Reuben H. Karol, PE, Professor Emeritus of Continuing Engineering Education Center at Rutgers University, died on February 13, 2020 at his residence. He was 97 years old.
Born and raised in Toms River, NJ He enrolled at Rutgers in 1940, completed three semesters, then served in the US Army Signal Corps for three and a half years, both in the US and the Pacific Theatre. After his honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant, he returned to Rutgers, and earned his B.Sc and M. Sc degrees in Civil Engineering in 1947 and 1949.
From 1947 to 1951 he was an instructor and Asst. Professor in Civil Engineering at Rutgers. From 1951 to 1956 he worked for ESSO, designing refinery structures and foundations. From 1956 to 1967 he headed the Engineering Chemicals Research Center for American Cyanamid Company in Princeton, NJ. In 1967 he returned to Rutgers as a Professor and Director of the Continuing Engineering Education Center. He retired from full time teaching in 1984, but continued part time teaching at Rutgers for many more years.
Reuben H. Karol has had a 60-year civil engineering career in industry, academia and research. He developed and implemented the current standards for chemical grouting – a process which modifies soils and rock, enabling them to carry greater loads and form seals against the flow of water. He first developed these concepts while holding the position of director of the Engineering Chemicals Research Center for American Cyanamid, Inc. Karol was a member of the Rutgers civil engineering faculty and is currently a professor emeritus, leading a graduate course in soils stabilization. Karol is also a prolific sculptor. One of his works, made using a special polymer cement developed by his students, is on display in the courtyard outside the civil engineering laboratory on the Busch Campus.