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UH mourns loss of engineer professor

Cougar News Staff

Michael W. O'Neill, UH professor of civil engineering, died of a heart attack in his home Saturday. He was 63 years old.

"He was well liked by the college of engineering faculty and students, and we are all very saddened by the passing of Mike, but we are very fortunate to have had him as long as we did," said Raymond Flumerfelt, dean of the College of Engineering. 

O'Neill received his bachelors and masters degrees, and doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He had more than 40 years experience in researching deep foundations.

The Deep Foundations Institute honored O'Neill with the 2002 Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contributions to research in deep foundations, including deep-water drilling and strengthening bridge foundations in areas that are prone to flooding. He was also named the 1998 Karl Terzaghi Lecturer for the American Society of Civil Engineers.

"Mike O'Neill was the most distinguished professor in the College of Engineering," Flumerfelt said. "He was a real leader in the civil engineering department, and he was one of the key people in bringing the department to where it is today."

Visitation services for O'Neill will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Waltrip Funeral Home on 1414 Campbell St. 

The memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Westview Drive, and the burial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.

People can share a message with his family by e-mailing their tributes to oneill@curly.cive.uh.edu 

A UH/Michael O'Neill Memorial Fund has also been established, and contributors may send checks to the UH Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.
 

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