Robert Coleman Stabler, 76, of Skillman, N.J., died January 20 at home after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary; children Julie Hull (Tom), Ted (Martha Embrey), Larry (Betsy), Peggy Fischer, and Peter (Martha); 10 grandchildren; his sister, Elizabeth; and brother, George.

He graduated from Yale University in 1955 and earned a PhD. in theoretical physics from Cornell University in 1960. Mr. Stabler worked for Ford Aerospace in Newport Beach, David Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, Smith Barney in New York, and Penvest Company in Princeton. He dedicated much of his time to research in theoretical physics and published several papers in Physical Review Letters. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Stabler had a love of the mountains and the home he built in Breckenridge, where he and Mary lived from 1997 to 2009. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Princeton Hospice Program at Princeton HealthCare System Foundation.