Dr. R. Thomas Schaub, of Highland Park, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, at 82. He was the beloved husband of 46 years to Dr. Marilyn Schaub, father of Helen Schaub and father-in-law of Dr. Reena Karani. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Jerome McNamara, and sister-in-law, Eileen McNamara, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Joan Patrice Reilly, Phyllis Ann Russell, Richard G. Schaub and Edward Jerome Schaub. For 30 years, until his retirement in 1999, Tom taught Biblical studies, world religions and Palestinian archaeology in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He was also co-director of the Expedition to the Dead Sea Plain in Jordan and the author of numerous publications of the results of the expedition, including the volumes "Bab edh-Dhra': Excavations in the Cemetery Directed by Paul Lapp" and "Bab edh-Dhra': Excavations at the Town Site (1975-1981)," both co-authored with Dr. Walter Rast. As an early proponent of multi-disciplinary archaeological research and academic collaboration, Tom was a leading educator and mentored many young scholars. His contributions to the field were honored in the 2011 volume "Daily Life, Materiality and Complexity in Early Urban Communities of the Southern Levant: Papers in Honor of Walter E. Rast and R. Thomas Schaub," edited by Meredith Chesson.

Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at McCABE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 6214 Walnut St., Shadyside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in St. Bede Church, 509 S. Dallas Ave., Pittsburgh, followed by interment at Homewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The American Schools of Oriental Research, 656 Beacon St., Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02215-2010 (www.asor.org). www.mccabebrothers.com.

(Published in Pittsburgh Tribune Review from Oct. 21 to Oct. 23, 2015)