, Mt. Airy MD

Gail,
My sympathy to you and your family.  My prayers and thoughts are with you.

Bob left gifts to the world ---- his scientific accomplishments, his passion for knowledge, his mentoring of and collaborations with many, but, most important, his wonderful family and numerous friends worldwide. We all were blessed knowing and being with this good man.
Taki and Claire Negas

I'm so sorry for your loss. I had the great benefit of working with Bob for a few years at NIST and he was truly inspiring. His passion for science was obvious, as was his warmth and humor. I'm frequently reminded of him and I speak of him often to my colleagues. There will be many memories of him that will flash through your thoughts in the weeks ahead as you come to grips with his passing, but know that the family is in the thoughts of many people who knew him and counted him as a friend.

I am so sad to hear of Bob's passing.  These are constant reminders of our mortality.  
 



He was a very good scientist.

I am sorry to hear of Bob's passing.  Although we were not close, I always respected him as a very decent person and a first-class scientist. I feel your loss.

David and I are sorry for the loss of your father, Diana.. We send you our thoughts and prayers during this challenging time for you and your family.

Lynnie Mirvis
(Memphis, TN)

So sorry for you & your family, Diana, to hear about your father.  Thinking about you......Suzanne Back

OBITUARIO

Dr. Robert Bob S. Roth

21 agosto, 1926 – 16 julio, 2012

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