Edward E. “Ed” Rinne, a pioneering, well-regarded geotechnical engineer with achievements on the West Coast and internationally who served on the ASCE Board of Direction from 1997 to 1999, then on the Geo-Institute Board of Governors, has died. He was 85.
Rinne, P.E., BC.GE(Ret.), F.ASCE, was the senior principal at Kleinfelder in San Diego from 1984 to 2006. His pursuit of a civil engineering career began with an interest in structural analysis, as his father had been a prominent structural engineer. But he found the then-wide open area of soil mechanics more appealing.
After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961 and 1963, he joined Shannon & Wilson in the Pacific Northwest. Rinne launched the firm’s first Bay Area office in 1965. Moving to Dames & Moore in 1968, he worked on projects including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and One Market Plaza building complex in San Francisco.
As he rose through his career, Rinne was committed to serving the industry. His ASCE board and Geo-Institute board service were highlights of his life membership. He also served on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Provisions Update Committee from 1992 to 1998, and the California Hospital Building Safety Board for 10 years. He helped develop the seismic site effects section of the Uniform Building Code, now the International Building Code.
Assigned to Dames & Moore’s London location, he led projects throughout Europe and the Middle East. He returned to California and from Los Angeles managed the firm’s southern California geotechnical group for six years on local and global projects, including the Hong Kong International Airport and major port developments in Los Angeles.
Joining Kleinfelder, Rinne served as a geotechnical leader and consultant throughout the firm, and worked alongside fellow pioneering geotechnical experts. After retirement in 2006, he continued independent consulting.
One of Rinne’s personal passions was jazz piano, and he was a member of the Cal Alumni Jazz Big Band for more than 25 years.
In 1963, Rinne married Maureen Logue and were happily together for 55 years. He prioritized family and planned many memorable vacations and reunion trips.
