Richard G. Luthy, a leading figure in environmental engineering and water quality, died on October 6 at Stanford Hospital following a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 80.
Luthy held the Silas H. Palmer Professorship of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and was a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Over his career spanning more than five decades, he contributed significantly to water conservation and cleanup efforts, particularly in the American West.
“There isn’t a single activity that will solve our water problems,” Luthy once said. “But conservation, recycling, desalination, stormwater capture, recharge, and water banking will go a long way.”
Jim Plummer, former dean of the School of Engineering at Stanford, described Luthy as “a remarkable engineer and scientist, a gifted leader, and a deeply caring human being.” Plummer added: “But he was also a friend, someone who was always available to discuss challenges, opportunities, or just life. He was someone who could always be counted on to do the right thing for his department, the school, and Stanford. He thought creatively but always drove consensus to make real and lasting changes. His untimely passing leaves a huge hole; he had much more to give and all of us had much more to learn from him.“
Jeffrey Koseff, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford and co-founder of the Woods Institute for the Environment who recruited Luthy to Stanford, remembered: “It is not an exaggeration to say Dick Luthy became one of the most influential environmental engineers – if not the preeminent one – in the United States. Most importantly, he was an incredibly kind and humble man. We are all better people for his presence in our lives.”
Born June 11, 1945 in Buffalo, New York, Luthy spent his early years in Prairie Village, Kansas before moving with his family to Palo Alto during his teenage years. Inspired by scientific exploration from an early age—including influences like Rachel Carson’s *Silent Spring*—he pursued studies in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley (B.S., 1967), ocean engineering at University of Hawaii (M.S., 1969), environmental engineering at Berkeley (M.S., 1974), and earned his PhD in environmental engineering from Berkeley in 1976.
During the Vietnam War era in the early 1970s, Luthy served as a deep-sea diver with the Navy Civil Engineer Corps where he led underwater construction projects—a role that sparked his interest in addressing environmental issues.
He began teaching at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh from 1975 until joining Stanford University’s faculty in 2000. At Stanford he focused on water quality processes as well as sustainable practices for contaminant remediation.
Sarah Billington recalled her experience with Luthy when she joined as chair: “Dick was my first chair when I arrived in 2003…when I became chair he was a huge support…His calm wise and fun-loving presence was a model of collegiality.”
William Mitch described him as “a father figure known for a measured and steady voice even at fractious faculty meetings.”
Luthy’s research addressed contaminants such as PCBs and DDT using practical methods like treating sediments with activated charcoal rather than removing them entirely—an approach supported by rigorous studies showing its effectiveness.
He communicated complex science through relatable analogies; referring to activated charcoal as “burnt toast” while describing sediment dredging as akin to vacuuming carpet: “[Dredging is] like a shell game; you have to put the contaminated sediment somewhere,” Luthy said. “This technique is radical because we are changing the chemistry of the sediment rather than digging up the mud and hauling it away.”
In 2011 he led efforts bringing one of only four National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers nationwide—the Re-inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt) program—to Stanford University where he served as director until 2022. This initiative fostered collaboration among four universities focusing on capturing rainwater or treated wastewater for use within California cities facing water shortages.
“Ecosystems have an equal claim to water as industry and agriculture,” Luthy said about balancing competing needs.
Luthy’s work received international recognition including awards such as:
– Gordon Maskew Fair Award from American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (2015)
– Jack Edward McKee Medal from Water Environment Federation
– Cleanup Project of Year award from U.S Department of Defense (2000)
James Leckie noted: “Dick Luthy often saw problems before they escalated…he had this unique ability to identify practical affordable effective methods…”
He also held leadership roles such as president of Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors; chaired committees under National Research Council; gave lectures internationally; received honorary doctorate from Clarkson University (2005).
Alexandria Boehm said: “Dick hired me…he believed in me when I barely believed in myself…We had offices next to each other…I teased him about his lunches of stale bread & peanuts but he always offered to share.”
Stephen Monismith stated: “Dick was professor we all aspire to be—a great researcher teacher supportive colleague…We will miss him.”
Luthy is survived by wife Mary Sullivan; son Matthew; daughters Mara & Olivia Saachi; grandsons Rafe Grossmann Jaiden & Michael—all residing across California & Alaska—as well as extended family members. The family requests donations be made in his name toward an environmental cause or charity.
