University of Tennessee Professor Emeritus Bruce Tschantz passed away on June 28. Tschantz taught water resources courses in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 1965 through his retirement in 2002. After retiring from UT, Bruce ran an active consulting engineering practice until his death. As a graduate student at New Mexico State University, he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Albuquerque and designed the US’s northernmost dam in Alaska.
In the early 1970s he worked to establish Tennessee’s first dam safety policy and was appointed as the first Chief of Federal Dam Safety in 1980. He was an ASCE fellow, and in 2016, was recognized by the American Society of Dam Safety Officers for lifetime achievement.
Bruce enjoyed fly fishing, making BBQ, hiking, and playing the harmonica. He cherished his family and friends, who valued his insight, moral character, and wit. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Penny, sister, sons, and grandchildren.
“Bruce’s colleagues will always remember him for his passion for preparing the next generation of engineers and for his commitment to improving the safety of our nation’s dams,” says CEE Department Head Chris Cox. “He was an outstanding role model for the notion that the work of the civil engineer is to serve the public.”