Steven C. Bass, professor emeritus in the University of Notre Dame’s College of Engineering, died April 18 (Thursday) at his home on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. He was 75.
A native of Indianapolis, Bass graduated from Purdue University, receiving his bachelor’s (1966), master’s (1968) and doctorate (1971) in electrical engineering.
Following his graduation, he joined the faculty of Purdue where he taught for 17 years, publishing approximately 70 technical papers and serving as a consultant to industry and governmental organizations, such as the U.S. Air Force, Philips Laboratories, IBM, the MITRE Corp., the National Science Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Indiana Corporation for Science and Technology.
He left Purdue to become principal engineer of MITRE and also joined the faculty of George Mason University, where he served as professor of computer science and engineering for several years.
In 1991, Bass became the inaugural Schubmehl-Prein Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame, helping found that department. While at the University, he served as a fellow for the Center for Social Concerns and was listed in American Men and Women of Science, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who in Technology Today. He was also honored as a life fellow by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for innovations in education and research in circuits, systems and signal processing.
Bass retired from Notre Dame in 2001 and moved to St. John, where he continued to teach and innovate. He taught computer science at the University of the Virgin Islands from 2001to 2004 and later founded StJohnCondos.com.
He will be laid to rest at the Cedar Grove Cemetery on the Notre Dame campus.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in St. John, the St. John Animal Care Center or the charity of your choice.