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Irving H. Shames, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, died June 30 in Rye, N.Y. He was 87.
A UB faculty member for more than 30 years, Shames taught mechanics to two generations of UB Engineering undergraduates. In addition to the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor designation, he also received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and twice was named Professor of the Year by Tau Beta Pi’s New York Nu Chapter.
Among his other honors were the Engineering Dean’s Award, the school’s highest honor, and the UB Engineer of the Year award from the UB Engineering Alumni Association.
In addition to his teaching, Shames authored several highly regarded and well-circulated textbooks, among them “Mechanics of Fluids,” “Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics” and “Engineering Mechanics: Statics,” all in their fourth editions.
Prior to joining the UB faculty in 1962, he taught at the University of Maryland, Stevens Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute, where he served as professor and chair of the Engineering Science Department. He retired from UB in 1993 and joined the faculty of George Washington University as a Distinguished Visiting Professor. He received a full-time professional appointment to the engineering faculty two years later.
Shames earned a BS in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University, an MS in applied mechanics from Harvard University and a PhD in applied mechanics from the University of Maryland.
UB Engineering has posted a Web tribute to Shames; a section allows alumni to post messages of remembrance.
A SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Irving H. Shames Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established. Contributions to the fund can be made online or by mailing a check payable to the UB Foundation to University at Buffalo Foundation, Office of University Development, c/o Cindy Johannes, P.O. Box 730, Buffalo, NY, 14226-0730.
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