Professor W. D. Liam Finn, after a long and distinguished career that shaped generations of engineers and advanced the field of earthquake geotechnical engineering, passed away on 23 December 2025 at the age of 92.
Professor Finn received his undergraduate education in civil engineering in Ireland and completed his graduate studies at the University of Washington by 1960. In the aftermath of the 1964 Niigata Earthquake, he turned his professional focus toward earthquake geotechnical engineering, at a time when major seismic events were reshaping understanding of soil behavior and motivating new approaches to liquefaction, site response, and seismic design. This shift would define the remainder of his career.
On behalf of his colleagues and friends at the University of British Columbia and within the Vancouver geotechnical and structural engineering communities, we invite you to join us for a Celebration of Life in honor of Professor W. D. Liam Finn.
To assist with planning, please register at the link below by Monday, April 27, 2026:
https://tinyurl.com/WDLiamFinn
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 4:30 pm – 7:30 pmLocation: Royal Vancouver Yacht Club | 3811 Point Grey Rd, Vancouver, BC V6R 1B3
We look forward to your participation.
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