Michael Joseph Dellies, director of water resources at Teague Nall and Perkins Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, has died. He was 61.
He was a quintessential volunteer. By contrast or complement, as he recently told it, his career may have been slowed down a bit when his children were growing up, because if a work meeting ran long, he would leave early if a child had an activity that evening.
Dellies, P.E., F.ASCE, was involved with the ASCE Fort Worth Branch for years and had been a civil engineer since 1984. Teague Nall & Perkins provides engineering services in the areas of surveying, landscape architecture, planning, and land development. Dellies’ specialties were floodplain and stormwater management and design. Previously, he was the associate water resources director at Dunaway Associates. In January 2021, Dellies was promoted to associate at TNP, whom he considered his other family.
Dellies was urged by his civil engineer wife, Teresa, to join the Mid-Cities chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, where he served on the board of directors. Upon joining TSPE he immediately found a calling to help with the MathCounts program, starting as a volunteer and eventually becoming the Texas state chair. Twice he accompanied the top Texas teams to the White House.
Whether it was performing an erosion control project to protect the city’s infrastructure or smoking meats for a Knights of Columbus fundraiser, his dedication to community was always evident. But Dellies also made 10 trips to Patzun, Guatemala, with the mission team from his church, he being the designated photographer. He was a committed volunteer for the Boy Scouts as well.
After earning his master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, he started becoming well-known for his dedication to the engineering profession. This led to several awards throughout his career.
Dellies’ hobbies were tackling DIY projects around the house, bike-riding some 60-70 miles per day, and gardening.
He was a licensed professional engineer in Texas, Florida, and four other states. His son works for TNP.
Dellies’ leadership skills, huge heart, and uncompromising respect for his fellow human beings will be missed.
