The Department of Electrical Engineering

I

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Professor Stuart C. Schwartz, friend, colleague, and former Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department. Stu passed away on Saturday, August 27, 2011 in New Hampshire due to complications from pneumonia. Professor Schwartz, born in Forest Hills, NY, joined the faculty in 1966 after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering Department from 1985 – 1994 and served as Associate Dean for the School of Engineering from 1977 – 1980. Prof. Schwartz served on various university committees and retired from the faculty in 2009.

Professor Schwartz made exceptional contributions to statistical signal processing and communication theory, specifically in the areas of detection and estimation, channel equalization, adaptive and wireless communications. During his tenure as Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department, the department grew from 13 to 24 faculty members and the undergraduate curriculum was revamped.  He instituted computer engineering activity on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, an optical and opto-electronic teaching and research program, and established an advanced technology center (ATC) in photonics and opto-electronics materials (POEM) which received substantial capital funding from the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology. Schwartz supervised 34 Ph.D. theses and the major supporters of his research included the NSF, ONR and the Army. After retirement, Dr. Schwartz continued funded research and was Chairman of the Emeritus Council Executive Committee. He was a Fellow of the IEEE and served as President of the IEEE Information Theory Society. Professor Schwartz was a committed teacher, advisor and mentor. He will be missed tremendously by his family, friends and colleagues.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, September 2nd at 10:00 am at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street. Memorial contributions may be made to National Public Radio or in his name to the Princeton Area Community Foundation. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mimi Schwartz; his children, Julie Mazer and Alan Schwartz, their spouses Douglas Mazer and Yuka Schwartz, and five grandchildren, Carly, Kyle, and Jason Mazer and Sara and Karen Schwartz. 

Read more about Prof. Schwartz please visit this link.