Former Penn State professor, Robert M. Haythornthwaite, passed away at the age of 84. Haythornthwaite, who died Feb. 24, served as the head of Penn State's engineering mechanics department from 1967 to 1974.

In addition to his time with Penn State, Haythornthwaite was a faculty member with the University of Sheffield in England, Brown University and the University of Michigan, finishing his career in education at Temple University. In addition, he worked with the Building Research Station in Watford, England.

A 1942 honors graduate in civil engineering from the University of Durham, England, Haythornthwaite was a Commonwealth Fund Fellow from 1950 to 1951. In 1952, Haythornthwaite earned his Ph.D. from the University of London. In 1963 Haythornthwaite was honored with the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize. In addition, he founded the American Academy of Mechanics in 1969 and served as its first president. Three years late, Haythornthwaite was the founding editor of the academy's monthly journal, Mechanics.

Haythornthwaite and his wife Mary created the Robert M. and Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation to continue his lifelong passion to the excellence of education. The foundation works to support scientific research in the field of mechanics with the cooperation of the American Academy of Mechanics.

Haythornthwaite is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Richard; daughters Jennifer, Susan and Sheila; and one grandchild.

Courtesy Curtis Chan