In memoriam: Richard Scheps, author and researcher in laser and electro-optics

Richard Scheps

SPIE Member Richard Scheps, 70, a retired researcher with the Space and Naval Research Center, died 7 October 2016 in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Richard Scheps was born and raised in the Bronx, New York graduating from Bronx Science High School. He received his Bachelors in Science from the University of California Berkeley and a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago.

After graduating Scheps performed post-doctoral research in atomic and molecular physics in Boulder, Colorado before joining the Space and Naval Research Center (SPAWar) in San Diego in 1981 where he worked until he retired in 2003. He published over 100 scientific papers and was the author of over 30 patents in lasers and electro-optics.

Scheps, a former Member of SPIE, was active in the SPIE community. In addition to presenting for many years at Photonics West, he also served as symposium chair and conference chair for Solid State Lasers. Scheps rounded out his involvement at Photonics West as an instructor teaching the course, Introduction to Laser Diode-Pumped Solid State Lasers, for nearly ten years. He published the correlating tutorial text in 2002 with SPIE Press and also created a video version of the course for distance education.

Richard is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nancy Spieczny, his daughter, Manya Scheps, his son, Theodore “Tosh” Scheps, and his son’s fiancé, Megan Ueltschy.