Robert H. Schuler

Robert H. Schuler, 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 13, 2017, at his residence. He was born on January 4, 1926 in Buffalo, NY, to Robert H. and Mary (Mayer) Schuler, both who preceded him in death.

Robert married Florence F. Schuler, his wife of 60 years who preceded him in death on April 13, 2013. He is survived by his daughters, Mary Schuler (Stephen Sligar) of Urbana, IL; Margaret (William) Kemp of Rochester Hills, MI; and Carol (Peter) Derrico of Harrison, NY; sons, Robert E. (Victoria) Schuler of Rochester Hills, MI; and Thomas (Diane) Schuler of Great Falls, VA; eleven grandchildren, William Kemp III, Michael Kemp, Kathryn Kemp, Sara Sligar, Laura Sligar, Christopher Sligar, James Schuler, Joseph Schuler, Kirsten Schuler, Michael Schuler, and Kendall Schuler; brother, Richard (Gail) Schuler; and sister-in-law, Janet Schuler. In addition to his parents and wife, Robert was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Schuler.

Dr. Schuler had a long and productive career in radiation research. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 1949, he served as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Canisius College until 1953.  He then moved to Brookhaven National Laboratory to lead a group studying the effects of radiation on materials, a critical area in the dawn of the nuclear age.  With the expansion of this scientific field, Dr. Schuler became Director of the Radiation Research Laboratory at Mellon Institute (now Carnegie-Mellon University), and led this laboratory from 1956 to 1976. He was also Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon University.  Radiation research funding was expanded again under the auspices of the Department of Energy with the formation of the Radiation Research Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame where Dr. Schuler served as Director from 1975 through 1995, a 20-year period of growth and productivity that helped build Notre Dame’s strong national and international reputation in radiation research. In addition to his significant research accomplishments and recruiting and development successes, he was instrumental in constructing bridges to radiation chemistry groups in many countries throughout the world, the benefits of which are still felt today. He also was appointed as Professor in Chemistry at Notre Dame, and honored with the endowed John A. Zahm Professorship in 1985, a position he held until transitioning to Emeritus Professor of Chemistry in 2000.  During his tenure at Notre Dame, Dr. Schuler was a Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University in Israel and was appointed as the prestigious C. V. Raman Professor at the University of Madras in India in 1985.

During his administrative and academic career, Dr. Schuler published over 250 research papers, which received over 9500 citations, on radiation chemistry, chemical kinetics, electron spin resonance and Raman spectroscopy with particular interest in the structural and kinetic properties of transient radical intermediates. His research established a fundamental understanding of the effects of radiation on matter, including his development of the Warman-Asmuss-Schuler equation that describes ion savaging and diffusion process in radiation tracts.  Among his many honors are the Marie Sklodowska Curie Medal from the Polish Association for Radiation Research in 1992, the Award of Honor from the University of Notre Dame in 1976 and the Crowdle Award for academic achievement from Canisius College in 1976.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Graveside services and burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 20 at Palmer Funeral Home—Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN.

Donations in memory of Robert may be made to Sacred Heart Parish, 104 Sacred Heart Parish Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Online condolences may be left for the Schuler family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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