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July 2, 2013

Professor Robert Grace Endowment for Civil & Environmental Engineering

Robert Grace – Educator, Mentor and Innovator

Dr. Robert “Bob” Grace has been an integral part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for many years. Originally from Ontario, Canada, he has served on the UH teaching faculty since 1966, where his professional interest involved marine outfalls, with a fascination for the succession of stages: environmental suitability planning, design, construction, plus operation and maintenance. His research has included  underwater experiments at sea on the interaction of wave-induced water motion with subsea structures, such as pipes and artificial reefs, work which involved more than 3,000 individual scuba dives.

Prof. Grace’s more than 45 years of teaching involved two or three courses each regular semester as well as one summer session. He has both taught and mentored three generations of engineering students. 

Dr. Grace is valued for his generosity with his time, his intellectual rigor, and even his tough approach on grading, which many former students say they came to appreciate later in their professional careers. Universally, what students remember is that they had to work hard in his classes, but that they learned and retained a lot in them as well.

Honoring Prof. Grace

Prof. Grace retired in 2013 after more than 45 years at the college. To honor his many years at UH, former students and friends are keeping his legacy strong by creating the Professor Robert Grace Endowment for Civil and Environmental Engineering.  

This endowed fund will support the department by helping to pay for operations and equipment expenses, including costs for all important items like equipment repair and maintenance fees. 

Much like Prof. Grace himself, this type of support is unassuming, but deeply valued, and vital to the day to day running of the college.

Celebrate Robert Grace’s legacy at UH

Questions? / More Information

If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.