Gilbert Roderick, associate professor emerit, civil & environmental engineering, died Oct. 16 in St. Anthony, MN. He was 89 years old.
Roderick served UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science for 30 years, during which time he was president of the American Society of Civil Engineering, Wisconsin Section, Southeast Branch (1983-85).
His colleagues at UWM recall him as a hard-working faculty member who put a high priority on teaching and service to the university.
“Gil was a devoted and excellent teacher,” said Alan Horowitz, professor emerit, civil & environmental engineering. “He was always available to junior faculty members for technical advice and professional mentoring.”
“He was always willing to contribute to the college and never said no to a request,” said Ed Beimborn, professor emerit, civil & environmental engineering.
Roderick’s path to becoming a university professor seems atypical by today’s standards, for it included being educated in a one-room Iowa schoolhouse, military service (Korean War) and working on one of the nation’s largest dams (Glen Canyon) before earning his master’s and doctoral degrees.
At UWM, he established the Geotechnical Engineering Program and the Soil Mechanics Laboratories. He also served as assistant dean for students in the College of Engineering & Applied science.