Ricardo Francisco Garzia Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Students in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

The Ricardo Francisco Garzia Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Students in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering was established in 2009 (and revised in 2017) by Garzia’s family as a loving tribute to Garzia, and in appreciation for the deep belief in the value of higher education he instilled in his children and grandchildren.

Ricardo Francisco Garzia was born September 19, 1926 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he attended college and graduate school and began a long and distinguished career as an educator, engineer and executive. Garzia earned a BSEE from the Otto Krause School in Buenos Aires (1945), an MSEE from Universidad Nacional de La Plata Argentina (1950), and completed coursework towards a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Universidad Nacional de La Plata Argentina (1953).

Garzia began his career in education as a professor of the Electrical Engineering Department at the National Technological University in Buenos Aires. He later became chairman of the department and served on the University Senate. He was responsible for the creation of the University’s first computer center in 1964, where he served as director, and the Center for Technological Research two years later. While on sabbatical leave from the University, and on a Fellowship granted by the National Center for Technical and Scientific Investigations in Argentina, he joined the Electronics Systems Laboratory at MIT as a research assistant. He worked on pulsed analog computers and automatic control mechanisms and pursued graduate studies.

In 1967, Garzia moved to the U.S. with his wife, Julia Elisa Berrud de Garzia, and their four children: Liliana, Silvia, Mario and Fernando. Three of the Garzia children – Liliana, Silvia and Mario – went on to earn bachelors and masters degrees from The University of Akron, while Fernando went on to achieve advanced degrees from other Ohio universities. Ricardo Garzia also took classes at The University of Akron in the College of Engineering’s Ph.D. program, as did Julia Garzia, but within UA’s University College. All his grandchildren continue in his tradition pursuing bachelors and advanced degrees in various fields.

Garzia’s first job in the U.S. was as principal engineer and leader of the Computer Applications group at General Dynamics in Rochester, N.Y. He served there for two years prior to joining Computer Sciences Corporation in Huntsville, Alabama, as a Senior Computer Scientist working on fault detection methods for the Space Shuttle and Space Station and organizing the first Workshop on Computer Methods for Fault Isolation in 1970.

In 1971, he joined the Babcock & Wilcox Company in Barberton, Ohio, serving as manager of technical applications until 1984 when he joined AT&T Bell Labs. There, he worked alongside his son, Mario. Garzia was a member of Bell Labs’ technical staff until 1989. In 1990, he founded JBG Software, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio, serving as the company’s executive director, working on new advances in discrete event simulation. Throughout his time in the corporate sector, he continued pursuing his love for education and teaching. He lectured at several universities worldwide and also held part-time teaching positions at various universities, including The University of Rochester in Rochester N.Y., and The Ohio State University and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Ricardo Francisco Garzia was a senior member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He held positions of chairman and vice chairman of the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Simulation and served as associate editor of several IEEE publications. He was also a member of the IEEE Distinguished Lecture Tour of Region 9. In addition, he was a member of the Operations Research Society of America (now known as the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences INFORMS).

Garzia has been widely recognized in his field, receiving numerous awards and honors, including the Engineering Recognition Award for Outstanding Technical Contribution at Bell Laboratories in 1987, the recipient of IEEE’s Computer Society Certificate of Appreciation (1986) for his work on behalf of the society and appearing in various Who’s Who publications. Garzia has published in numerous books, professional journals and publications, and co-authored a book with his son, Dr. Mario R. Garzia, titled: “Network Modeling, Simulation and Analysis,” (1990). Ricardo Francisco Garzia passed away in April 1995.

The Ricardo Francisco Garzia Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Students in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering was established in 2009 by the Garzia family to assist promising graduate students in applied mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering. Scholarship applications will be accepted from first-year graduate students in applied mathematics, computer science or electrical engineering who have a 3.75 or higher undergraduate GPA, or from second-year or beyond graduate students in the above named disciplines, with 3.5 or higher graduate GPA.

Selection of The Ricardo Francisco Garzia Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Students in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering recipient will be made by Dr. Mario R. Garzia and his mother, Mrs. Julia Garzia, in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Aid. If for any reason Dr. Mario R. Garzia cannot make the selection, the responsibility is delegated to Dr. Garzia’s wife, and if Dr. Garzia’s wife is unable to make the selection the responsibility is delegated to his children.