Robert L. Snyder

Robert L. Snyder, professor and co-chair of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, passed away on Sept. 1 after a battle with cancer. He was 70.

In January 2003, Snyder joined the School of Material Sciences and Engineering (MSE) at the Georgia Institute of Technology as chair. Snyder received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Marist College in 1963 and his doctorate in physical chemistry from Fordham University in 1968. He entered the field of materials through his Ph.D. research and continued it as a postdoc at the University of Pittsburgh and NASA. He began teaching at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1970 and rose through the academic ranks to professor of Ceramic Science in 1982. He chaired the MSE Department at Ohio State from 1996 through 2002.

He is a Fellow of the American Society of Metals, The American Ceramic Society and Distinguished Fellow of The International Centre for Diffraction Data. He has served 16 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre of Diffraction Data, most recently as Chairman. He is a Principal Editor for the Journal Materials Research and the Journal of the American Ceramic Society. He serves on the organizing committees of a number of international conferences and chairs the annual Denver X-ray Conference. He has been named the American Ceramic Society Outstanding Educator and has received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2002 TMS Award for Materials Leadership, the 2004 Hanawalt Award for X-ray analysis and the 2008 TMS Award Educator Award. He is listed in many reference works including Who’s Who in the World.

Snyder’s research focused on the characterization of advanced materials by x-ray diffraction. He studied everything from superconductors to nanomaterials and had a hand in developing some of the first automated diffractometers, a device that is now a staple in any research laboratory.

He held eight patents and published 300 papers on materials and materials characterization that have been cited by other authors more than 2,000 times. He presented thousands of talks around the world with more than 50 plenary and keynote lectures. He authored two textbooks, edited nine technical books and contributed chapters to nine books and encyclopedias.

The memorial service will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Gordy Room of the William C. Wardlaw Jr. Center, located at 177 North Ave. Snyder is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sheila, son Robert (Maria), daughter Kristina (Matthew) Gardner, two grandchildren (Nolan and Maggie), brother G. Michael (Loretta) and Sister Maryanne (Tom) Magagnos.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Georgia Tech Foundation with ‘Snyder Scholarship’ in the memo line; 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332.

Arrangements under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill in Atlanta, GA.