Guillermo "Gustavo" Adolfo Weber

Gustavo was born June 25, 1953, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Juan and Dolores Weber. He was named Guillermo after the doctor who delivered him in the hospital but those close to him knew him as ‘Gustavo’, the man with two middle names. But past his name, everyone knew him as the man with a brilliant mind. Gustavo discovered at a young age his passion for math, science, engineering and unique mental capacity that led to his many incredible accomplishments.

In Argentina he attended the prestigious ‘”Escuela Industrial Otto Krause” with advanced studies in Electrical Engineering, and proceeded to graduate with a degree in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires, Bs. As., in 1980 while working in Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission.

He serviced in the Argentine Navy (ARA) during the Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas) until 1986 and was esteemed for creating and managing the Division of Special Projects, including developing launching and landing systems operating French aircraft, automated telemetric system for tracking airplanes, development of special ultra-light all terrain vehicle to transport infantry troops, non-linear vibration analysis of submarines, and other naval structures that became instrumental. His value and intellect were internationally recognized which endorsed his recruitment and full scholarship to the University of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he graduated in 1988 with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

His contribution to sciences and engineering continued throughout his research and teachings at Cornell University Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he implemented advancements to the study of ‘Plastic Deformation in Solids’ and ‘Finite Element Mesh Generation’ used for creating computer tools. He continued his work and teaching at Carnegie Mellon University and was awarded several research grants and contracts by government and industry to support his work in computational mechanics and geometric modeling. In 1993 he pursued research and taught in Puerto Rico Universidad Interamericana before travelling back to Argentina with his family where he worked as Executive Director in the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), external consultant for Argentina’s Business Development Institute (IDEA), and founded a successful Engineering Consulting Firm (Boston Systems). In 1998 he returned with his family to United States to pursue the American Dream and his passion of research and teaching.

Before returning to the world of academia, he worked at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in California with composite fibers for design and development of orthosis, prosthetic hand, and patented ankle-foot orthosis for children with Cerebral Palsy. His educational career and scientific research resumed in 2002 at Baton Rouge’s Louisiana State University, Department of Civil Engineering where he worked on designing computational systems for research programs. In 2003 he became a professor at the University of Texas in Brownsville, Department of Engineering, where he was also director of LSAMP National Science Foundation. He travelled internationally with his students to present their research and collaborate with Universities across Europe and Asia. Before retiring he continued his work at the University of New Orleans Department of Engineering, until moving back to Brownsville where he retired.

Gustavo never intended to permanently retire in Brownsville, TX. He was planning to move to California to be close to his children until COVID19 derailed plans for almost two years. A month shy of finally moving to California, Gustavo was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma and moved to Austin to receive treatment and be close to loved ones. His two children, Natalia and Mark Weber, moved to Austin to take care of him and spend much needed time together. Unfortunately a pulmonary embolism took his life sooner than expected.

Gustavo lived a fulfilled life. He was married to the mother of his children for the first part of his adult life, and then married to his true love of academia. Gustavo was an intellectual who dedicated his life to his children and ingenious research. He was inspirited by Einstein and inspired by Beethoven. He was artistic; he could draw and sculpt beautifully. Anything he enjoyed always turned into a passion. He was passionate about his work, the arts, food and his culinary skills that turned the making of a pizza into the production of a delicious masterpiece, and of course el fútbol Argentino. He was humble and never saw himself as exceptional and accomplished as seen through the eyes of others. Gustavo will be remembered as a legendary brilliant man, a professor and mentor, a friend with a unique personality – yet extremely funny with great sense of humor and sarcasm, and above all as a loving and beloved father. Gustavo is forever cherished; and his energy will continue to live on beyond our hearts and memories, per the laws of Quantum Physics.