Robert W. Peelle *58

Robert Peelle, retired head of nuclear-data measurement and evaluation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), died Nov. 19, 2018, at age 90.

Peelle graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor’s degree in physics and then earned a master’s degree in physics in 1951 from Princeton. In 1954 he joined ORNL as a nuclear physicist while still working on his doctoral dissertation. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton in 1958.

Peelle was widely recognized in his field for the accuracy and significance of his team’s research data into reactor design, shielding, and other nuclear applications from the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator.

He received a liver transplant in 1992 and enjoyed 26 “bonus years” with his family and the continued pursuit of his many interests, especially in the natural world. He had retired from ORNL in 1991.

Deeply committed to public service, he volunteered innumerable hours to improve and protect his community and the environment, combining his scientific knowledge and other skills to solve complex and/or contentious situations (for which he received many service awards and honors).

Peelle is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth; two daughters; and one grandson.