Billy J Hartz, professor emeritus, civil engineer and inventor, died at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham at age 84.
He was born in Cavalier, North Dakota. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse and culminated in a PhD from the University of California at Berkley.
In 1955 he joined the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington. He retired in 1983, but continued to teach part-time into the mid-1990's.
Dr. Hartz was internationally recognized for his work in finite element analysis, his research on the dynamics of floating structures, and other contributions to his field. He became a controversial figure after the Hood Canal Floating Bridge sank in 1979.
A dedicated and demanding teacher, he encouraged his students to think creatively. He set an example for of this as the inventor of the Terrafoil, an elevated mass transit system, and the Billy Board, a rotating exercise device for improving balance.
In 2002, he moved from Seattle to Bellingham. In the fall of 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. At a reception at the University of Washington in May 2011, a student scholarship was created in his name. This event brought a note of celebration to the final phase of his life. He had an open mind and heart and will be remembered for his irrepressible joie de vivre.
He is survived by two sons: Warren (Edie) Hartz and Richard Hartz; a daughter, Laurie (Tom) Bridge; and three grandchildren: Kristen, Lisa and Kyle Hartz.
A memorial will be held at the Amadeus Project, 1209 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham on Saturday, July 23rd at 1:30 p.m.
He was born in Cavalier, North Dakota. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse and culminated in a PhD from the University of California at Berkley.
In 1955 he joined the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington. He retired in 1983, but continued to teach part-time into the mid-1990's.
Dr. Hartz was internationally recognized for his work in finite element analysis, his research on the dynamics of floating structures, and other contributions to his field. He became a controversial figure after the Hood Canal Floating Bridge sank in 1979.
A dedicated and demanding teacher, he encouraged his students to think creatively. He set an example for of this as the inventor of the Terrafoil, an elevated mass transit system, and the Billy Board, a rotating exercise device for improving balance.
In 2002, he moved from Seattle to Bellingham. In the fall of 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. At a reception at the University of Washington in May 2011, a student scholarship was created in his name. This event brought a note of celebration to the final phase of his life. He had an open mind and heart and will be remembered for his irrepressible joie de vivre.
He is survived by two sons: Warren (Edie) Hartz and Richard Hartz; a daughter, Laurie (Tom) Bridge; and three grandchildren: Kristen, Lisa and Kyle Hartz.
A memorial will be held at the Amadeus Project, 1209 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham on Saturday, July 23rd at 1:30 p.m.
Billy J Hartz, professor emeritus, civil engineer and inventor, died at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham at age 84.
He was born in Cavalier, North Dakota. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse and culminated in a PhD from the University of California at Berkley.
In 1955 he joined the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington. He retired in 1983, but continued to teach part-time into the mid-1990's.
Dr. Hartz was internationally recognized for his work in finite element analysis, his research on the dynamics of floating structures, and other contributions to his field. He became a controversial figure after the Hood Canal Floating Bridge sank in 1979.
A dedicated and demanding teacher, he encouraged his students to think creatively. He set an example for of this as the inventor of the Terrafoil, an elevated mass transit system, and the Billy Board, a rotating exercise device for improving balance.
In 2002, he moved from Seattle to Bellingham. In the fall of 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. At a reception at the University of Washington in May 2011, a student scholarship was created in his name. This event brought a note of celebration to the final phase of his life. He had an open mind and heart and will be remembered for his irrepressible joie de vivre.
He is survived by two sons: Warren (Edie) Hartz and Richard Hartz; a daughter, Laurie (Tom) Bridge; and three grandchildren: Kristen, Lisa and Kyle Hartz.
A memorial will be held at the Amadeus Project, 1209 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham on Saturday, July 23rd at 1:30 p.m.
He was born in Cavalier, North Dakota. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse and culminated in a PhD from the University of California at Berkley.
In 1955 he joined the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington. He retired in 1983, but continued to teach part-time into the mid-1990's.
Dr. Hartz was internationally recognized for his work in finite element analysis, his research on the dynamics of floating structures, and other contributions to his field. He became a controversial figure after the Hood Canal Floating Bridge sank in 1979.
A dedicated and demanding teacher, he encouraged his students to think creatively. He set an example for of this as the inventor of the Terrafoil, an elevated mass transit system, and the Billy Board, a rotating exercise device for improving balance.
In 2002, he moved from Seattle to Bellingham. In the fall of 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. At a reception at the University of Washington in May 2011, a student scholarship was created in his name. This event brought a note of celebration to the final phase of his life. He had an open mind and heart and will be remembered for his irrepressible joie de vivre.
He is survived by two sons: Warren (Edie) Hartz and Richard Hartz; a daughter, Laurie (Tom) Bridge; and three grandchildren: Kristen, Lisa and Kyle Hartz.
A memorial will be held at the Amadeus Project, 1209 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham on Saturday, July 23rd at 1:30 p.m.
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