Dr. Stanley E. Rittgers, BS '68 and Dr. Robert E. Mates

Dr. Stanley Rittgers, BS ‘68 credits UB and Dr. Robert E. Mates in exposing him to biomedical engineering before there was a formal curriculum in biomedical engineering. As a result, he has created the Dr. Robert E. Mates Scholarship to honor the UB faculty member who set him on the path of his lifelong career.

Dr. Mates, who passed away in ‘11, had a longtime career at UB. After 35 years, he retired as professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. A passionate teacher, he received the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Teaching in ’91.

He became a research professor of medicine in ‘86 and three years later was made director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering. He was an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, where he served in leadership roles for 25 years and was elected a Fellow of ASME, where he received the group’s Dedicated Service Award.

His honorary society memberships included Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Tau Sigma. Volunteer activities focused on vocational and technical education in the Buffalo Public Schools, where he received several awards. He enjoyed the performing arts, bridge, tennis, sailing, water skiing, home building and remodeling, politics and travel.

Dr. Stanley Rittgers served as Professor of Biomedical Engineering at both Virginia Commonwealth University and The University of Akron. His research interests include cardiovascular biofluid mechanics, non-invasive diagnostics, and implant devices. He was Director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering Research, holds three patents, and has co-written a textbook on ‘Biofluid Mechanics: The Human Circulation’.

Dr. Rittgers earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of Buffalo, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Pictured: Dr. Stanley Rittgers, BS ’68