Neil Jay Gilbert

Neil was born in New York City on March 8, 1942 to Harriet and Louis Goldberg. The family relocated to California when Neil was thirteen and the family name was legally changed to Gilbert when Lou went into business with his brother, Harry Gilbert.

Neil graduated from Hillside High School in San Mateo, California. He served three years in the US Army, learned the Russian language, and was stationed in the former West Germany as a translator with the Army Security Agency. Later, he earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Geology and a Master of Science degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

While a graduate student at CAL, Neil was either a teaching assistant in the engineering department or a research assistant in the geology department. Upon final graduation in early 1973, Neil relocated to Charlotte and shortly thereafter met Barbara Alice Gunn, who would become his wife. They began their life together in Charlotte before moving to Marvin.

Neil had a distinguished career in the engineering and geology consulting world. He spent a year in the oil exploration business between college degrees. He was a licensed professional engineer and a licensed professional geologist in several states. He was with Law Engineering in Charlotte for almost 25 years, where he was recognized as Principal, Corporate Geological Consultant and Charlotte Branch Chief Engineer.

While with Law Engineering, he did landmark geological work for licensing of proposed nuclear power plants. He was involved with many challenging engineering projects such as constructing a conventional power plant over cavitated limestone. Later, he was with ZAPATA Engineering in Charlotte for thirteen years and was recognized there as Vice President of Engineering and Science.

Neil’s career with ZAPATA Engineering began with a logistically and technically challenging project to expand the Wilmington Harbor River channel on the Cape Fear River. Over his more than forty-year professional career, Neil was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with leaders in both geology and geotechnical engineering and appreciated that many of his opportunities came from the things that he learned from them.

Neil was highly active in his profession. He published the findings of his more technically challenging projects and authored and coauthored papers for presentation at professional meetings. He served for eight years on the North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists, including over three years as its chairman. He was one of the founders of the national organization of state boards of geology and opened a dialogue with the counterpart engineering national organization. Following his final term on the Board, Neil continued to serve the profession as lead investigator and peer reviewer for the Geology Licensing Board.

In his younger days, Neil enjoyed playing tennis. Otherwise, Neil had few hobbies other than his work but enjoyed college and professional sports. While in California, he attended California Golden Bear football games and San Francisco Giants baseball games. He and his wife, Barbara were original season ticket holders and loyal fans of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

Neil is survived by sister-in-law Janice Rowley of St. Augustine, Florida and her daughter Cynthia and her son Arthur of Boulder, Colorado. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carolyn Rucker of Mt. Holly, North Carolina.

Neil was preceded in death by his loving wife of 22 years, Barbara, parents Harriet and Lou Gilbert and brother Alan.

Memorial contributions in Neil’s memory may be made to the Department of Civil Engineering or the Department of Geology at the University of California, Berkeley, Donor and Gift Services, 1995 University Ave., Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704-1070 or the Humane Society of Union County, 4015 Waxhaw Highway, Monroe, NC 28112.