Nicholas Anthony Bilandic, 94, a former Bridgeport resident, died on March 7.
A structural engineer and graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, Mr. Bilandic was retired as the director of structural engineering and associate partner at the architectural/engineering firm of Holabird & Root.
Over a long career, he worked on a wide variety of projects such as the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago and the Northwestern University Sports and Aquatic Center and the Chandler Building adaptive reuse in Evanston.
According to friend and architect Walker C. Johnson, “Nick Bilandic was an excellent structural engineer with a unique aesthetic sense which magnified his skill. Whether the project was a new building or restoration of a landmark, his solutions always enhanced the design goals of the architectural engineering team.”
Mr. Bilandic was a president of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, a member of the Chicago Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Building Code, and a longtime member of the Chicago Committee on Standards & Tests. He wrote many technical papers and received the American Institute of Steel Construction Citation Award in 1984 and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois 1985 John F. Parmer Award.
Mr. Bilandic’s wife, Janet, said he loved his profession, providing extensive pro bono engineering services to St. Jerome Croatian Catholic and Nativity of Our Lord Churches in Bridgeport, St. Nicholas Church of Evanston, Deborah’s Place, and the Salvation Army’s Advisory Council.
Friends and colleagues described Mr. Bilandic as a calm, steady influence and inspiration to the people with whom he lived and worked; a wonderful, charming soul always interested in and curious about others; and modest, tolerant, patient, and very private. When asked how old he was, Mr. Bilandic would always answer, “younger than springtime.”
He is survived by his wife, Janet, and a large, blended family of two sisters-in-law, children, grandchildren, a great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. His late brother Michael was a former mayor of Chicago and former chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.
A Memorial Mass for Mr. Bilandic will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 20, at St. Nicholas Church in Evanston. Arrangements are entrusted to Dalcamo Funeral Home. Log on to www.dalcamofuneralhome.com.