In memoriam: Robert Bryant, CME professor
CME PROFESSOR
ROBERT H. BRYANT
The Memorial Service is Sunday 01/17/2010 at 2:00 PM at Robert’s church,
North Shore United
Methodist Church
213 Hazel Ave. (corner of Greenleaf and Hazel Avenues)
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
1/07/2010
Robert Bryant “was a cornerstone of the department.”
From UIC News, Paul Francuch
Robert Bryant, 72, a leading structural engineering consultant and emeritus faculty member in civil and materials engineering, died Jan. 6.
“He was a cornerstone of the department,” said Farhad Ansari, professor and department head who first met Bryant as a UIC graduate student.
Chien Wu, professor of civil and materials engineering, remembers Bryant as “such a special, yet ordinary man, who was most dedicated to his work and family.”
Longtime colleague Donald Lemke, associate professor of civil and materials engineering, said Bryant believed a university should concentrate on the quality, rather than quantity, of its graduates.
“He dedicated his time to teaching, spending long hours preparing lectures that would illuminate the subject matter,” Lemke said.
“He saw engineering as a profession, rather than a skilled trade.”
Bryant was an advanced structural analysis consultant to the engineering firm MWH, a world leader in dam design.
He worked on Venezuela’s Guri hydropower project, Colorado’s Strontia Springs dam and Virginia’s Bath County pumped storage projects, and Chicago’s Tunnel and Reservoir plan.
He joined UIC’s faculty in 1963 as an instructor in theoretical and applied mechanics. He retired in 1999 as associate professor emeritus, but continued teaching part-time.
Last November, Bryant was on hand when the department’s library was dedicated in his honor.
Winner of a Faculty Adviser of the Year award, Bryant advised the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and headed the Civil Engineering Professional Advisory Council.
Bryant earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from UIUC and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Northwestern University.
A memorial will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at North Shore United Methodist Church in Glencoe.
I am saddened to announce the passing of our dear colleague, Professor Robert H. Bryant.
Professor Bryant has been the cornerstone of the Department. Kind colleague, a great teacher of structural engineering, and affectionate adviser and mentor to our students. He will be missed.
Farhad Ansari, Phd
Professor & Head
Civil & Materials Engineering
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL 60607
Dear UIC College of Engineering Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends,
I am saddened to report to you that Professor Bob Bryant passed away yesterday (Wednesday) morning.
On November 11, 2009, the CME department dedicated its library to Dr. Robert H. Bryant.
Dr. Bryant, a great teacher, an honorable and respected professor in the discipline of structural engineering, and
a great attribute to the CME department, joined the Department in 1963 and retired in 1999.
Sincerely,
Peter C. Nelson, Ph.D.
Dean of Engineering
University of Illinois Chicago
Dear Dean & Colleagues,
It is a very sad news that Professor Robert Bryant had passed away.
I express my deep condolences to his family, friends, and his former students.
We knew each other for 25 years and I was impressed with Robert’s personality and with his very friendly temper.
In the old ERF building, our offices were neighboring and I had the privilege to talk to each other very often.
Robert had such a mild temper that it was impossible to imagine that he might not be in friendly relations with somebody.
It seems to me that Professor Bryant was a member of a family with low income and could overcome great difficulties to get the best education.
He was very proud of his older brother, a brave marine, both of them were religious people with high morals.
I will highly appreciate if my good memories about Professor Bryant will become known to the colleagues of our College.
With best wishes,
Faydor L. Litvin
MIE Distinguished Professor Emeritus