SMPS Member Ramesh M. Khona Passes Away
(Harrisburg, PA) Ramesh M. Khona, P.E., a vice president and stockholder of Gannett Fleming, passed away suddenly on June 7, 2004, after a brief illness. He was 64 years old.

In his 36-year career with the firm, Ramesh distinguished himself throughout the engineering industry as a leader in bus maintenance facilities, project management oversight, business development, and government affairs. He was a champion of mentoring, and continually shared his time and his knowledge with younger employees of Gannett Fleming, as well as with many different professional associations.

Ramesh worked on projects across the United States, and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands while with Gannett Fleming. He also worked on a large residential and industrial building complex project in Bombay, India, at the beginning of his career.

Ramesh was a Fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as the Institute of Transportation Engineers. He was very active in legislative initiatives with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and was a long-standing and very active member of ACEC's Engineering Excellence Awards Committee.

He was also very active with the American Public Transit Association, serving on the legislative committee and the TEA-21 Reauthorization Task Force. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Scholarship Society for Brigham Young University (BYU). In 1998, Ramesh was named an Honored Alumni of BYU, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in engineering and technology.

Ramesh was also a member of the SMPS Chesapeake Chapter, the National Society for Professional Engineers, the American Society for Highway Engineers, and the Pennsylvania Society for Professional Engineers.

Ramesh held a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Gujarat University in India, and an M.C.E. in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University. Upon graduation, he was named "One of the Top 10 Outstanding Graduate Students" from among 2,500 graduate students at BYU.

Ramesh leaves behind a loving wife and three adult children. With his warm and outgoing personality, he touched the lives of many people in the transit industry and across the country. He will be missed by all.

In his honor, Ramesh Khona's family has established the "Ramesh M. Khona Excellence in Engineering Scholarship Fund." This endowed scholarship will provide aid to promising undergraduate students in engineering at Brigham Young University. Those wishing to make a contribution should make the check payable to "Brigham Young University" and state "Ramesh M. Khona Scholarship Fund" in the memo line.

Contributions may be sent to:
Brigham Young University
Ramesh M. Khona Scholarship Fund
280 Clyde Building
Provo, UT 84604.

For tax purposes, Brigham Young University is a 501(c)3 organization, and contributions are tax-deductible. [ return to top ]