Born Jan. 27, 1937, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he received his bachelor's degree in 1959 from Brooklyn College and his master's and doctoral degrees from Purdue University. He had resided in West Lafayette since 1966.

His marriage was to Estelle Neuman on Jan. 18, 1959, in Brooklyn, and she survives.

Mr. Ringel served in a variety of academic positions throughout his career including head of the Laryngeal Research Laboratory at the University of California in Los Angeles from 1962 to 1964 and assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Wisconsin from 1964 to 1966. At Purdue University, he served as assistant professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences from 1966 to 1970; professor and head of the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences from 1970 to 1973; dean of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education from 1973 to 1986; vice president and dean of the graduate school from 1986 to 1990; executive vice president for academic affairs from 1990 to 2001 and returned to classroom teaching from 2001 to 2005.

He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Brooklyn College in 1995; Named a Fellow by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and received honors by the association in 1998; and was named the Donald S. Powers Distinguished Administrator in 1998.

Mr. Ringel was a member of the Temple Israel in West Lafayette. He had completed a Pre-Rabbinic Fellows program at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 2000, served on the board of directors and as a faculty advisor for the Hillel Foundation, served on the Home Hospital board of directors from 1978 to 1987; served on the board of directors for the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 1985; and served on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Center for Advanced Research from 1988 to 1992.

Surviving with his wife are two sons, Stuart Ringel (wife: Kerri) of Glencoe, Ill., and Mark Ringel (wife: Susan) of Pepper Pike, Ohio; and a brother, Leonard Ringel (wife: Harriett) of Gainesville, Fla.

Funeral service 10:30 a.m. Monday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Rabbi Audrey Pollack officiating. Interment Jewish Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. Monday at his family residence, 208 Rosebank Lane, WL. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren, Bradley and Richard Ringel of Pepper Pike, OH, and Steven, David and Natalie Ringel of Glencoe, IL. The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be made to Temple Israel Capital Campaign, 620 Cumberland Ave., West Lafayette, IN 47906 or the Purdue Foundation, Robert and Estelle Ringel Fund for the Ringel Gallery, 1800 Purdue Memorial Union Room B50, West Lafayette, IN 47907. www.soller-baker.com