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Plastics color pioneer Robert A. Charvat passed away

One of the early pioneers in the area of plastics colorants, Robert Alan "Bob" Charvat, 83, died at his home January 9, 2014, after a long battle with heart disease.Bob was born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, OH, and trained in mechanical engineering. He spent his career in the field of chemical engineering in colorants for plastics, where he made his mark and remained active as a consultant and teacher until his death.

Clare Goldsberry

February 21, 2014

2 Min Read
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One of the early pioneers in the area of plastics colorants, Robert Alan "Bob" Charvat, 83, died at his home January 9, 2014, after a long battle with heart disease.

Bob was born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, OH, and trained in mechanical engineering. He spent his career in the field of chemical engineering in colorants for plastics, where he made his mark and remained active as a consultant and teacher until his death.

charvet.jpgBob was a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers starting in 1957, and received the Achievement Award from the SPE Color and Appearance Division in 1985. He became an Elected Fellow in 2000, and achieved Emeritus status in 2002. Bob served on the SPE Board of Directors 2003-2006, and Past CAD Board of Directors Chair, as well as serving on the CAD Education Committee and was General Chair of the CAD RETEC, the Endowment Committee, and the Inter-Society Color Council among others He is also listed in Who's Who in Plastics and Polymers.

As an educator, Bob served on the Terra Community College Color of Plastics Advisory Board for Terra Community College, the College Adjunct Faculty and the Terra College Foundation Board of Directors. He was editor of The Coloring of Plastics: The Fundamentals, Volume I, sponsored by the SPE CAD division. Even now his bible, The Coloring of Plastics: Volume II, is taking final shape thanks to his friends and colleagues who are seeing it through to publication.

Bob is survived by his wife, Nancy Jean (Neukom) Charvat, two daughters, and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael John Charvat.

A celebration of his life is scheduled Saturday, March 1, 2014, 2 pm, at the Bay Lodge, 492 Bradley Rd., Bay Village, OH. Memorials may be made to the Society of Plastics Engineers' Bob Charvat Memorial Scholarship at memorialwebsites.legacy.com/Robert_Charvat/homepage.aspx. Click on donations.

About the Author

Clare Goldsberry

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

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