Robert Bernoff

BERNOFF ROBERT, PH.D Robert Bernoff, Ph.D., who held the top academic position at the Abington College of Penn State University and made lasting contributions to the teaching of science at all levels, died this week at age 89. The son of working-class Russian Jewish immigrants, he achieved a Ph.D in Chemistry from Temple University and started his career as an entrepreneur and head of research for Melcor, a startup innovating the technologies now used in heat pumps. He then joined the faculty at the suburban Philadelphia campus of Penn State, known at the time as Ogontz. He was known for his topical and flamboyant demonstrations in introductory chemistry classes. Bernoff and his wife Sandra helped develop groundbreaking science materials, including "Science: A Process Approach," a curriculum focused on learning science and its principles through classroom experiments. Working with colleagues Mary Budd Rowe and Emily Girault, he won grants from the National Science Foundation to develop new materials and tested them by teaching science classes himself at the elementary, junior high, and high-school levels. Millions of school students learned science from these new, experiential curricula. In 1979, Bernoff was appointed to the Ogontz campus' top academic position, Campus Executive Officer. Over the course of 11 years at Ogontz, he recruited top faculty who earned many teaching awards. Bernoff continued to lecture to seniors on topics like genetic engineering into his 70s and 80s. Bernoff was a devoted husband to his wife Sandra for more than 60 years. He is survived by three children and their spouses: Josh Bernoff and Kimberley Harding; Andrew Bernoff and Thomas Trautmann; and Marjorie and Curtis Stehley. He is also survived by five grandchildren. In honor of Professor Bernoff's contributions, the Abington Campus now annually recognizes an outstanding science and engineering student with the "Dr. Robert A. Bernoff Award." Contributions in his memory may be made to Penn State Abington – contact Karen Weiss Jones at 215-881-7399 or go to abington.psu.edu (click "Give Now" and specify "Bernoff Award" under "Other"). Relatives and friends are invited to Graveside Services on Wednesday, April 20th, at Montefiore Cemetery (Sec. 26) at 12:00 P.M. precisely. www.goldsteinsfuneral.com