Hai Chang Benjamin Koo

Hai Chang Benjamin Koo, age 97, of Toledo, died peacefully at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo, on March 1, 2018. He was born April 4, 1920 in Shanghai, China to the late Ve-Sing and Tseng Soo Koo, the youngest of five children. Ben received his early education at an Episcopal missionary institute until his graduation from St. Johns University in Civil Engineering in 1941. He traveled to the United States for advance study at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Structural Engineering. Dr. Koo worked at many consulting firms for about 15 years and was a registered professional engineer in the States of Ohio and New York. His work primarily consisted of design and analysis of structures such as arch and gravity dams, water spill ways, penstock, short span reinforced concrete and steel bridges, and industrial plants. He was awarded two U.S. patents for trailer-train freight cars in 1965 and 1967. In 1955, Ben married Gretchen K.S. Hsu, B.S. and M.A. She preceded him in death on August 18, 1974. Dr. Koo joined the University of Toledo in 1965 and devoted himself to teaching, research and publication in the Civil Engineering Department. In 1974, he was honored with the Outstanding Teacher Award from the university. He was a fellow at the American Society of Civil Engineers, member of American Concrete Institute and American Society of Engineering Education and academic honor societies as Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi. The results of Dr. Koos research were published in technical engineering journals in four areas, structural engineering, probabilistic mechanics and structural stability, structural fire safety and engineering education. Surviving are numerous nieces and nephews including, Margery Koo Bussey and Emily Koo; and close friends, David and Bernice Young. Funeral services will held at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, 2018 in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.) with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 2770 Central Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Visiting Angels for their compassionate care of Ben.