With hearts weighed down by sorrow and shadows of grief, I share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our colleague and remarkable leader, Tirza Austin, one of the true pillars of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
I received the news through an email from ASCE’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter J. O’Neil, whose message carried profound sadness and sincere memories of what Tirza meant to all of us.
Tirza was never just a name, nor an ordinary staff member. She was a sister, a friend, and an inspiring presence. My heart broke as I read her final words and felt the love and ambition she held for our engineering community.
She embodied dedication, commitment, and limitless devotion. Every effort she made was directed toward elevating our professional community, advancing engineering practices, and sharing the best knowledge with her peers.
Her warm spirit will continue to accompany us in every step, in every corner of service and contribution. We were one team in the Topic Moderators Group, sharing the responsibility of advancing our profession — and she was always a constant source of support, connection, and kindness. It is still difficult to accept that this connection has been severed forever.
I extend my condolences to her family, to the ASCE staff, and to my colleagues in the Topic Moderators Group for the loss of such an inspiring leader. Let us remember her words, carry her beautiful spirit forward, and honor her noble role in uplifting our collective work toward the highest engineering standards.
May her soul rest in peace and find eternal serenity.
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