Dr. Harvey F. Ludwig passed away this week at 94. CWEA is proud and grateful to have such a distinguished environmental engineer and world thinker among its past presidents and lifetime members. Dr. Ludwig’s legacy to the water environmental movement – particularly his unprecedented work in bridging the East-West global divide – cannot be overstated.  Harvey published hundreds of writings in peer-reviewed journals, many of which are captured in the 2-volume set, Manual of Environmental Research for Developing Countries. One common theme in his work emphasized that significant differences exist between the appropriate technologies that are required for solving environmental problems in developing and industrialized nations. His passion and curiosity grew throughout his life, as demonstrated by the breadth of his managed projects in nearly all environmental subjects. Harvey’s consulting career spanned over 60 years as Founder and President of Engineering-Science, Inc. and Seatec International. Since 1973, he resided in Bangkok with his wife, Vanida.

Sad news today for the wastewater community. From a Vanderbuilt University announcement…

William Wesley Eckenfelder Jr., deemed the ‘godfather’ of industrial wastewater management by many of his colleagues, former students and peers, died March 28 in Nashville. He was 83.

A memorial service will be held April 1 at the Marshall Donnelly Combs Funeral Home. Visitation is 2-4 p.m. followed by the service.

Eckenfelder was known internationally as a pioneer in the field of water treatment and a leading authority in industrial wastewater management. In addition to founding several companies, he was an environmental engineering professor at Manhattan College, the University of Texas-Austin and Vanderbilt University.

There are nice interviews with Dr. Eckenfelder on the WaterWorld website and in the 2000 issue of Quarterly from Brown and Caldwell.

Dr. Eckenfelder is the namesake for WEF’s Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award.

You can leave your rememberance in a comment to this post, simply click the comment link…

Kimberly Raye Eades  passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at home and in the comfort of her family. She will be greatly missed.

Born in Oklahoma City and graduating from Oklahoma University, she traveled to Costa Rico before moving to Carlsbad in 2000. She pursued a career in water and waste water treatment engineering. The love and excitement she had in her career mimicked the joys she found in life. She was an active member in the AAUW women’s organization as well as several organizations such as CWEA and APWA in active chair positions in the civil and waste water engineering field. Her joy in helping to organize the annual dinner dance for CWEA was one in a series of challenges she loved within these groups. Her special ability to bring joy to everyone she met will always be her legacy.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; her two daughters, Marisa and Gina; her grandchildren, David and Ava; her mother and father, Paula and Larry; her sisters, Tamatha and Brandi; and her brother, Scott.

Ray Hardy, a founding senior partner of MISCO in southern California, lost his battle with cancer and passed away in his home on October 10, 2009.  Ray started up the southern California division of MISCO in 1978, worked alone for the first year, growing the company to be one of the most successful and respected rep firms in the water and wastewater treatment industry. 

Ray is well known nationally throughout this industry and regarded as an industry leader.  He was an honor graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering.  He has served on several Boards of Directors for various companies, served as an officer of CWEA, and mentored many young professionals.  

In addition to Ray’s professional achievements, he will probably be most remembered by his quick wit, always had a smile, always kind, his wise business judgment, and of course, that irreverent sense of humor that only Ray could get away with!  

Ray is survived by his two children: Mike, who is now Division Manager of MISCO in southern California, and Karen Hardy Willis – and four grandchildren.  

Those of us who have had the privilege of working with Ray will miss him dearly.

Los Angeles clean water advocate Dorothy Green, 79,  passed away on Monday. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued the following statement:

Los Angeles has lost a giant of the environmental movement in the passing of Dorothy Green. As one of the founders of Heal the Bay to her work on the Los Angeles Water and Power Commission where she authored important works protecting California’s water, she brought passion, commitment and brilliance to her work to heal the environment. Through her long illness and to her last days, she never stopped advocating for the people and the health of our planet.

LA Times obit.

Dorothy Green recently published a Los Angeles Times opinion piece about the city’s need to protect clean water. Her story is here.