FIGG mourns passing of industry leader

A well-known and highly regarded engineer in the bridge industry, Bob Wellner, passed away suddenly on Feb. 9. Wellner was a senior vice president of FIGG Engineering Group.

Born in St. Clair, Pa., on July 28, 1928, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Civil Engineering and achieved the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

Between 1954 and 1983, Wellner was employed at Bethlehem Steel and retired as the manager of construction marketing. After retiring, he began a second career by joining FIGG where he was involved in bridges such as the Clark Bridge over the Mississippi River at Alton, Ill.; the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Bridge near St. Georges, Del.; the I-93 Central Artery in Boston, Mass.; the Natchez Trace Parkway Arches near Nashville, Tenn.; Sagadahoc Bridge Bridge connecting Bath and Woolwich, Maine; Victory Bridge over the Raritan River in New Jersey; JFKAirTrain in New York City; and bridges for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission over the Susquehanna River and the Allegheny River. He was a registered professional engineer in 14 states.