Rolf Thorsten Skrinde

Rolf Thorsten Skrinde was born in Stanwood, Washington on September 1, 1928. He was the seventh of eight children born to Norwegian immigrants Annie Lindbak Skrinde and Rolf Olsson Skrinde. Rolf graduated from Washington State University in 1950 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and in 1958 earned a PhD in from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Environmental and Civil Engineering.

While in Boston, Rolf met his future wife Marjorie at a Norwegian "syttende mai" (17th of May) dance. They were married six months later, and throughout the next 58 years never stopped being in love.

Rolf had his first overseas adventure in 1953, when he went to Saudi Arabia as an Environmental Health Advisor on water supplies and sewage disposal. In 1965, Rolf relocated his wife and three small children to Bangkok, Thailand, where he was Director of Research at the Asian Institute of Technology.

Rolf began his teaching career at his alma mater, Washington State University. He went on to teach at Washington University, the aforementioned AIT, University of Massachusetts, University of Iowa, and Seattle University, where he held Professor Emeritus status from 2003 to his death. He also served as consultant for Engineering and Design Firms across the United States and around the world. Rolf published over 50 articles and 200 reports on energy and the environment.

In 1987, Rolf founded the Project Center at Seattle University. The Project Center links small teams of students with companies and nonprofit organizations to work on projects in the areas of Science and Engineering. When Rolf began this program he was told that it would never work, but now it is renowned, one of the first in the United States to allow engineering students to apply theory to real life.

In 2003, Rolf received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and carry out research and consulting at the Institute of Environmental Research, University of Iceland. He and Marjorie moved to Reykjavik, where they ate smoked fish and had a ball.

Perhaps Rolf's greatest accomplishment, though, was his highly developed sense of empathy and kindness. Rolf expressed gratitude every day for the good things in his life. He was respectful with small children, and gentle with all animals. He treated everyone as if they were his best friend. Education opened so many doors in his life, and he was eager to teach and mentor others so that they might find joy and satisfaction as he had.

Rolf is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marjorie Skrinde, his three devoted children, Kirsten, Karen, and Rolf Skrinde, three siblings, including lifetime ally and best friend Einar Skrinde, the scores of colleagues and students he supported and helped, and his Siamese cat Poo-Ying.

A memorial service for Rolf Skrinde will take place:

Saturday, October 8th, at 10am

Luther Memorial Lutheran Church

13047 Greenwood Ave N

Seattle, WA 98133

Donations in Rolf's memory can be made to:

Homeward Pet

Attn: Rolf Skrinde Tile Fund

13132 NE 177th Pl

Woodinville, WA 98072

www.homewardpet.org