Ahmad Jamil Ghaddar

AJ was born in Beirut Lebanon in 1940 to a growing family. Never a dull moment in the Ghaddar household, he had a built-in friend group with nine brothers and sisters.

At an early age, he excelled in school in mathematics and while fluent in Arabic and French, he wanted to come to America and continue his education in Engineering despite not knowing much English.

Through his attention to detail, persistence, and determination, he was able to pursue his dream of coming to the United States to study engineering when he was accepted to the University of Texas at Austin’s Civil Engineering program in the 1960s.

In Texas, AJ found joy in his love of Westerns inspired by John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies, and his passion for UT athletics led by the late Darrell Royal.

Upon graduation, AJ found success working for international companies such as 3D International, and ARAMCO, but his heart was back in Texas.

In the late 1970s, AJ returned to Texas from working abroad and continued his success in Civil Engineering for firms such as Page Southerland Page operating both in Houston and in Austin.

He married Sharon Mitchell and became a father to four children settling down back in Austin from Houston in 1988 where he would later go on to establish his own private practice in engineering.

His many clients and projects over his illustrious career included ARAMCO, Seton, Chrysler, Land Rover, Eanes ISD, and many others over the course of his life. You would often find him downtown at the City of Austin getting drawings approved, and was a friend to all clients large and small; all while never missing a Longhorn game in person, on television, or on the radio.

AJ would continue working in engineering in the Austin community until his retirement at the age of 80 years old.

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Kessler for his talents as a cardiothoracic surgeon and gifting them three extra years of memories with their dad.

A proud Longhorn alumni, a distinguished engineer with 60 years of service to the state and community in Austin, an immigrant who achieved the American dream, a son, a brother, a husband, and a loving father.

He’s in our hearts always.