John L. Rumpf, engineer and educator

John L. Rumpf, 90, formerly of Rydal, a civil engineer and an educator and administrator at Drexel and Temple Universities, died of heart failure Thursday, March 17, at Southampton Estates, a retirement community in Southampton, Bucks County.

For 13 years, Dr. Rumpf was a professor of civil engineering at Drexel, and from 1964 to 1969 he headed the civil engineering department.

He then joined the faculty at Temple and in 1970 was appointed dean of the university's new College of Engineering Technology. When the school opened, Dr. Rumpf told a Temple publication: "Engineering undergraduate programs have become more scientific in content, educating students for careers in research and development following graduate study." He said, by contrast, the Temple curriculum would "emphasize the practice of engineering according to the latest technology."

In 1975, Dr. Rumpf became vice president and dean of the faculty at Temple. When Peter Liacouras was appointed the university's president in 1982, he announced his management team. He named Dr. Rumpf as the school's first executive vice president, empowered to act as president in Liacouras' absence and head the university's budget hearing committee. Dr. Rumpf was one of four administrators who reported directly to Liacouras.

In 1975, Dr. Rumpf was named Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and in 1979 he received the George Washington Medal from the Engineers Club of Philadelphia. When he retired in 1986, Temple established the John L. Rumpf Award, to be presented annually to an outstanding engineering student.

A graduate of Olney High School, Dr. Rumpf earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Drexel.

He served in the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Va., during World War II, and he remained in the Army Reserve until 1951.

After his discharge from active duty, he earned a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in civil engineering from Lehigh University.

Dr. Rumpf did consulting after retiring from Temple, played tennis into his 70s, and enjoyed his vacation home at Lake Naomi in the Poconos, said a son, Christopher.

In addition to his son, Dr. Rumpf is survived by his wife of 41 years, Patricia E. Rumpf; another son, Jonathan; stepchildren John, Robert, and Patricia Hyman; and nine grandchildren. His first wife, Grace W. Rumpf, died in 1965.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the chapel at Southampton Estates, 238 Street Rd., Southampton. Friends may call from 1:30 p.m.