CEE alumnus Neil Parikh (BS 78) passed away on January 21, 2025, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 68 years old. A Chicago-based civil engineer, Parikh was best known among transportation engineering circles for his work designing runways at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Parikh grew up in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Inspired by his father’s career as a research scientist at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Parikh chose to study civil engineering at the University of Illinois. He completed his bachelor’s degree with CEE in 1978 and later went on to earn his master’s degree in civil engineering at Oregon State University.
After completing his studies, Parikh returned to the Chicagoland area to begin his career. He served in executive positions at several engineering firms across Chicago and eventually landed with infrastructure consulting firm AECOM. It was with AECOM that Parikh would make his impact on O’Hare’s runway systems, serving in top management positions with the company for 16 years. Beyond his influential runway designs, Parikh became equally well-known for the quiet leadership and kind demeanor he carried with him every day. As his career progressed, he also welcomed the opportunity to take on a mentorship role for many young engineers he met along the way.
Parikh and his wife Barbara have remained dear friends of CEE at Illinois for many years, providing generous support to the department and its students. In keeping with their shared proclivity to give back, Barbara and their family have established the Neil A. Parikh Scholarship Fund in her husband’s memory. The scholarship will support CEE at Illinois students who require financial support on the basis of need. The scholarship will additionally serve as a lasting reminder of Parikh’s kindness and dedication to uplifting new generations of engineers hoping to follow in his footsteps.
Donations can be made at https://uif.uillinois.edu/. Click on the Give Now Box, select UIUC, then select "Other" for Designation and type in Neil A. Parikh Scholarship Fund. Gifts can be one time or recurring annually for up to five years.