It is with great sadness that we announce that on the evening of May 5, 2020, our friend and colleague Harvey Parker passed away with his wife Karen and daughter Erica at his side. Harvey bravely fought a private two-year battle with cancer. Throughout this battle, Harvey’s outlook and spirit were positive, and he continued to work and contribute to the tunneling and underground practice and profession up until 10 days before his passing. He remarked that he may not be able to write things down but could work at a conceptual level. Of course, this comes as no surprise to those who worked with Parker throughout his distinguished career.

In November 2019, Parker was also honored by the International Tunnelling Association during it’s annual awards at the ceremony at the Hilton Downtown Miami Hotel in Miami, FL with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Parker’s career spans 45 years in the U.S. and international tunneling industry.

Parker earned a Ph.D from the University of Illinois, an M.S. degree in civil engineering from Harvard University and a B.S. in civil engineering from Auburn Polytech. He has held adjunct or visiting teaching positions at the University of Illinois and Columbia University and was the author or co-author of more than 60 publications.

Parker has made significant contributions to signature tunneling projects through leadership and expertise. He was been involved with many iconic projects including the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project in Seattle, WA, the Metrolink system in Los Angeles, CA and the inception of the Metro system in Washington, DC.

Parker’s 50 years of engineering experience included the design and construction of numerous tunnels of all sizes, types, and geology. In addition to his geotechnical expertise, he consulted on issues involving general tunneling design, environmental, risk management, planning, cost, public relations, and safety issues from an international perspective. He was primarily engaged as a member of a Board, an expert, or in a senior review capacity on planning, design and construction of major facilities for highway, transit, railroad, water and wastewater, hydroelectric, port, defense and development of surface and underground schemes in more than a dozen countries.

Dr. Parker was a recognized leader in the tunnelling industry and is especially active in the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) where he served three years as President. He has published extensively on geologic investigations for underground works including a chapter in the Tunnel Engineering Handbook and numerous papers and lectures on the subject worldwide.

Submitted by
Conrad W. Felice, Ph.D., P.E.(1), P.Eng.(2), D. GE., F. ASCE

Condolences and memories for Dr. Park can be shared here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/9171468