Joseph Peter “Joe” Castronovo, a founding board member of the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute and its 2017 president, who specialized in large-diameter pipelines over a more than 40-year career, has died at 78.
In 2014, Castronovo, P.E., F.ASCE, served on the ASCE Task Committee for the Creation of UESI. Following its launch he was involved in planning ASCE/UESI Pipelines annual conferences for several years. He also served on ASCE’s Technical Activities Committee and chaired its executive committee.
Castronovo’s career began in 1974 with Black, Crow and Eidness in Gainesville, Florida, after receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and service in the U.S. Navy Seabees, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Over the course of 32 years and mergers and acquisitions, he would eventually work for CH2M HILL. He departed and spent the balance of his career with AECOM.
He was involved in design, program management, and construction services for pipelines, pump stations, water systems, stormwater drainage systems, and collection systems, and in resident engineering. His specialty was the design and construction of large-diameter pipeline projects, including material selection, subaqueous pipeline crossings, trenchless technologies, water distribution, condition assessment, rehabilitation, and pumping systems.
On receiving ASCE’s Bechtel Award in 2013, Castronovo delivered a well-remembered lecture relaying his life experiences that was appreciated for both its seriousness and humor. Besides ASCE, he was a member of the American Water Works Association.
