Arif Husain, a retired senior civil engineer with SNC-Lavalin in Montreal and a life member of ASCE, has died. He was 88.
Husain, P.E., F.ASCE, traveled extensively through Western and Eastern Europe in the 1950s, and his early career spanned many major international projects in India, Northern Africa, Turkey, Jamaica, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Mexico, as well as many projects in Canada and the United States. In 1972 he settled in Montreal with his family.
His enthusiasm and open personality gained him the respect and trust of business partners, peers, and superiors, and he was rewarded with a career full of long-lasting friendships and successful professional relationships.
His firm provided engineering, procurement, and construction services to various industries, and Husain’s work and international assignments required intense focus. However, he always found the time to learn about new cultures and languages, explore a country and discover its beauty, and appreciate the local food and festivities. Most notably through all these opportunities was how he involved his family when it came to touring project sites and hosting collegial gatherings and dinners.
Husain was born in the state of Birhan in India, and received engineering degrees from Aligarh Muslim University and the University of Minnesota.
In his spare time he was an explorer and photographer. He also gave lectures on politics and current affairs and was actively involved in strengthening his community of faith in Montreal.
