Robert Bruce Herring
Oct. 22, 1940-Dec. 12, 2012
Resident of San Jose
Bob died of complications from esophageal cancer. He was born to the late George and Ruby Faye Herring, October 22, 1940 in Midland, Texas. Bob was Valedictorian of Midland High School, class of 1959. He went to Rice University for his BA and Masters degrees, then Northwestern University where he earned his Ph.D in Materials Science. Bob met Jonnie Lou Johnson at Rice University and they married on May 30, 1963. Bob lived in Boston, MA, where he served in the army, and then Scottsdale, AZ, before settling in San Jose, CA. He worked as a materials engineer for most of his life. He co-authored Handbook of Semiconductor Silicon Technology, a comprehensive summary of the science, technology, and manufacturing of semiconductor silicon materials, with William O’Mara and Lee P. Hunt. A resident of San Jose since 1974, Bob was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Saratoga for many years. Bob enjoyed travel and visited several European and Asian countries in his lifetime. His priorities in life were family, friends, teaching, and cooking. He was an adjunct professor for the Biochemical, Chemical, and Materials Engineering Department at San Jose State University where he taught courses on ceramics, metals and alloys. He is survived by Jonnie Herring, his wife for 49 years. He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn, his daughter, Katherine, his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Christine, and his granddaughter, Virginia. We miss him terribly. A memorial service will be held at Saratoga Prospect Community Center at 5 pm on Thursday, December 20th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Materials Science Program through the Tower Foundation Student Success Fund, San Jose State University, Biomedical, Chemical, and Materials Engineering, E385, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0082