Archives
Obituaries
Robert Osteryoung, former chemistry professor
Robert A. Osteryoung, a former professor in the Department of Chemistry, died Aug. 10 in Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., following a brief illness. He was 77.
A Cleveland native, Osteryoung graduated from Ohio University and the University of Illinois, where he earned a doctorate in chemistry.
He served on the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1954-59 before joining Rockwell International in Los Angeles. In 1968, he was named chairman of the chemistry department at Colorado State University. In 1977, he moved to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a program manager.
Osteryoung joined the UB faculty in 1979 as a leading professor. He worked at the university until 1992, when he left for North Carolina State University to become a professor and chair of the chemistry department. He retired last year.
North Carolina State established an award for teaching excellence that is named in his honor. Osteryoung published more than 225 research papers, received a number of academic and scientific honors, and was active in national chemists organizations.
A memorial service was held in Raleigh, N.C.