The NYFA board and friends of former board member Bob Ingalls were saddended by the news of his passing last week. Bob was a great plant enthusiast and supporter of the flora of New York. He contributed a great deal to the advancement of NYFA and was eager to help anyone learn about the flora, especially the sedges. He once said that one day he decided he was going to learn all the plants in New York. He wanted to start out with the most difficult plants and so he chose the sedges, becoming a real expert in the group.
The following remembrance is from the President of RPI, Dr. Jackson:
It is with great sadness and deep regret that I announce the recent passing of Dr. Robert P. Ingalls, the executive officer of the Computer Science Department at Rensselaer and a respected teacher of many computer science courses. Dr. Ingalls passed away late last week.
After a distinguished career in developmental psychology, Dr. Ingalls’ interests turned to computer science in the mid-1980s. He earned his master’s degree in computer science here in 1986, and joined the Computer Science Department that same year as director of operations, eventually rising to serve in the role of executive officer.
Dr. Ingalls earned his bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from Williams College in 1967, and went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1968. He earned his Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Connecticut in 1972.
Dr. Ingalls was the author of a number of books on developmental psychology, including “Mental Retardation: The Changing Outlook.” He taught psychology at the California State College at Chico, and here in Troy at Russell Sage College, before joining the New York State Council on Children and Families.
After he came to Troy, Dr. Ingalls continued his lifelong interest in natural history. He was an accomplished field botanist, and an observer and advocate for the ecology of Rensselaer County. He served as a member and officer of the Rensselaer Land Trust and acted as a steward for the Nature Conservancy. Dr. Ingalls’ interests were many and diverse, and his enthusiasm engaged all who knew him.
There will be a memorial service for Dr. Ingalls at the Chapel and Cultural Center, 2125 Burdett Avenue in Troy, on Saturday, December 4, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception in The Great Room at the Heffner
Alumni House.
Bob Ingalls, Frank Knight and Steve Young at Valcour Island 2006