In Memoriam: Walter C. Hurty

May 28, 2009

By UCLA Samueli Newsroom

by J.S. Chen and Moshe Rubinstein

Professor emeritus Walter C. Hurty died at the age of 98 at his home in Hemet, California on January 10, 2009.

Professor Walter C. Hurty was an early pioneer in the aircraft industry during the 1930’s and 1940’s. He began teaching at the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Science when it was at its infancy in the late 1940’s, and continued until his retirement in the late 1970’s.

Professor Hurty was a dedicated researcher and teacher. His ground-breaking research in component mode synthesis to analyze complex dynamic systems made major contributions to the field of dynamics of structures. His classic book Dynamics of Structures (Hurty and Rubenstein), published in 1964 by Prentice Hall, can still be found on the shelves of professionals in the field all over the world.

As a teacher he influenced a generation of students who followed in his footsteps to become professors at major universities, including UCLA professors Lewis Mingori and Moshe F. Rubinstein among them.

Professor Hurty was a noble and gentle soul, a man of the highest integrity, who enriched the lives of those who knew him.

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