Thomas Christian Kavanagh

Background

Kavanagh was born in New York City. His father, Patrick F. Kavanagh, was an Irish immigrant and laborer and electrical worker for a New York city streetcar company. His mother, Anna C. Unger, came from Germany.

Education

Student Technology University, Berlin, Germany, 1930-1931. Bachelor of Science, College City New York, 1932. Master of Science in Civil Engineering, 1933.

Master of Business Administration, New York University, 1942, Doctor of Science in Engineering, 1948.

Engineer.D. (honorary), Lehigh University, 1974.

Career

He then started work as a structural designer for engineering firms in New York and Pennsylvania on railway and highway bridges, sanitary plants, power plants, electrical transmission towers, waterfront structures, floating docks, and refineries, and during World World War II was an aircraft engineer After the war, he became assistant professor of civil engineering at New York University (New York University) for several years, then full professor at Pennsylvania State University and in 1948 head of its Structures Department. In 1952 he returned to New York University as chairman of its Department of Civil Engineering.

In 1953 he began consulting for Praeger & Maguire, which was renamed Praeger-Kavanagh when he became partner, and later Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury.

While consulting, he continued as adjunct professor at New York University until 1956, and at Columbia University thereafter. Kavanagh was responsible for several major engineering projects, including the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, the Hawkins Point Floating Bridge on the Saint Lawrence River, plans for the Caracas (Venezuela) subway system, and the Long Island Sound bridge crossing.

Achievements

• Thomas Christian Kavanagh has been listed as a noteworthy consultant engineer, urban planner, educator. by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Fellow New York Academy Sciences (honorary life. Member National Society Professional Engineers, American Concrete Institute, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society Engineering Education, International Association Bridge and Structural Engineering, American Welding Society, Column Research Council Engineering Foundation, National Academy Engineering (founding.

Connections

Married Kerstin East. Berglund, September 18, 1937. Children: Patricia Frances, Kenneth Thomas, Susan Karin.

Father:

Patrick F. Kavanagh

Mother:

Anna C. (Unger) Kavanagh

Spouse:

Kerstin East. Berglund

child:

Susan Karin Kavanagh

child:

Kenneth Thomas Kavanagh

child:

Patricia Frances Kavanagh