Robert “Bob” Maxfield, a pioneering engineer, co-founder of ROLM Corporation and esteemed Rice University graduate and past board of trustees member, passed away Aug. 13 near his home in Marble Falls, Texas. His career and contributions to the fields of engineering and technology have left an indelible mark on both academia and industry.
Born in 1942 and hailing from Wichita Falls, Texas, Maxfield’s early academic pursuits led him to Rice, where he earned his B.A. (1963) and B.S. (1964) in electrical engineering. He later received his M.S. (1966) and Ph.D. (1969) from Stanford University.
“Bob’s legacy of professional achievements, volunteerism — including service on the Rice Board of Trustees — and generous financial support have made an incredible mark on Rice and will have an enduring impact in the decades to come,” said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. “Rice would not be what it is without visionaries like Bob, and his legacy is forever embedded in the academic journeys of all who pass through the George R. Brown School of Engineering.”
Maxfield’s time at Rice was formative and laid the foundation for a distinguished career characterized by innovation and leadership. Maxfield’s passion for technology and entrepreneurship drove him to co-found ROLM Corporation with fellow Rice graduates Gene Richeson ’62, Ken Oshman ’62 and Walter Loewenstern ’59.
Their corporation was aptly named for the first letter of each founder’s surname. ROLM started operations in 1969 in Santa Clara, California, to design and manufacture ruggedized computers. Its focus expanded into business telecommunications, successfully challenging behemoth AT&T and becoming renowned as a leader in both fields. The company was acquired by IBM in 1984 in the biggest Silicon Valley deal at the time.
“When we started, we took on AT&T, but we were willing to start in a niche. We were putting computer intelligence into a switching system, which nobody had done before, and it turned out to be a huge success,” Maxfield said during a fireside chat at Rice in 2022.
Maxfield also had a brief stint as a venture partner with Kleiner Perkins in 1988, and remained a lifelong mentor and startup investor for companies and leaders he believed in.
But Maxfield’s impact extended far beyond his professional achievements. He was passionate about fostering the next generation of engineers and innovators, including at his alma mater. His contributions to engineering education were highlighted by his active involvement in Rice’s academic community, where he maintained a lasting relationship through mentorship and support. He served on the Rice Board of Trustees from 1994-2012 and was a member of the School of Engineering Advisory Board until his death.
Maxfield’s legacy was further cemented with his many contributions to OpenStax, the Rice-founded nonprofit and world’s largest publisher of open education resources, and the refurbishment and reopening of Maxfield Hall at Rice in 2021. Both stand as lasting tributes to his dedication and enduring influence on the institution and its mission of advancing engineering education and research, said Luay Nakhleh, dean of the School of Engineering.
“Bob was a generous supporter of engineering at Rice, in particular OpenStax and Maxfield Hall’s renovation,” Nakhleh said. “I have benefited tremendously from his advice and encouragement during his service to the school through its advisory board and am so grateful for everything he has done for the Rice School of Engineering.”
Nakhleh added that Maxfield and his ROLM co-founders were widely credited with “starting up Silicon Valley,” and that spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation has been core to Rice Engineering for decades thanks to pioneers like him.
In 2017, Maxfield was honored with Rice’s Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes significant and sustained voluntary contributions toward the advancement of the university.
Maxfield is survived by his wife, Kathie; daughter, Melinda, and her husband; two granddaughters; and a sister and brother and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Mary Jane.
A memorial service will be held Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Sharon Heights Country Club, 2900 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California. Memorials may be made to OpenStax, the Santa Fe Institute or the Mary Jane Maxfield Fund at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.