Ode to Mom and Dad

I’ve always been confused how parents have been portrayed in our culture. In contrast, my parents were nothing short of incredible. They blended traditional and contemporary ideas through copious amounts of thoughtful communication. They were engaged in my upbringing with clear direction from their ever-present moral compass. After two years without them, I have a renewed reverence for both my parents for all the things they did for me. In short, they provided me with and extra ordinary living experience and established the positive direction of my life. I trace who I am to my parents and will be forever grateful.

Thanks Bob and Paula, I miss you!

Always your son,

George R. Koerner

Dr Bob Koerner, A Pioneer and Legend to Geotechnical and Geosynthetic Engineering

I graduated from Drexel BS Civil in 1984 and MS Geotechnical/Geosynthetic Engineering 1986. I had Bob for several undergrad classes in geotechnical design after which Bob's focus to GSI and grad classes only. I was truly blessed to have Bob as teacher and mentor in both undergrad and grad school at Drexel. Our grad class of 1986, which include Rob Swan, George Koerner, John Robbins and several others were the first grad class at Drexel to come out with a focus on geotechnical and geosynthetic engineering and material testing. In addition, Bob being at the forefront with EPA and consulting to them on Solid Waste Subtitle D regs, Bob developed a three course grad sequence on Hazardous Waste Materials Design and Management. A first of its kind anywhere. Again Bob was a pioneer. Our grad class assisted Bob by reviewing his first Designing with Geosynthetics book which has been in reprint (6 times) since first publication. It was a ground breaking book by Bob, again a first of its kind. I still use it til this day. Bob was giant in geosynthetic design and testing. I was truly blessed to have worked with Bob for about 3 years at Drexel. Bob made me the geotechnical engineer I am today. What a blessing to have known and worked with him. My industry has suffered a major loss with his passing. My deepest sympathies and prayers to the Koerner family for their loss of both Bob and Paula. Very sad indeed.
Michael Monteleone

Dr. Koerner, a great man

As a Civil Engineering student at Drexel in the late 60s I was in one of Dr. Koerner's first classes after he returned from studies at Duke. Nobody knew what to expect but boy were we pleasantly surprised. He made an indelible impression on me and my classmates and I'm pretty sure none of us ever forgot those classes.
Later our paths would cross many times mostly through ASCE. He and I rowed in a student concrete canoe completion (faculty category) and although we finished a respectable second, I'm sure we would have won if I had been in as good shape as he.
I was honored to be selected to place his name in nomination for the Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year in 1980 and he represented the engineering community with grace and dignity during his term.
I also knew Paula, mostly through ASCE and they made a great couple. They will be missed.
My condolences to the Koerner family in this time of sadness.
Joseph Syrnick
A grateful student

Remembering Dr. Koerner for his pioneering thinking, relentrless pursue of excellence - a role model for students and faculty

Many of the students who went through Drexel may recall some of the professors, some fondly, some not. But over the years there have been some of them who simply have been giants in shaping the University. As time marches irreversibly forward, some of them reach the end of their life. A life rich with passion for excellence and full of accomplishments. Some time ago we said good bye to Dr. Alan Lawley a pillar of the Materials Department. Now it is time to remember and celebrate the life of Bob Koerner. Professor Koerner was a pure force in Civil Engineering. Together with Alan he was part of the DoD project Themis that put Drexel on the map for powder metallurgy in the late 60s to early 70s. He was one of the first people who saw the connection between geomechanics and particulate processing. He applied acoustic emission to soil deformation (in the early 70s (!)). He was the inaugural recipient of the Neal Rice award from IBA in 1979. He went on to form the Geosynthetic Institute and continued as Emeritus Professor at Drexel. Many of our students were recipients of his generosity as Koerner Fellows.
It has been a sincere honor to cross paths in life with him. My sincere condolences to the family. Rest in Peace, Professor Koerner.

Antonios Zavaliangos
A. W. Grosvenor Professor
Materials Science and Engineering
Drexel University