Considered one of the world’s foremost experts and researchers in the area of radar systems, Dr. Merrill Ivan Skolnik died Jan. 27 at the age of 94.
An East Baltimore native who most recently lived in Roland Park, Skolnik served for more than three decades as superintendent of the Radar Division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
During his 50-year career, Skolnik – who retired in 1996 – was the author and editor of several seminal books on radar, most notably the “Radar Handbook.” (McGraw Hill) and “Introduction to Radar Systems” (McGraw Hill).
In 1986, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to the advancement of radar, and for leadership in radar engineering research and development.
A member of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Skolnik attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Prior to his work at the Naval Research Laboratory, he worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Lab, the Electronic Communications Inc., and the Institute for Defense Analysis.
“I remember meeting him first through my father, [radar specialist and engineer] Jacob Beser, and then when he taught at Johns Hopkins University,” Dr. Nicholas Beser, a Hopkins engineering professor, wrote on the memorial book page of the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home. “Merrill was a great mentor to the undergraduate engineering students, and was an inspiration to those of us who wanted to go on for a Ph.D. After I graduated, I noticed that many of my fellow engineers working in the radar area had his textbook. His contribution to the field continues today.”
Among the prestigious awards received by Skolnik during his career were the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award and the first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Dennis J. Picard Medal for Radar Technologies and Application.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Judith Skolnik (nee Magid); his children, Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz, Martin and Carolyn Skolnik, Julia and Robert Pierson, and Ellen and Harry Snydman; and his grandchildren, Zachary and Lori Moskowitz, Shira Moskowitz, Jacob and Andrea Moskowitz, Benjamin Skolnik and Jessie Di Gregory, Matt and Alyssa Kletnik, Sarah and Michael Horgan, Natalie Kone and Joshua Leland, Justine Kone and Charles Schwartz, Rachel Pierson, Danielle Pierson, Jessica Snydman, Emily Snydman. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister, Bernice Berlin, and his parents, Mary and Samuel Skolnik.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to Peabody Preparatory General Scholarship Fund in Baltimore, Maryland (secure.jhu.edu/form/Peabody) or the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, (yiddishbookcenter.org/join-support).
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