Remembering Ralph R. Rumer, Jr.

By Peter Murphy

During his time at UB, Rumer served in different leadership positions within the department and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Rumer was department chair from 1967–1972 and 1982 –1987, two years of which he served as acting chair. He was also acting provost of faculty in engineering and applied sciences in 1974.

Rumer’s impact as mentor and colleague is still felt by his former colleagues and students, according to A. Scott Weber, UB provost and executive vice president for academic affairs who worked alongside Rumer when he first joined UB as faculty member in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.

“As a new faculty member, I really did not have a clue what to do, but Ralph patiently guided me through those awkward first months. Not only was he helpful professionally, but he took a personal interest in me and my growing family,” Weber says. “Ralph’s foundational virtues were kindness and integrity. He was a good person, and everyone in his orbit knew it.”

“Everything I have, I owe to Dr. Rumer,” says Calvin Chien (PhD ’74, MS ’70), a former student of Rumer’s who retired as one of twelve global fellows at DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DuPont), the highest position for technical professionals at the chemical company. “I was fortunate to have met him and to have worked with him, first, as a student and then a friend.”

Chien credits Rumer with helping him develop skills for both a successful career and a gratifying life. His admiration for Rumer and the late professor’s impact on him as a mentor was best on display in 2010 when Chien received the highest honor bestowed to DuPont scientists and engineers, the Lavoisier Medal for Technical Achievement. The medal recognizes these employees for their outstanding contributions to DuPont in their scientific fields throughout their careers.

“I was the 81st recipient of the Lavoisier Medal and needed to give a speech to an audience of 150 during the acceptance ceremony. Ralph and his wife, Sally, were the only guests I asked to attend besides my family,” Chien says. “During the speech, I spoke about the history of my work and asked Ralph to stand up. He received a standing ovation that was at least a minute long.”

Shortly after defending his thesis in 1974, Chien met with Rumer and was asked by his mentor to reflect on what he learned during his time at UB. Chien told Rumer he learned some of the most important lessons watching Rumer work.

“Dr. Rumer was always keen in observing what is needed and finding a solution. What I learned watching him, his procedure to plan and execute a solution allowed me to make a significant impact in industry,” Chien says. “He was not just an educator. He was a great mentor, teacher, and was always encouraging me to look for help and continue to grow.”

For 20 years, Rumer and Chien worked on a number of research papers and engineering projects together. With Rumer’s encouragement, Chien worked with 150 experts from nine countries to develop a book on managing and remediating contaminated groundwater and soil. This book was used by officials in the United States Environmental Protection Agency, industry professionals, and other researchers and government experts.

Many of the initiatives Rumer started have evolved, but their impact in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and UB remain strong. He was also involved in bringing in faculty members who serve leadership roles today like Weber and the current Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering chair Alan Rabideau.

“Ralph was instrumental in my hiring as an assistant professor in 1993, and we immediately began a productive research collaboration on the use of clay materials to contain toxic pollution in groundwater. Ralph was a great colleague and mentor, and he oversaw a tremendous growth in the scope, quality and impact of our department’s scholarship,” Rabideau says. “He also introduced my wife and I to Buffalo’s exciting art and theater communities.”

In 1987, Rumer established the New York State Center for Hazardous Waste Management at UB. Rumer oversaw the center’s $1 million budget as director from its inception until 1995. The center was one of several precursors to UB’s Research and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water (RENEW) Institute, a university-wide, multidisciplinary research institute focused on complex energy.

During Rumer’s tenure as director, the center oversaw several significant projects, including a $1.1 million initiative to simultaneously compare three different bioremediation technologies, the first of its kind in the United States. Rumer led the panel that developed protocol for evaluating bioremediation at the site. He also led the planning for the Environment and Society Institute, another university-wide effort that operated from 1998 to 2009.

The National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER), later renamed MCEER, was established during Rumer’s second tenure as department chair in 1986. The $50 million research center helped position UB as an influential global leader in earthquake engineering research and has produced over 600 publications.