We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Dr. Robert (Bob) H. MacPhie, an internationally recognized researcher in antennas and propagation and a cherished former member of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Dr. MacPhie earned his PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1963 and joined the University of Waterloo shortly thereafter as an assistant professor in the Electrical Engineering Department (now the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering). He was promoted to associate professor in 1966 and to professor in 1971. After a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he retired in 1996 and was later named a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
A leading electromagnetic theoretician, Dr. MacPhie made foundational contributions to waveguide scattering theory, scattering from spherical bodies, linear antennas, and phased arrays. He was named an IEEE Fellow in 1991 for his contributions to the theory of signal processing antenna systems, and dipole antennas, and he received the IEEE Canada Outstanding Engineering Educator Award in 1999.
Beyond his academic achievements, Dr. MacPhie is remembered for his sincerity, decency, and the lasting impact he had on generations of students and colleagues. He served as PhD advisor to many, including Dr. Raafat Mansour, who reflects that Dr. MacPhie’s kindness and integrity shaped every collaboration they shared—both during graduate studies and throughout many years of continued research partnership.
Dr. MacPhie passed away on December 3, 2025, at the age of 92. His wife, Cathy, predeceased him on February 16, 2025. The two shared more than five decades of life and adventure. Married in 1969, they raised three sons—Hugh (Michelle) and Laurence (Laura) of Toronto, and David (Colleen) of Baltimore, Maryland—and delighted in their six grandchildren: Jackson, John, Emily, Beatrice, Julian, and Gabriel. Their family’s time abroad during Dr. MacPhie’s sabbaticals included memorable years in France, California, and Hong Kong.
A celebration of Dr. MacPhie’s life will be held in early January in Kitchener–Waterloo.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former students, and colleagues. Dr. MacPhie’s legacy lives on in the many lives he influenced and in the lasting contributions he made to the field of electromagnetics.