Robert L. Nicholls, age 92, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 22, 2022.

A Nebraska native and a Silver Palm Eagle Scout, Bob graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with honors. He earned both his Master’s Degree and PhD in Civil Engineering at Iowa State University, where he met his future wife Ruth, focusing on geotechnical and materials engineering. Academic breaks provided early work experiences in the field as surveyor or inspector on concrete dam, highway and airport runway projects.

Between graduate degree programs, he served with the U.S. Army, Office of the Chief of Engineers, stationed at Camp Zama, Japan from 1953-1955. There he assisted in locating and designing emergency landing sites for forward air command pilots and designed the Maryknoll Sisters Hospital in Busan, as well as other small medical clinics and schools, under the Armed Forces Assistance to Korea (AFAK) Program. During this time, he got his first taste of flying, learned to speak Japanese and volunteered his weekends at the Yokohama Christian School for the Blind, with whom he maintained a life-long correspondence.

Following two years of post-doctoral experience in Harrisburg, PA supervising highway construction & design, Bob joined the Civil Engineering department at the University of Delaware in 1959. There he taught courses and mentored graduate students in construction materials, soil mechanics and foundation engineering for 34 years, receiving the University’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 1962. In addition to serving on the university faculty senate and various engineering committees, he served on editorial boards of the American Society of Civil Engineers, as UD’s ASCE Student faculty advisor, and president of the Delaware Section of ASCE during which it received the National Commendation of Excellence Award in 1976.

As a scholar and practitioner, Bob authored textbooks, conducted materials research, was granted seven patents and — in the early 1960’s — published computer programs in geotechnical engineering, composite materials, and civil engineering systems & management. As a registered civil engineer in IA, PA, DE, MD and Japan, Bob provided consulting and forensic services with special consideration for government buildings, highway systems and the non-profit sector. When he retired from the University in 1993 he was named Professor Emeritus.

In retirement, Bob continued volunteering his expertise as a civil engineer with numerous international humanitarian and aviation groups. He traveled to Albania to assess runway feasibility and to Guatemala to design housing at a girls’ orphanage. Desktop consulting projects included updating a Landsat-based global directory of remote airstrips for medical relief flights, manufacturing of affordable construction materials in Thailand, designing a temporary hangar in Afghanistan, and developing an early drone system for delivering emergency supplies in unstable areas of the world.

Always a Scout at heart, Bob served on the Delmarva Scout Council. He loved canoeing, camping and hiking with his family, having summited 13 of Colorado’s legendary 14,000-foot peaks, Mt. Hood, OR, Half Dome, CA, Mt. Fuji in Japan among countless others. Bob was equally enamored with flying. Courtesy of the GI bill, he obtained his private pilot’s license and nearly completed commercial rating during grad school. Up until his last days, Bob took special joy in getting outdoors in the sunshine and marveling at how hawks were “engineered” to endlessly soar aloft while barely moving their wings.

While he has joined his son Thomas, who passed in 1967, Bob’s modest smile, sparkling eyes and witty repartee will be missed by many including wife of 63 years, Ruth; son David (Charlotte) of Sitka, AK; son Jonathan (Amy) of Bear, DE; daughter & caregiver of 4 years Carol of Newark, DE; grandchildren Sarah (Calvin), Joshua & Jacob; nieces Janice (Preston) of Callao, VA & Joyce (Ron) of Trinidad, CA; and cousin Tom (Mimi) McDermet of Moneta, VA.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the Newark United Methodist Church at 69 East Main Street in Newark, DE. Family and friends may attend the visitation beginning at 10:00 am. The family suggests honoring Bob’s memory by sending a contribution in his name to Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Engineering Ministries International USA, or Mission Aviation Fellowship, and send in care of R.T. Foard & Jones, Inc., 122 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711.