Robert W. Proctor

February 22, 1949 - October 30, 2023

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Soller-Baker Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lafayette Chapel

400 Twyckenham Blvd

Lafayette, IN 47909

Tuesday 11/14, 4:00 pm

Dr. Robert Proctor, 74, passed away after a brief illness on Monday, October 30, 2023

Robert was born in Camden, NJ on February 22, 1949, to Robert and Mary (Wingo) Proctor, but he spent most of his early life in Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Robert completed his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1975. He began his academic career at Michigan State University, followed by Auburn University. In 1988 he joined the faculty at Purdue University, becoming a Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences in 2007.

Robert was a prolific researcher in the areas of human factors and cognitive psychology. He authored or edited numerous books in those areas, published extensively, and was the current Editor of the American Journal of Psychology, the oldest journal in the U.S. devoted to psychological sciences. He loved his work, including mentoring his many graduate students.

Robert also loved his family: his wife Janet, his sons Matthew and Scott, and his siblings and their families. Music was a major interest and source of enjoyment. One of his last evenings was spent at a small club listening to live progressive music.

Surviving is his wife Janet, sons Matthew and Scott Proctor, sisters Mary (Robert Netherland) Richards and Margaret (Ryan) Dumont, brother Edward (Carol) Proctor, nieces Natalie, Marla, and Elizabeth, and nephew Drexel.

A memorial service will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at the Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, IN 47909. In lieu of the usual remembrances, contributions may be directed to The Nature Conservancy (The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203; www.nature.org) or the Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University (703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907; give now).

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc.

Huifang Wang

Xinsheng Zhou

Haozhi Chen

Johnson Adetooto

Tiangong Zhang

Tiangong Zhang

Rohit Uttam

Yifei Gan

Saba Naderian

Wei Zhou

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lafayette Chapel

400 Twyckenham Blvd

Lafayette, IN 47909

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Tuesday 11/14, 4:00 pm

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Dr. Robert Proctor, 74, passed away after a brief illness on Monday, October 30, 2023 Robert was born in Camden, NJ on February 22, 1949, to Robert and Mary (Wingo) Proctor, but he spent most of his early life in Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 with a BachelorContinue Reading

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In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Huifang Wang lit a candle

I was absolutely shocked by the passing of professor Proctor. Speechless. I only learned of this a few minutes ago. I recently tried to contact professor Proctor to discuss an issue we used to talk about at length in his office, and this is the last thing I want to hear about why i have not heard back. The thought of not being to see the professor one last time is unbearable.

It was a great honor to take your class and to get to know you through HFES-Purdue activities. Honestly, your class was somewhat challenging, yet it effectively bridged the gaps in my understanding of human factors. I applied the knowledge I gained from your teachings in revising my first proceeding, which, thanks to your influence, is now published. Additionally, after completing your assignments about defining sub-sectors of two human factor conferences, I became involved in both. I was truly happy to be your student as it’s inspiring to see someone’s eyes light up when they talk about their area of expertise. At your funeral, I could hear your phrase, “Publish or Perish,” and thought about how you would share humorous pictures related to class materials and laugh about them. Your positive influence will live on in the memories of many, and your work will continue to inspire and improve the next generation. Please rest in peace, Dr. Proctor.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Xinsheng Zhou lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Haozhi Chen lit a candle

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Professor Proctor's legacy will forever inspire those of us who had the privilege of learning from them.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Tiangong Zhang lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Rohit Uttam lit a candle

It a honor working with and knowing Robert W. Proctor

It was an honor working with Robert W. Proctor

Robert was truly a humble soul, a wonderful colleague to have in the cognitive area. His value went beyond just knowledge; he also brought a supportive spirit that enriched the environment. My condolences go out to Janet and the rest of his family.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Yifei Gan lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Saba Naderian lit a candle

Your wisdom and knowledge will live in my heart forever.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Sai Uttam Gadde lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Ze Wang lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Yoon Choi lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Carlos G Santiago-Solivan lit a candle

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I had the honor to work with Robert on several endeavors. He was super helpful to me in those challenging times. I will forever cherish the experience.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Hubo Cai lit a candle

Robert was a wonderful person. My graduate students loved his Human Factors class, and he was a great colleague and so helpful over the years to many of us in Mechanical Engineering. By chance, I had the pleasure of riding with him to Indianapolis Airport a couple of weeks ago, we were both off to DC for different meetings. I will treasure those brief moments and many other times over the years interacting with Robert, always a pleasure. My condolences to his family.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Thanos Tzempelikos lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Chen-Hui LU lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Chen-Hui Lu lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Chen-Hui Lu, Ph.D. lit a candle

Dr. Proctor was a friendly face that I enjoyed seeing around campus. Dr. Proctor also helped me with my undergraduate research project. I appreciate all that he did for his students & the department.

Dr. Proctor was an invaluable mentor to me. My sincere condolences to Dr. Proctor's family and friends.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor. Yunfeng (Cindy) lit a candle.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Luigi Dy lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Nathan Kim lit a candle

I would've liked to talk to him about his research area

So sorry to receive word of my cousin Robert’s passing. I have so many wonderful memories of thr Christmas holidays our families spent together at Grandma Wingo’s house in El Paso when we were young. So proud of Robert’s personal and professional success. Much love and many prayers for the Proctor family.

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In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Mei-Ching Lien lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Yanmin Zhang lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Alexa Bushinski lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Hailey Arreola lit a candle

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Yun Kyoung Shin lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Sungeun You lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Kim Vu lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Linda Tomko lit a candle

My sincere condolences to Dr. Proctor's family and friends. He was a great role model and will be missed a lot.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Tianfang Han lit a candle

My sincere condolences to Dr. Proctor's family. He will be missed by the Purdue IE family.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Maya Luster lit a candle

My deepest condolences to Janet and family. I am heartbroken to have lost such an amazing colleague, collaborator, and mentor. Robert, thank you for always being there to support and encourage others around you. Grateful for your intellectual curiosity and kindness. Purdue psych department will not be the same without you.

His memory will live on through the countless lives he has touched and inspired.

This semester, I am taking PSY577 course under DR. Proctor. I always had huge respect for Dr. Proctor especially because of the contribution Dr. Proctor made even at this age. This news was so disheartening and very heart-wrenching. We will have huge respect for you, Sir. May your soul Rest in Peace.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Dongyuan Wang lit a candle.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Jing Zang lit a candle

My sincere condolences to Dr. Proctor's family. I am sure he will be missed.

Robert was a truly great soul. He was not flashy and didn't care much for accolades, but nonetheless had (and will continue to have) and enormous impact on his field of work and those who knew him. He was always kind and generous to his students and colleagues and saw the potential in everyone. Robert is now part of the legacy of great minds that he always respected and admired.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Arushi Arora lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Gaojian Huang lit a candle

God rest his soul.

Prof. Proctor, it is my biggest blessing to be your student! The education and advice I received from you as well as your kindness, diligence, and commitment to scientific rigor have not only illuminated my mind but greatly inspired me along the journey of my life. May you RIP and know that your memory will live on in our hearts…

You will be missed. Deepest condolences to family and friends of this amazing person: A true light in the department and leader in the field.

I'm truly heartbroken to hear of Robert's passing. He was not just a mentor and a colleague to me but also a role model in every sense. Working with him was an honor that's hard to express in words. He didn't just show me the ropes in our field but also how to be the kind of collaborator everyone hopes to find. I'm going to miss our time together terribly; the chance to learn from him day by day and to witness his wisdom in action. However, I take some comfort in knowing how many lives he touched, including mine. He's left an indelible mark on us all. I'm sending my deepest thoughts to his family. We're all going to feel his absence deeply, but I suppose we've been incredibly fortunate to have had him in our lives. His legacy will undoubtedly stay with us, that's for sure.

Professor, I never got a chance to take a class or meet you personally but had known about your work and teachings from my friends. It is deeply saddening to know you are no longer between us. You have left behind with us your immense contributions of work for us to learn which will forever be cherished. May your soul rest in peace. Condolences to the family!

I met Robert shortly after starting CERIAS at Purdue, introduced by our mutual friend, the late Gene Schultz. He readily embraced the concept that psychology played a role in cybersecurity. In the decades since, he was a steadfast supporter and participant in our efforts. More than that, he was a valued colleague willing to lend advice and support students. His passing is a loss to all of us at Purdue and, more generally, to everyone whose lives he touched with his scholarship and mentoring. I extend my deepest condolences to the members of his family and his many friends.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Satish Ukkusuri lit a candle

Robert was a colleague I deeply respected and a role model for us in so many ways. He will be dearly missed.

Memorize Prof. Proctor as a Purdue student! R.I.P.

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Laurie Hitze lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Yiheng Feng lit a candle

In memory of Robert W. Proctor, Hongmi Lee lit a candle

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.