Robert J. Cave | In Memoriam | Harvey Mudd College

Chemistry Professor

The Harvey Mudd College community mourns the loss of respected chemist, distinguished teacher and widely recognized scholar Robert J. Cave who died Dec. 18, 2020. Known for his hearty laugh and his welcoming and congenial manner, Cave served on the Harvey Mudd faculty for 32 years.

Robert J. Cave was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was raised on the east coast, “traveling west” (to his way of thinking at the time) when he attended Michigan State University. He received a B.Sc. in chemical physics from Michigan State and then really moved west, attending Caltech on a National Science Foundation Fellowship in chemistry, receiving his PhD in 1986.

After graduation, he spent two and a half years in Indiana as a postdoctoral fellow working with Ernest R. Davidson on electronic structure theory. He arrived at Harvey Mudd in 1988 to continue studying the excited states of molecules using theoretical methods. With his research students, Cave used advanced techniques to describe the electronic wave functions of atoms and molecules to predict properties such as geometries, vibrational frequencies and charge distributions. One area of particular interest in the group has been the electronic coupling element for electron transfer. Recent focus has been on the development of approximate, fast, high-accuracy methods to calculate the electronic coupling based on coupled cluster wavefunctions. The group also has been investigating applications of density functional theory to study organic and organometallic reaction mechanisms and working on general methods to calculate quasidiabatic coupling elements for high-accuracy spectroscopic studies.

Bob Cave and student look at computer monitor

Cave once stated “the best part of it all is the extraordinary students at HMC. Almost none of the work … would have been done without them, and they made it all a lot more fun.” One of the joys of teaching at HMC, he said, was the range of courses he was able to teach, among them General Chemistry (lab and lecture), Thermodynamics and Kinetics, Statistical Mechanics, Science and Religion, and Electron Transfer Processes.

In addition to his work in the lab and classroom, Cave held several administrative roles at HMC. He was associate dean for academic affairs (2003–2007, 2015–2016) and was vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty (2007–2012). At the end of his tenure as VP and dean, the faculty presented Cave with a certificate of appreciation for his “effective leadership, enormous capacity for consensus building and desire to provide a supportive environment for the faculty [which] enabled faculty members to experience an unparalleled time of productivity and collegiality.”

Cave was a visiting researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Rutgers University and University of Texas at Austin. From 2016 to 2018, he was visiting program director in chemistry at the National Science Foundation.

Cave is survived by his wife, Susie, his son, Ian, and daughter-in-law, Shaina Davis. He is predeceased by his son, Adam. The family requests that memorial contributions in his honor be directed to the UN World Food Programme, Equal Justice Initiative or the UN Refugee Program.

Memories of Robert

Mark Minto ’90

Here is the title to my story…
1990 Upland Earthquake with Dr. Cave: ,
or, for a humorous and embarrassingly true title…
“HOW I BEAT DR. CAVE UNDER DR CAVES’ VERY OWN DESK DURING THE UPLAND EARTHQUAKE!.”…
(My sincere apologies, Dr. Cave… I didn’t see you)
Dr. Cave forgives and has a great since of humor. (That’s very good news for me, but I still owe him an apology..) The most violent earthquake to hit HMC was the 1990 Upland Earthquake. Of course, it was just “5.7” on the scale…but the epicenter was less than a mile from HMC. The earthquake hit at 3:43 pm on Feb 28, 1990. . There was incredible noise and enormous shaking. By pure coincidence, I was with Dr. Cave, in his office, reviewing results at the time of the earthquake.
Surely if there if there is such a thing a mild-mannered professor it was Dr. Cave. I had not ever heard the slightest hint of a profanity from him, not even one time. Still, I must apologize to Dr. Cave. Please remember, I was acting purely on fear and instinct. When the earthquake hit, I immediately dove under his desk. Yes, I am quite chagrinned to tell you, I beat our dear professor, Cave, underneath his own desk! (Goodness Gracious!) It’s hard to think correctly in those situations. I can’t be sure he was actually trying for the desk. Certainly if I had known, I would have offered the space under the desk to Dr. Cave first.
Unfortunately, there was only room for one under the desk. I remember the earthquake especially well, because Dr. Cave was looking down at me as I crouched under HIS DESK! (ouch) It was at this time that Dr. Cave (might) have uttered the only profanity (very loudly) that I ever heard from him in the four years I was at HMC, (but those details are permanently sealed from the record…)
Of course later were joked about it. Thanks you Dr. Cave for your forgiveness and sense of humor…
-Mark Minto
Chem 1990

Marie Kirkegaard ’15

Advisee

I am where I am today in great part due to Bob Cave. I started working in his lab as a sophomore at Mudd, and while I loved it, Bob knew that my foremost interest and passion was nuclear chemistry, so he introduced me to a former student with a nuclear chemistry lab at UC Irvine and encouraged me to do my senior thesis there, even though it meant losing a thesis student.

That year, I ended up with some extra time in my schedule and decided to use an independent study to pursue my interest in nuclear weapons policy. I asked Bob if he knew any professors on campus that might have relevant expertise to the topic. He didn’t, but immediately offered to be my advisor for the “course”. Each week, after doing some independent reading on the subject, I would report to Bob’s office to discuss what I’d read. It was becoming clearer and clearer to me that I wanted to pursue nuclear weapons issues as a career path, and Bob could not have been more supportive. Many of my other professors and peers were confused by this interest of mine, several suggesting alternative paths that they thought were more appropriate for me to pursue after my Mudd education. But Bob encouraged me to go for it. It was 2015 and the Iran Nuclear Deal was being negotiated; “I’ll feel more comfortable when you’re in DC working on these challenges,” he told me.

Bob was the kind of teacher that truly cared about you as not just a student but a whole person. My senior year was complicated by episodes of paralysis and extreme fatigue, leading to numerous doctors visits. Bob checked in on me often, keeping track of all of my appointments to ask how they went afterwards, and offering to drive me to my appointments and to UC Irvine–90 mins away in traffic–just to make sure I could continue my research there.

I kept up with Bob sporadically since leaving Mudd, updating him on my life milestones, like earning my PhD in 2019. He was due for another update when I heard that he had passed away. I’d expected to see him at alumni weekend in 2020, so I held off on sending an email to let him know the latest, that I’d landed a dream job working on nuclear issues in DC, gotten married, and even bought a house. I wish I would have shared those accomplishments with him, and let him know one last time how much his kindness and support has meant to me and contributed to my successes. Rest in peace Bob and thank you for everything

Anonymous '24 ’24

Student

I had Prof. Cave for frosh chemistry during Zoom and it was a class I looked forward too because he was very warm and understanding and kind and patient. He made me feel like I was capable at chemistry even though I was not very good at it. I am very thankful I got the opportunity to meet Prof Cave even if it was virtually. His Santa-Clause esque energy was very much appreciated. I wish the best for his family.

Sara Hummel ’06

Former student/advisee

I know that some students loathed Friday afternoon lab section because it delayed the onset of the weekend. I enjoy it so much with Prof Cave, I signed up for his Friday section again! When it came time to pick major advisors, he was my obvious choice, and I never regretted it. Even when he became dean, and he had new obligations, he was still there to be my advisor/cheerleader/confidante. In his role as dean, I know he positively impacted other students beyond the chemistry department. He will be missed.

Marcy LaViollette ’02

Student

Professor Cave always brought cheer and deep wisdom everywhere he went. He was the first person at Mudd who made me feel like I could be both a person of Faith and of Science (in retrospect a self-imposed hesitation). I will never forget when he approached my table during lab freshman year and tried to encourage me to become a Chemistry major. I responded “I’ve never thought of myself as a Chemist, but,” I motioned to my lab partner, “he sure is.” My lab partner expressed surprise, but by the end of the day agreed and is still working in the industry using all his Chemistry heart and knowledge every day. Professor Cave, I will never forget your tireless encouragement and love for the the subject and all your students. You will always be with me even though we haven’t spoken since I graduated.