Richard Alston Parmelee

Richard Alston Parmelee passed away in Northbrook, Illinois on February 12, 2022.  He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 7, 1929, the son of Theron S. Parmelee and Marjorie (Whiteley) Parmelee.  He is survived by his wife, Carolyn (King) Parmelee and daughter, Renee A. Parmelee.  He was preceded in death by son, Rodd G. Parmelee.

He attended East High School in Salt Lake City and went on to attend the University of Utah receiving B.S.C.E. and M.S. Degrees in Civil Engineering.

He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity and in recognition of his many extra-curricular activities during undergraduate years he was inducted into the University’s Beehive Society.  He served as a Lieutenant in the Civil Engineer Corps, in the U.S. Navy assigned to the Amphibious Construction Battalion.

After working as a structural designer, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, receiving his PhD, degree in Structural Engineering and Structural Design.

Dr. Parmelee was appointed to the Civil Engineering faculty at Northwestern University where he was responsible for developing the structural engineering design option for the department.  He was active in research of wind and earthquake effects on structures, and developments in the analysis and design of, the dynamic soil/structure interaction phenomena.  He also carried out research on human perception of motion and developed design guidelines for these effects.

After 20 years of teaching and research, Dr. Parmelee resigned his position as Professor of Civil Engineering to accept the position of Vice President of Chief Structural Engineer with Alfred Benesch & Company, a top 500 Consulting Engineering firm headquartered in Chicago.  During his nine year tenure with Benesch, he was involved in development and the design of structural systems for several high rise buildings and special structures.

Dr. Parmelee has received numerous awards for his technical and educational contributions.  Additionally, in 1984 he received the “Chicago Civil Engineer of the Year” award for the Illinois Section of A.S.C.E., in 1988 he was the recipient of the “Structural Engineer of the Year” award from the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois.  In 1992 he received the “Distinguished Service” award from the National Council of Examiners of Engineering and Surveying.  Four years later, he was the recipient of the annual “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

He was a Licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois, Utah and Nevada and a Registered Civil Engineer in California.  From 1986 to 1993 he served as Chairman of the Illinois Structural Engineering Board, and in 1989 Dr. Parmelee was appointed to Governor Thompson’s Earthquake Preparedness Task Force.

He was devoted to his family.  He was a member of the Glenview Community Church.  His main hobbies were cooking (especially Italian pasta), studying the Indians of the Southwest, trains and railroads, and genealogy.  He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Utah Pioneers.

Services will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St., Glenview, IL 60025 or Covenant Living Benevolent Fund, 2625 Techny Road, Northbrook, IL 60062.