Durkee was very highly regarded in the bridge industry, not only for his work on suspension cables, but also for his involvement in the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State, the first Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland, and the Narragansett Bay Bridge in Rhode Island.
He retired from his position as chief bridge engineer at Bethlehem Steel in 1976 and opened a private consulting practice. He also served as an expert witness for more than 22 years. As well as being a registered engineer in four US states, he held chartered status in the UK and the European community.
Durkee was an outspoken individual who was not afraid to voice his opinions, even when they went against the status quo. Despite this, he held an open mind and was always keen to debate and discuss his thoughts with others.
There will be a full obituary in the next issue of Bridge design & engineering.
