Obituary
 

World Renowned Geotechnical Engineer, Prof. Victor de Mello, passes away The following notice is an excerpt from the International Society for Rock Mechanics. http://www.isrm.net/noticias/detalhes.php?id=167  and other references. It is with great sadness, we report that Professor Victor de Mello passed away in São Paulo, Brazil, on 1 January 2009, at the age of 82. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren. Born in Goa, India, he obtained his BSc, MSc and DSc in Civil Engineering at MIT (USA). He settled in Brazil in 1949 and, in 1950, he was one of the founders of the Brazilian Geotechnical Society (ABMS). He was President of the ABMS (1964-1966), Vice-President of the ISRM (1970-74), Vice-President (1973-77) and President (1981-85) of the ISSMFE. Prof. de Mello was distinguished with the Terzaghi Award of the ABMS on two occasions (1966 and 1978). He delivered the Rankine Lecture (UK, 1977),* the 2nd Manuel Rocha Lecture (Portugal, 1985) and the 4th Pacheco da Silva Lecture (Brazil, 2000). In 2008 the Brazilian and Portuguese Geotechnical Societies established the Victor de Mello Lecture. The first one was delivered by Prof. John Burland in Coimbra, Portugal, last April. Note from www.goanvoice.ca  Prof. Victor de Mello is the son of the late eminent Professor Froilano de Mello, MD 1887 -1955 A Short Biography of Professor Froilano de Mello’s Life and Achievements can be viewed at http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/froil1.html *The Rankine Lecture is hosted in March each year by the British Geotechnical Association. It is widely viewed as the most prestigious of the invited lectures in geotechnics. The lecture commemorates W.J.M. Rankine, Professor of Civil Engineering at Glasgow University, who was one of the first engineers in the UK to make a significant contribution to soil mechanics, and is best known for his theory for the earth pressure on retaining walls. The 1977 Rankine lecture given by Prof. de Mello in 1977 was entitled Reflections on design decisions of practical significance to embankment dams. For ref.click here

+ Alfie D'Souza 7 Jan: Potters Bar, Herts, UK. ALFIE D'SOUZA (Born Mombasa 1925; ex-E.A.R & H, Nairobi.). Husband of late Molly. Father of Desmond, Sandra and Warren. Son of the late Alex and Cecilia D'Souza of Mombasa. Brother of Freddie and Eddie (UK) and Anita (Arusha). Requiem Mass on Mon. 26 Jan. at 12.00 at Our Lady & St Vincent, 243 Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2AT . Cremation at New Southgate Crematorium at 1.30pm followed by refreshments at the Church Hall. No flowers please - use the donation box at the church in aid of the kidney dialysis unit at Barnet General Hospital, RSVP to help us with catering arrangements. With advance notice lifts can be arranged to the crematorium. Messages/Condolences to warren.dsouza@squaregroup.co.uk; tel: 07971 998435 Above information from Goan Voice UK