Richard Kassner

Western Springs, Illinois

Colleague

When I think of Ron, I think about his love of teaching and how much he cared for his students. He took an interest in his students that went beyond the classroom and subject matter. Ron conveyed an interest in each student’s life and their long-term goals. He kept in contact with many students long after they graduated. Ron was a superb teacher. He made the effort to relate organic chemistry to everyday life pointing out what compounds and reactions were used in industry and how chemistry contributed to everything we buy including the food that we eat. His students loved and respected him as is evidenced by his unprecedented number of Silver Circle awards for best teaching. Ron also cared deeply for the environment and was ahead of the curve when it came to an awareness of environmental issues and the need to make changes. Ron was the inspiration for the Environmental Chemistry course that was developed in the mid seventies. He was a regular contributor to the course every year that it was taught. Ron not only taught about the problems of pollution, the need to conserve and recycle, but he lived a green life style long before it became a goal for many of us today. I often saw him pull paper out of waste bins and put it into a recycling bin. The notes that he passed out to his students were a sight to behold and bring a smile to my face each time I think of it. They were handwritten in small print and filled every available space on the page, sentences often continuing around the edge of the paper. This was another example of his efforts to conserve. I think Ron wanted to give more than he received in life and leave this world a better place. He touched many lives by his work, his kindness and positive thoughts. He was one of my role models and I shall miss him.

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Bob Widing

Park Ridge, Illinois

Student & Colleague

Ron taught courses like Organic Chemistry which many students think of difficult. He showed them how to learn the topic and showed them how much he loved organic chem and how much he loved teaching it. Many of his students picked up that enjoyment and love of chemistry, especially organic chem. He never turned anyone away. No one who wanted to learn was ever told that he was too busy. His handwritten notes included sets of problems grading from simple to complicated. Students found if they did the problems they were nearly ready for the quizzes and exams (which he always called "parties"). Students also didn't want to skip any part of his notes or you would miss another bit of humor or relevant quotation. When he wasn't spreading the joy of chemistry, he was letting students know about classical music,and opera, healthy eating, and environmentally sound lifestyles. Thousands of students will miss him. I know I do.

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Robert Gordon

Skokie, Illinois

Colleague and Department Head

I have known Ron since I arrived at UIC in 1974. Even then his rapport with students was legendary. He was one of the most popular teachers because he obviously cared about them as individuals. His pedagogic style was to listen to his students in order to understand their thought processes, and then to lead them to the correct answers. He wrote elaborate instructional materials that were both educational and entertaining. Ron won a Silver Circle Award virtually every year that he was eligible. Often I encounter alumni who remember Ron as one of the best teachers they had at UIC.

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Michael Myers

Skokie, Illinois

Dean, Hebrew Theological College

The sages of the Talmud taught that intellect alone is not the mark of the man. "One whose actions outweigh his intellect is assured that his intellect will endure". Dr. Ron Baumgarten's great intellect was surpassed only by his humility. That rare and exceptional humility was surpassed only by his dedication to his students. Such intellect, such humility and such dedication will surely endure in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him!

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Lee Marek

Naperville, Illinois

Colleague

I came to UIC after Ron had retired. But he still came in on a number of occasions. We would often talk. I could tell that here was someone who loved teaching and wanted the best for his students. He knew how to motivate students. This was verified many times over in the last six years when I would tell people I now taught at UIC. If they were alumni of UIC and had organic chemistry they would ask if he was still teaching. I would not bring it up, they would. For students to remember his name, some after 30 years, shows the impact he had. How many professors’ names can you remember after 30 some years? Our conversations always led to the environment and/or healthy food. Again here is someone who carried deeply environment and did something about it through his teaching and his life. He led by example in teaching, the environment and healthy eating.

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Barbara Shyette Barnett

Wheeling, Illinois

Student

I took RJB's Organic chem class in 1974-75. It is probably the only class I took in the sciences that has stayed with me long enough to assist my own daughter (about to enter a PhD program in Inorganic Chemistry) with her first Organic class. Ron's teaching method was electric and dynamic. People fought to get a seat in the front of the huge lecture hall, so as not to miss a word. In a class of hundreds of students, you always got the sense he was teaching directly at you; learning with you. His exams, while never easy if you weren't prepared, were works of art. Sprinkled amongst the problems on mechanisms, syntheses and other such long-forgotten things were sprinklings of poetry, wryly amusing quotations, and a hefty dose of chemical-sexual innuendo about "resonating" bonds and "propagation". But even those decorative asides were there to for a reason--to help you remember. When I returned to UIC in the early mid 1980s as a Public Policy PhD student, I was flattered to learn that a quote of mine (a long and silly Ode to Chemistry, written and performed by me, inspired by him) continued to make appearances in the margins of his exams (he called them "orgies," as I recall). More than a teacher, RJB reminded us that as young and future scientists and doctors, we bore an ethical responsibility as well: to protect the environment and all living things. Like his lessons about everything else, those also have endured. But Ron was also a friend, and that year of Organic chem, for me, will always remain one of my fondest memories--for the learning, for the friendship, for the X-country skiing up at Wes Doak's Easy Slider Lodge in Minoqua with Ron, Bob W, and rest of the gang (every summer when I visit my son up in Eagle River at camp, I can't help but remember those trips that year and the couple of years that followed). Thank you Ron, RJB. You are remembered.

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Aristotle Papadatos

Athens, Greece

Baptist Christian

I always remember him as the most inspired teacher who first sowed my love for chemistry in my life! When I was his student in all beloved courses of organic chemistry, he first managed to intermingle chemistry with a lot of fun!!WoW!Dr Baumgarten never bored to help and make fun of the chemisytry problems!I doubt whether such person would be found to replace him! I deeply regret his sudden death !I never expected it! Sincerely, Aristotle Papadatos

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Ronald J. Zaneveld

Tilburg (Netherlands), 

Son of Student of RJB

I was born in 1974 and saw Ronald J. Baumgarten only 2-3 times in my life. He was organic chemistry professor in the US. He came to see me and bring greetings to my father who had studied chemistry in Leiden, the Netherlands at the last time. The first 1-2 time(s) were before I was old enough to have a good memory of events and ppl. His interest in me was because of my name, I was also named Ronald J. as thanks for the efforts he put into the learning and study of my father. I was trying to find a mail adress to send him a card saying I will be married. I'm truly sorry to see this is no longer neccesary. I would have wanted him to have seen our marriage picture. I hope you will find your place among the stars, Ronald J. Zaneveld Tlburg, The Netherlands, Europe To all others, I hope that these good words will add something to the memory of Ronald J. Baumgarten.

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