Joseph L. Ehasz, Jr.
Joseph L. Ehasz, Jr. (Joe) passed peacefully in Lake San Marcos, CA, on January 9, 2025. Joe is survived by his wife Joanne (Storm) Ehasz; sons Joe (Carrie), Mike (Annette) and Steve (Stacey), and stepdaughter Jami (Julio). Joe was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend who always brought a smile to all with his quick-witted humor, thoughtfulness and generosity. All eight grandchildren truly cherished every minute spent with Joe. The grandchildren are as follows: Ally and Matt (Joe), Molly, Evelyn and Genevieve (Mike), Dylan (Steve), CJ and Jason (Jami). The true results of Joe’s influence on the kids and grandkids are their demonstrated success in careers including engineering, geosciences, medical, music, and business – and the youngest, Dylan with amazing potential already excelling in baseball and school with a quick-wittedness matching his grandfather.
Joe was the son of Joseph L. Ehasz, Sr. and Florence (Lucas) Ehasz and grew up in Alpha, NJ where he began his interest in engineering by helping to operate his dad’s excavation/trucking company while still in high school. As president of his Phillipsburg high school class of ‘59, Joe enjoyed planning and attending many class reunions and reconnecting with many friends and family in the area. Joe graduated from Rutgers University School of Engineering and went on to complete research in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering and received a Master’s Degree in civil engineering in 1965.
He then began what became a distinguished professional career in the field of water resources and geotechnical engineering, travelled the world and led many large projects that all remain today and still have a profound positive effect on people of many countries. Joe also held professional engineering licenses in 27 states, was chairman of US Committee on Large Dams (USCOLD-Earthquakes), President of US Society on Dams, was recipient of the U.S. Society on Dams Lifetime Achievement Award; authored many engineering publications, and was active on many other non-profit associations in a volunteer and outreach capacity.
During his 60-year career, Joe achieved international recognition as a world leader (AECOM, Ebasco, Washington Group and Raytheon) with extraordinary accomplishments encompassing planning, design and construction of some of the world’s largest and most complex and challenging critical reservoirs, dams, levees, hydroelectric and other heavy civil structures. Not only was Joe a visionary in delivering solutions to the world’s most complex water resources projects, he had a unique ability to build, mentor and nurture high performing, unstoppable teams. Joe had a special way of tapping into the souls of his colleagues, employees and friends inspiring, empowering, and motivating each to achieve their very best. On every “Joe Project” his unique spirit, created the work tone and environment that leveraged individual strengths resulting in performance excellence and individual pride of authorship.
Those touched by Joe, showed their love and appreciation just recently in San Diego where they came together in a celebration in humility and thankfulness for their part of Joe’s Contributions to a Better World. An extensive list of one-off, world class projects were highlighted and discussed by Joe’s colleagues past and present who all shared a common theme expressing the fact that when a problem seemed too complex to tackle, the first question was simply, “where’s Joe”?
A few of the projects include: 660 ft high, 395MW San Roque Multipurpose Project in the Philippines; 32Oft high RCC Olivenhain Dam Emergency Water Storage Project in California; 1960 MW Ludington Pumped Storage Hydroelectrical Power Plant, Ludington, MI; Susitna Underground Hydroelectric Power Plant, Talketna Alaska; Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant, Vera Cruz, Mexico; 800,000 ac-ft capacity Diamond Valley Reservoir, Hemet, CA; 1,330 MW Keban – 880ft High Hydrolectric Dam Project, Turkey; 1100 MW BC Hydro Site C – Reservoir / Hydroelectric Power Plant, British Columbia, Canada (Assurance Advisory Board); Cholla Power Generating Station, Arizona; Fort Saint Vrain, Frozen Ground Nuclear Power Plant, Colorado; Waterford Nuclear Power Generating Plant, Killona, LA, and numerous others.
Joe was a devoted parishioner of Saint Mark’s Catholic Church, San Marcos, CA, enjoyed travelling with Joanne and spending precious time with children and grandchildren. Joe will be deeply missed by family, friends and colleagues but his warm spirit will certainly remain through the influence he had on all, emphasizing the importance of a positive outlook, humor, and composure when faced with any tough situation.
The Service will be held Friday, February 14, 2025:
Visitation will be from 8:30-10:30 am at Finegan Funeral Home, 924 2nd Avenue Alpha, NJ. Followed by Mass at 11:00 am St. Mary Catholic Church, 830 5th Avenue Alpha, NJ. After mass, interment will be follow at St. Mary Cemetery.
Any donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital http://www.stjude.org.