Robert Donald Lorenz
March 31, 1946 - January 27, 2019

"Dear Lorenz family, I wish to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Professor Lorenz. Bob was on my PhD committee in Madison and I was impressed with how someone of his academic stature would take the time to read and understand my dissertation. I came back years later and he was very happy to see me and as supportive as ever. I appreciated his patience with me as a student in his classes and thoroughly enjoyed my interactions outside the classroom with him. With best regards, Chris Hagen Associate Professor, Oregon State University"

"Dear Lorenz family, Our condolences to the family. Bob?s contributions to his profession are well known. His teaching abilities are represented by those he mentored who now contribute to industry as well as academia. Bob will be missed but will be remembered. Russ and Barb Kerkman "

"Dear Lorenz family, I am so sorry to hear Bob?s passing. At last year?s ECCE conference in Portland, OR, I looked and wanted to catch up with him. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance. I enjoyed a great deal of working with Bob during the CPES times. I will always remember him as an energetic and passionate speaker. His love for people and research will forever be missed. GQ "

"Dear Lorenz family, I am so sorry to hear about Bob's death. He was a truly remarkable man and leaves a long legacy of kindness, caring, and compassion. He will be deeply missed by many, but his impact will continue. By serving as a model to literally hundreds of people, he unquestionably changed the world for the better. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Christopher"

"Dear Sally, Becky, Carolyn, Steve, and family, I was saddened to read of the passing of Bob. He was such an accomplished man in so many ways. May your wonderful memories of him bring you peace. Barb Takkunen"

"Dear Ms. Lorenz and family I was deeply saddened by the news of Bob's passing. We interacted frequently at the IAS Annual meeting and I learned a lot from him that informed my teaching and research. I always recommended his papers to my students to read from one of the greatest minds in electric drives. Bob truly leaves a monumental and lasting legacy. He will be missed dearly. Mike Giesselmann ECE / Texas Tech University"

"Dear Ms. Lorenz and family, the news of Bobs death affected my wife Kerstin and myself deeply. I remember the many discussions and lectures during my postdoc research stay at WEMPEC and afterwards. Bob was a magnificent professor, researcher and engineer. I admired his extensive knowledge, innovative ideas and concepts but also his enthusiasm and optimism. I am very thankful to have known him. Steffen Bernet Institute of Electrical Engineering Technische Universität Dresden, Germany "

"Bob was a great man and he had an immeasurable influence on me personally. He was my Masters of Science adviser at University of Wisconsin-Madison. At that time I was motivated by a passion for power electronics, but I had no understanding of how to engineer solutions until I worked under the tutelage of Professor Robert D. Lorenz. His teaching methods infused passion and insight. He was dedicated to his profession, his family and his faith--this is who he was and who he is at all times. Since my years at UW-Madison, I have aspired to be like him in my passion and enthusiasm for my research, service outside of my profession and my approach to problem solving. He taught his students to develop solutions based upon first principles of mathematics and physics. I was able to apply what I learned from him over and over again when I went into industry. My time at UW-Madison working with Bob truly transformed me and made me who I am today, professionally. I had a very nice talk with Bob and Sally at the last ECCE conference and I expressed to him at that time that his method of advising his students is what I apply to my students now that I am an Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He seemed to be very touched by that. Bob always had time to talk, even to those of us whose achievements were far below his. He and Sally always engaged with my wife Cindy whenever she attended conferences with me, and she had a special place in her heart for both of them. He never seemed to be rushed to get through a conversation and he never, ever had any agenda for engaging with me during my 25+ years in industry--other than to see how I was doing or to discuss some important technical topic. I can recall him rushing to present a paper or chair a session and stopping dead in his tracks to talk to his former students without any indication that they were holding him up. His ability to use accelerated speech certainly helped. Bob made a significant contribution to the control of electric motor drives, from the nascent stages of the industry up until today. Many of his ideas, which he developed through his students, are common place in industry today. His training and guidance has produced many of today's contributing engineers in the design and application of power electronic controls of motors. He will truly, truly be missed. Rob Cuzner"

"Dear Sally and family, Together with my RWTH colleagues and assistants at ISEA we mourn that Bob is no more with us. We remember the many lectures Bob gave when you and Bob came to Aachen during his sabbatical year eighteen years ago. Since that time you visited us each year during this very first week of February. Bob?s seminars inspired us all. At our ISEA symposium last November he said that he hopes that his ideas and concepts would serve us well. I can assure you that they do. Bob would have been pleased to see how many researchers here in Aachen are building on his teachings, advice and work in the field of electrical drives and control. Above all his enthusiasm and optimism motivated many, not only to continue working, but also to challenge themselves to excel in this field. We are thankful to have had such a great teacher. He will be missed here in Aachen but not forgotten. We are grateful to you for having supported Bob on his many endeavors which served us all. Rik De Doncker Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives RWTH Aachen University, Germany"

"Jerry and I are sadden to hear of Bob's passing. I was always happy to see his smiling face at conferences. Salley, you are in our thoughts and prayers. May God grant you peace."

"Impact of what a difference one man can make in one lifetime. Well Done Good And Faithful Servant?"

"Dear Sally and family: me and my wife are very sad to know Bob is no more with us now . I last time met him 14th May 2016 convocation of my son Muhammad where he had come specially for Muhammad encouragement ,he has guided Muhammad through out , my words are weak to support our inner feeling , we are feeling as some one of very near passed away . I am thousand miles away from you but can feel your pain and irreparable loss , May God bless you all in these difficult times.May his soul rest in peace"

"Professor Lorenz touched hundreds of lives and improved them. I will be forever grateful to him as he not only taught me how to be a good professional but also be a good human. Rest in peace professor!"

"Dear Sally and family, we are so shocked and saddened to read of Bob's passing. You and Bob have always been such wonderful neighbors. We will miss him. I echo your friend's earlier posting on his qualities. You are in our thoughts."

"Bob was a truly joyful person, sharing, caring, all the good qualities that a man of faith should display. My heart hurts for your loss, Sally, and all your family."