It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Liam Finn, Professor Emeritus in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia.
Prior to joining the UBC Department of Civil Engineering in 1961, Dr. Finn earned his B.Eng from the National University of Ireland and his M.Eng and Ph.D from the University of Washington in Seattle. He went on to serve as Head of Civil Engineering and Dean of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia.
Over the course of his extraordinary career, Dr. Finn dedicated his research to advancing geotechnical earthquake engineering, primarily in the areas of liquefaction, seismic response of sites and earth structures, seismic safety evaluation of dams, seismic response of pile foundations and seismic risk. The impact of his research is extensive. Notably, he provided extensive consultation on seismic safety of dams in the Soviet Union (1975), applied dynamic effective stress analysis on the Sardis Dam in Mississippi (1989), and created the first program in geotechnical earthquake engineering in Canada.
Dr. Finn’s achievements are difficult to summarize because they were exceptional. But to highlight a few: he was appointed the first Anabuki Professor of Foundation Geodynamics at Kagawa University; the president of Pan-American Engineering and Computing Services; an Honorary International Member of the Japanese Geotechnical Society and the Chinese Society of Soil Dynamics; an Honorary Professor of the Metallurgical Institute in Beijing; and Editor of the International Journal of Soil Dynamics.
Throughout his career, Dr. Finn contributed to shaping the profession as well as the minds of countless students, colleagues, and community members. As a devoted mentor, he inspired generations of engineers whose careers now span academia, government, and industry. His teaching and mentorship have also left a lasting imprint on our colleagues, who continue to apply his knowledge in the classroom and the profession.
Dr. Finn’s kindness, knowledge, and mentorship have deeply contributed to the UBC Civil Engineering community and will forever be remembered as an educator whose influence will continue for generations. His legacy is defined not only by transformative technical contributions, but also by a spirit of generosity, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of society.
Dr. Liam Finn passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time.