Volume 60, Number 2    August 20, 2012         

Paul Rech
Professor Emeritus of Decision Sciences Paul Rech passed away July 21; he is survived by his wife, brother, sons, grandson and great grandson. He was born June 23, 1931 in Alsace, France. Rech earned a degree in physics from the University of Strasbourg, France and an M.S. and Ph.D. in operations research from University of California, Berkeley. His business experience included production and distribution planning, economic impact analysis and energy and policy studies at organizations that included Systems Applications Inc., Stanford Research Institute and Shell Oil Corporate Planning. In his various capacities, Rech was involved in U.S. energy forecasting, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency endeavors and studying the economic impact of U.S. telecommunications industry competition.

He joined the College of Business at SF State in 1975 as Professor of Operations Research and Business Forecasting. He taught courses and graduate seminars in operations analysis, management science and business forecasting until his retirement in 2003. Rech was passionate about teaching, which he believed required him "to create an environment where learning could take place." Rech created that environment by demystifying difficult concepts and through amicable interaction with his students; long before Donald Trump used it, Rech said "you're fired" to students when they answered wrong. In turn, students created a crystal ball forecasting prop that said "you’re fired" when one gazed into it.

Rech's research involved him in both theoretical and applied research covering most fields of management science and operations research and a variety of application areas for more than 25 years. He was also a member of the Operations Research Society of America and The Institute of Management Science.

A memorial is planned for Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, 3355 19th Avenue (at Winston). Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.

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Last modified August 20, 2012 by University Communications.