ROBERT HERMAN

1914–1997

BY R. S. SCHECHTER

PROFESSOR ROBERT HERMAN (Bob to his legions of friends) passed away on February 13, 1997, at his home in Austin, Texas, after a battle with cancer. I lost a dear friend and the world lost a remarkable scientist and engineer, whose diverse interests ranged from cosmology to the practical problems of vehicular traffic flow and control. All of his life Bob struggled constantly toward creative achievement. That his endeavors were fruitful may be measured by the substantial recognition that has been accorded to him by the scientific and engineering community. I had met Bob several times at various conferences but really came to know him well after he joined the University of Texas faculty in 1979. It became our practice to share a brown bag lunch about twice each week. During these confabulations Bob would tell me about the wonderful people that he had worked with, and he would also share some touching and humorous moments in his life. I enjoyed these sessions immensely, grew to respect his intellect, and now miss him very much. Preparing this memorial was a difficult task for me for I felt a great need and desire to convey to the reader something of Bob's human qualities as well as his scientific and engineering achievements. I was not a participant in Bob's intellectual accomplishments. I was simply a confidant. I hope, therefore, by sharing some of our conversations to convey my wonderful memories of Bob, the profound sense of sadness that I felt on his death, and the importance of his many