Ronald Raymond Sauers

Monroe Township, NJ Ronald Raymond Sauers, died peacefully in his sleep on December 2, 2023, at the age of 91, at his residence at Parker at Monroe. Ron was born on June 19, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Edna Sosinski Sauers and Stephen Sauers. He is survived by his son, Paul Sauers, his daughter, Kathy Sauers Ostergaard (Dean), his brother, Richard Sauers (Elaine), grandsons Benjamin and Timothy Ostergaard, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother Robert Sauers (Agnes) and his former wife, Carol Kilbourne Wagner.

Ron first became interested in chemistry in the 9th grade, when he inherited his brother Dick’s chemistry set. He graduated from Penn Township High School in Harrison City, PA with high honors in 1949 and Penn State University with honors in 1953, earning a degree in Chemistry. He received a predoctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation to study at the University of Illinois for his PhD where he studied under N.J. Leonard. Dr. Leonard inspired Ron to choose academia over industry as he could see that it would allow him to be independent and to pursue his own academic interests. Ron earned his PhD in Chemistry in 1956, and continued on as a postdoctoral research fellow under E.J. Corey. He met Carol Kilbourne at Illinois, who was also studying for her PhD in Chemistry under E.J. Corey. Ron and Carol were married in 1955 in Milford, CT and they moved to Middlebush, NJ, in 1957. They purchased a house on Montgomery Street in Highland Park, NJ, in 1963, where Ron would spend most of his adult life.

Ron began his career at Rutgers in 1957 when he was appointed Instructor in the School of Chemistry. His initial research focus was in polycyclic hydrocarbons and the photochemistry of organic compounds. Ron was grateful to have several years as an instructor to figure out what areas of chemistry held his interest before the tenure clock began ticking. He soon realized that the undergraduate curriculum at Rutgers was deficient in one of the fastest growing areas of chemistry—computer-assisted molecular modeling and he designed and introduced projects in molecular modeling which were then adopted in the advanced organic chemistry classes, graduate courses and advanced undergraduate courses. In 1967 he was a special fellow of the National Institutes of Health at Princeton University.

He rose through the ranks at Rutgers during the sixties and was promoted to full professor in 1970. He and Carol spent a year on sabbatical at Brandeis University as Visiting Professor and Associate Professor’s respectively. Ron went on to spend more than 45 years in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology carrying a full teaching load, mentoring PhD students and junior faculty, and continuing to conduct research. He was a member of the American Chemical Society for more than 50 years and was granted two patents while at Rutgers. Ron is remembered by former students and colleagues for his mentorship and kindness. He retired from Rutgers at the age of 70 and continued to do research as a Professor Emeritus until 2015, when he published his final paper.

In addition to chemistry, music played an important role in his life. Ron began playing trumpet at age 10 and played in the Marching band, Concert Band and the Starduster Jazz band in high school and the Blue Band at Penn State. In Highland Park he studied under Alfred Weissman, a prominent local trumpeter who not only taught Ron but played duets with him regularly. Ron was in a jazz band with a number of Rutgers Chemistry professors and others dubbed the “Highland Park 5,” and he also played in local theater groups and an orchestra in New Jersey.

Ron enjoyed outdoor activities: canoeing, skiing, hiking and throwing frisbees. He ascended roughly 40 high peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his son Paul. The two also enjoyed watching numerous college and professional basketball games at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Kathy remembers him for sharing his love of music with her and being raised listening to the Canadian Brass, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, and Ragtime, and for being an unwavering source of support. Ron loved being a grandfather and would take his grandsons to Donaldson Park to watch the trains go over the bridge from New Brunswick to Highland Park.

Ron was generous with both family and friends, quietly offering financial support when needed. He gave generously to local and national causes, science and climate change being key among them, but also the arts including museums, theater organizations and even funding a scholarship in his name at the Mason Gross School of the Arts.

In his later years he enjoyed traveling with Elderhostel visiting Switzerland, Norway, the Galapagos, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Iceland, Russia, France, and Turkey. He was a familiar sight in Highland Park, walking over the bridge to New Brunswick where he would take the train or bus into NYC to see Broadway and off-Broadway plays, musicals, musical performances, ballets and museums. Ron was a faithful New York Times reader and he did the crossword puzzle every day. He valued physical fitness and did daily pushups and sit ups for most of his life. Even after he was wheelchair bound he continued to exercise regularly with the assistance of the staff at Parker at Monroe.

We are grateful for the many years we had with him and will miss him for his calm and quiet demeanor, and steadfast support. The family is grateful for the care shown to Ron by staff at Parker at Monroe and Vitality Hospice.

Arrangements: A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 noon on January 27th at Kirkpatrick Chapel on the New Brunswick Campus of Rutgers.

Donations in lieu of flowers: in 2019 Ron established an endowed scholarship in his name to encourage students at the Mason Gross School of the Arts to continue pursuing their education in the arts. He created the fund in the hopes that it inspires others to support the arts at Rutgers.

https://give.rutgersfoundation.org/sauers-scholarship/20452.html/?src=WMHSAUER