He received his B.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University and taught there for one year before coming to Cornell as an associate professor in 1952. He served as chairman of the Operations Research Department from 1967 to 1977 and continued teaching until his retirement in 1989. His particular professional interest was in statistical ranking and selection procedures. He authored three books and over 70 technical articles in that area.
His lifelong interest in art was reflected in an extensive collection of 20th century graphic art, much of which was donated to the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
He is survived by his wife, four children and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in Anabel Taylor Chapel, Thursday, June 6, at 4 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Robert Bechhofer Graduate Computing Laboratory Fund in the School of Operations Research, the Finger Lakes Land Trust or the American Parkinson's Disease Association.