Jacques W. Delleur

Jacques W. Delleur

Jacques W. Delleur, 97, died Friday, February 4, 2022. He taught Hydrology and Civil engineering at Purdue University for over 40 years. Born in Paris, France, he and his parents, returned home to Brussels, Belgium when he was 4 years old. With the Nazi invasion, the family fled to Colombia, South America. He completed his bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the National University of Colombia, while teaching French as the University's one man-French department. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on a scholarship, earning his master's degree. From there, he returned to Colombia, and taught civil engineering at his alma mater. After moving back to the US and completing his Doctor of Science at Columbia University in New York, Jacques started at Purdue in 1955 as an assistant professor in civil engineering concentrating on hydraulics within civil engineering. Jacques became head of the Hydraulics Department in 1965 and retired from full time professorship at Purdue in 1995, becoming a professor emeritus supervising graduate students and research through 2009. He taught as a visiting professor and researcher at the Free University of Brussels, The University of Quebec, Canada, the University of Grenoble, France, the French National Hydraulics Laboratory, and the University of Lausanne, Switzerland up through 2005.

Jacques created the Jacques W. Delleur award, following retirement, to be presented annually to a graduate student working on topics in hydraulics research. The award provides financial support for travel expenses to attend a scientific or professional meeting for the acquisition of information and/or the delivery of a paper.

Since emeriti profs can never stop teaching, he became active in the Wabash Area Lifetime Learning Association from 2005 to 2020 teaching classes ranging from Spanish to Disasters both Natural and Man Made.

Jacques is survived by his wife, DeLores, son James Delleur (Arlene), and daughter Ann Delleur (Dave McShaffrey).

A memorial service will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated the Jacques W. Delleur Award Endowment in Civil Engineering for memorial contributions. The Purdue development office requests donations be made payable to "Purdue Foundation" and mailed to Purdue Foundation, 403 W. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907.