Robert D. McAuliffe, 78, engineer for projects around the world

Robert D. McAuliffe, 78, of Chestnut Hill and Chatham, Mass., a civil and structural engineer, died Wednesday, Sept. 21, of acute myeloid leukemia.

After he developed complications from chemotherapy in a hospital, Mr. McAuliffe decided to stop treatment and spend his remaining time with his family at home in Chestnut Hill.

"He savored the beauty of each of his remaining days," his family wrote in a tribute.

Known as Bob, Mr. McAuliffe had a distinguished career in engineering and project management.

What he liked to do most was design large civil engineering projects - housing, factories, office buildings, sewage treatment plants, water supply mechanisms, and marine facilities.

"It all came down to one thing - problem solving - he loved it," his family wrote.

Locally, he was the developer of King of Prussia Industrial Park near Route 422; Pureland, in Logan Township, N.J., one of the first environmentally planned communities for industry; and the Commodore 295 Business Center in Gloucester County.

Internationally, Mr. McAuliffe was managing director of engineering for the American Can Co., responsible for the design, construction, and start-up of plants in the United States, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, and England.

He retired in 2005 as director of business administration for the Council Rock School District, where he developed and constructed Council Rock High School South and a new elementary school. He also renovated a high school and a historic building used for administration offices.

A native of Milton, Mass., Mr. McAuliffe graduated in 1960 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree, both in civil engineering. In 1967, he graduated from Harvard University with master's degrees in business administration and organizational psychology.

After college, he enlisted in the Navy and trained at Naval Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned in 1960 as an ensign in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and volunteered to serve with the Navy Seabees in a construction battalion.

He was deployed to Guantanamo, Cuba, during the Bay of Pigs invasion, and became a company commander at the age of 24.

"He loved to tell about the excitement of working with the battalion in the defense of [the Guantanamo] naval base," his family wrote.

He served on the staff of the Chief of Civil Engineers (USN) in Washington during the Cuban Missile Crisis before his honorable discharge in 1964.

Mr. McAuliffe married Lydia Eilbracht, of the Hague, Netherlands, in 1964. The couple settled in Bala Cynwyd and later moved to Chestnut Hill.

A man of many interests, Mr. McAuliffe interviewed students here who were considering going to MIT. He kept up the informal counseling for 40 years.

He also enjoyed flying, sailing, and rowing on the Schuylkill. He was a member of the Undine Club, whose historic rowing headquarters he helped restore. At age 70, he completed the rigorous visual arts course offered by the Barnes Foundation.

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughters Ingrid McAuliffe and Kirsten Raleigh; two grandsons; and a sister. A son, Mark, died in 2013.

Services were Saturday, Oct. 1.

bcook@phillynews.com

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