Obituary of Michael W.C. Emerson

Michael W.C. Emerson died at his home in Duxbury on January 3, 2012; Emerson was 74. Emerson was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana; he attended Howe Military Academy and graduated summa cum laude from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Illinois where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow. Emerson specialized in foundation engineering; he was a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and all the New England states and was responsible for many innovative and difficult foundation and structural designs including the Distrigas Terminal in Chelsea. Most recently, Emerson had supervised the dismantling of “Goliath”, the enormous crane which sat at the Fore River Shipyard for many years. Emerson was also an attorney; he graduated cum laude from Suffolk University School of Law in 1983 and regularly consulted with other attorneys on construction litigation. He was a Construction Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. Emerson leaves his wife, Pamela (Laughlin), his second wife, Irene Dwyer, daughters Elizabeth Lijewski, her husband Jeffrey and son Jason of Duxbury, Michelle Stephany of Cape Coral FL, Kathleen Miller and her husband Troy of Pacific Palisades, CA and Anne Emerson of Chicago, IL and a son Michael D.H. Emerson and his wife Chona of Sacramento, CA. In addition to grandson Jason he is survived by grandsons Chase Emerson and Cole Miller and granddaughters Chelsea Emerson, Courtney Caldwell and Caitlin Stephany. Emerson is also survived by his sister Isabelle Emerson of Durango, CO. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra Griffee and a grandson, Shawn Hough. A memorial gathering will held at The Windsor House Inn, on Saturday, January 7th from 430pm to 7pm, located at 390 Washington Street Duxbury, MA 02332. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael's name to Disabled American Veterans Organization at www.DAV.org