"He was Good Company"
I didn't know Dr. Peck well, although I'd spoken with him briefly on many occasions over
the years. I recall an extended conversation during a reception at Geo-Support 2004 in
Orlando, FL when he reminded me that he had graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (where I attended graduate school) - we tend to associate him with Terzaghi
and Harvard - and he shared some stories about RPI. What always impressed me most
about Dr. Peck was his accessibility. Here he was, a world-famous and highly-regarded
engineer, the icon of geo-engineering, but he was more than willing to engage with
anyone, never the least bit aloof. In a world impressed with complex analyses, Dr. Peck
was the voice of pragmatism and practicality, a nice counterpoint to his academic genius.
Plus, he had a sense of humor, with a keen wit. He was good company. We're all richer
for having had him in our profession.
Jay Padgett, P.E., F.ASCE
