Robert E. Collin, professor emeritus of electrical engineering and applied physics at Case Western Reserve University, contributed significantly to the development of microwave engineering with his scientific research.

The Highland Heights resident, who died of complications from lung cancer Nov. 29, 2010, at age 82, received numerous honors for his research on antenna theory, microwave engineering and applied electromagnetic theory.

He received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Schelkunoff Prize Paper Award in 1992, Electromagnetics Award in 1998 and Third Millennium Medal in 2000. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1990.

Collin chaired the electrical engineering department and served as interim dean of engineering during his tenure at Case before retiring in 1997. The university honored him with its Diekman Award for distinguished graduate teaching.

The professor wrote such classic textbooks on electromagnetics as "Antennas and Radiowave Propagation" (McGraw Hill) and "Field Theory of Guided Waves" (IEEE Press). He also penned "Foundations for Microwave Engineering" (IEEE Press), which Amazon.com describes as "an essential reference book for the practicing microwave engineer."

He was born Oct. 24, 1928, in Alberta, Canada. He held a bachelor's degree in engineering physics from the University of Saskatchewan and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of London.

Collin worked as a scientific officer for the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment before joining what was then Case Institute of Technology in 1958.

His wife, Kathleen, died in November 2004.

Collin is survived by his daughters, Patricia Osdoby and Linda; son, David; two grandchildren; brother, Harry; and sisters, Doris Radke, Margaret Jones and Florence Johnson.

Services were held at DiCicco and Sons Funeral Home in Mayfield Heights.