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Photograph of the Bob and Betty Beyster Building, April 12, 2023, by Andrew Wang
A Legacy of Giving
A Legacy of Giving
by Andrew Wang
Walking through the buildings on North Campus, one sign always caught my eye: the Bob and Betty Beyster Building. I remembered the name because it sounded funny to me – it was difficult to pronounce in a tongue-twister sort of way, with alliteration too excessive to roll smoothly off the tongue. When I decided to wander in one day, I was pleasantly surprised by the natural lighting and lively study spaces inside. It was my curiosity that drove me to research the building’s namesakes.
Dr. J. Robert "Bob" Beyster was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1924. After enlisting in the Navy and serving on a destroyer in Virginia during World War II, Beyster completed his education at the University of Michigan, receiving a BSE in engineering and physics, a master’s in physics, and a doctorate in physics (needs citation). Beyster moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico as a research physicist after his graduation in 1950, where he met his future wife Betty, a graduate of UT Austin and a fellow researcher (Steele and Fikes). The couple got married in 1955, and in 1969 Robert left his position at General Atomics to start the Science Applications International Corporation, a technology contractor and the largest employee-owned research firm in the United States ("Our Founder").
“Bob and Betty Beyster” (circa 2013). Photo courtesy: JCVI.
In a 1998 interview, Robert spoke on some of the benefits of his company’s ownership model: “We were really all interested, from the top to the bottom, in the research that was going on. That benefited the customer more and was professionally rewarding” ("Dr. Beyster interview"). It was precisely this employee-oriented system along with strong leadership from Robert himself that made the company so successful. The couple began donating to philanthropic causes in education and research across the country, including a $15-million donation to the University of Michigan (needs citation). In 2014, Robert passed away at the age of 90. Betty remains in La Jolla, California in the couple’s home (Steele and Fikes). She is "a member of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, and an active volunteer and philanthropist" ("About Bob and Betty").
Built in 2005, the Beyster Building was created to house collaborative spaces, offices, classrooms, and labs for the College of Computer Science and Engineering. Its central student area is lit by a huge four-story atrium and overlooked by four spiral staircases. To commemorate the contributions of the couple to the school, the building was named after Robert and Betty in 2012 ("Bob and Betty"). Through their contributions, they have also funded the J. Robert Beyster Fellows Program, which funds the research and development of graduate students in engineering and computer science ("About Bob and Betty"). The couple has also funded “experimental biofuels, cloud computing and security, and gene therapeutics” within the school ("Bob and Betty").
The historical meanings of Bob and Betty’s names are extremely fitting to their legacies. Betty is short for Elizabeth, a Greek name derived from the Hebrew Old Testament, which means “oath,” according to BehindTheName.com. Many famous historical figures share the name, including Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who used her wealth in the 12th century to help the poor, something that Betty has been able to emulate through her philanthropy ("Elizabeth"). Bob is short for Robert, a name with Germanic origins that first became popular in the 13th century after the Normans introduced the name to Britain, according to BehindTheName.com. Many noble figures during the Middle Ages have carried the name, including Robert the Bruce who led Scotland to independence in a civil war against Britain in the 14th century. The name stems from two words, “bright” and “fame,” words that are fitting for the legacy that Robert left behind ("Robert").
Robert Beyster lived an extraordinary life, making a name for himself and contributing greatly to education and science, Betty by his side as a philanthropist. The Bob and Betty Beyster Building stands as a testament to their achievements, forever cementing them into the university’s history.
Works Cited
“About Bob and Betty.” Beyster Impact, https://beyster.engin.umich.edu/about/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
“Bob and Betty Beyster” In Memory of Dr. J. Robert Beyster, 30 Mar. 2015, https://www.jcvi.org/blog/memory-dr-j-robert-beyster. Accessed 5 Apr. 2023.
“Bob and Betty Beyster Building: Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan.” Computer Science and Engineering, https://cse.engin.umich.edu/about/beyster-building/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
“Dr. Beyster interview on employee ownership.” 16 June 1998. J. Robert Beyster Collection: Selections. MSS 658. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego. https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb1852439g. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
“Elizabeth.” BehindTheName.com. https://www.behindthename.com/name/elizabeth. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
“Our Founder.” Leidos, https://www.leidos.com/company/history/our-founder. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
“Robert.” BehindTheName.com. https://www.behindthename.com/name/robert. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
Steele, Jeanette, and Bradley J. Fikes. “SAIC Founder J. Robert Beyster Dies.” San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sept. 2016, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/people/sdut-beyster-saic-dies-2014dec22-htmlstory.html. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
Wang, Andrew. Photograph of the Bob and Betty Beyster Building. 12 Apr. 2023. Author's personal collection.
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