Pasquale A. Dougherty, 68, civil engineer

Pasquale A. Dougherty, 68, of Springfield, Delaware County, a civil engineer, died Monday, Jan. 12, of colon cancer at home.

He had lived in Springfield since May and before that in Mechanicsburg and Upper Darby, the latter for 30 years.

Known as Pat, Mr. Dougherty worked in the highway industry and retired July 30, 2014. He had been found to have cancer in 2012 but did not let it slow his activities. "He loved being an engineer," said his wife, Elizabeth King Dougherty.

He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1968, and a master's in transportation engineering in 1975, both from Villanova University.

Mr. Dougherty started his career working summers for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in District 6.

After graduating, he stayed with PennDot, drawing preliminary designs for proposed expressways and interchanges in the Philadelphia area.

Mr. Dougherty rose to become manager of the Harrisburg office of the Urban Engineers firm. He directed numerous projects in the Delaware Valley and central Pennsylvania. Among them were improvements to roads on the La Salle University campus, enhancements for Logan Circle in Philadelphia, preliminary utility and right-of-way planning for the reconstruction of Route 202, and the creation of the Blue Route.

"He was so dedicated to his work and making sure he followed through on it," his wife said. "When I'm on those roads, I know my husband's hand is on them."

He worked for various engineering firms but retired from Arora & Associates of Harrisburg, where he was office manager.

Mr. Dougherty was elected Delaware County engineer of the year for 2003 by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. In 2001, the society named him Delaware Valley engineer of the year.

Born in Philadelphia, he was a 1964 graduate of St. Thomas More High School. In his spare time, he liked to read about the English aristocracy.

He and a team of volunteers rebuilt the Schofield Ford covered bridge in Tyler State Park, Bucks County, after vandals burned it in 1991. The bridge, which dated to 1873, was reconstructed by carpenters using wooden pegs. "It was an act of love for him to build that," his wife said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Dougherty is survived by sons William and Matthew; a daughter, Marijo; a grandson; a brother; a sister; and many nieces and nephews. Four sisters died earlier.

A viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, will be held at the Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 W. Chester Pike, Upper Darby. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Sacred Heart Church, 109 N. Manoa Rd., Havertown. Interment will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Contributions made by made to the Villanova University College of Engineering, 800 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova, Pa. 19085.