Fred U. Rosenberger, D.Sc., senior professor of computer science and engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, died Sunday, May 14, 2006, of pancreatic cancer at Bethesda Dilworth nursing home in St. Louis County. He was 66.
Born in Baden, Pa., he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Washington University in 1961 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from New York University in 1963. Rosenberger returned to WUSTL and earned a doctor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1969.
From 1961-66, he was a technical staff member at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey.
Rosenberger joined Washington University in 1966 as a research assistant in the Computer Systems Laboratory, later serving as research engineer, assistant director and associate director.
From 1984-2001, he was an associate professor for the Institute for Biomedical Computing and the Department of Electrical Engineering. He became associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in 2002.
In 2005, he was appointed senior professor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science.
In the 1960s, Rosenberger played a central role in many of the Computer Systems Laboratory activities, such as the development of macromodules. He also played a key role in the early Very Large Scale Integration efforts at WUSTL in the late 1970s.
In recent years, he was involved in several St. Louis startup companies, including Celox Networks and Ageia.
Rosenberger was also an avid bicyclist, volleyball player, bridge player and world traveler.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Rosenberger; two daughters, Lisa Balbes and Laura Esswein; a son, Frederick Rosenberger; two sisters, Martha Rosenberger and Helen Leblanc; a brother, John Rosenberger; and nine grandchildren.
The funeral service and interment were May 17 at St. Peter Cemetery in Kirkwood, Mo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.