Shawn Bieler ’58 *59

Shawn died Sept. 11, 2021, in Riverside, Calif. He was 84.

He came to Princeton from Leonia (N.J.) High School, where he was active in the band and the science club. Shawn was in the American Naval Cadets and the Palisades Park Rifle Club. At Princeton he was a member of the marching band and manager of the concert band. He was a geophysics major and a member of Court Club. He roomed with Bill Murphey and Jim Bergholt.

After graduation he went to MIT and Caltech, earning a Ph.D. Shawn became a professor of geophysics at the University of California, Riverside. Together with Robert Riekcer, Shawn co-founded SAGE (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience), where highly motivated students participated in rigorous classroom and field learning taught by some of the best in the field. Shawn’s image wasn’t complete without his SAGE T-shirt.

He continued to ensure the program’s success for years after retirement with a scholarship fund in his name to assist those with a similar passion. He loved teaching and drew true pure joy and life from his students.

Shawn is survived by his wife, Andrea; children Bonnie and Shawn Jr.; Andrea’s three sons from a prior marriage; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. The class extends its deepest sympathy to them all.