Dear Members & Industry Leaders:
On behalf of DBIA, I am saddened to convey the passing of Peter Filanc, P.E. A long-time member, Peter joined DBIA in 1996 and served as CEO of Filanc Construction Company, a water and wastewater design-build firm that employs 300 people in Escondido, CA. Peter died on May 9 at the age of 54 following a lengthy illness.
A nationally recognized leader in the water and wastewater industries, most Members knew Peter through his role in DBIA activities. In the late-1990s, he chaired DBIA’s Wastewater Symposium and through the years, he was a frequent speaker at DBIA conferences.
He was an early and enthusiastic advocate of design-build and ultimately became one of the nation’s foremost experts on this construction method. When California’s elected officials were contemplating passage of legislation to authorize public owners to utilize the design-build procurement method, Peter was called upon to testify before the state Senate.
Peter’s career began after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a Master of Science degree in civil engineering, with an emphasis on sanitary and hydraulic engineering. He worked at Engineering Sciences as a project manager, and while there participated in the development of that firm’s integration of microcomputers into the operation of wastewater treatment plants.
In 1979, Peter Filanc went to work at his father’s company, J.R. Filanc Construction Co., starting out in the field as a superintendent. He rose up the ranks, learning every job firsthand, until he took over the reigns of president from his father in 1990.
For the past year, he had been involved primarily in the company’s strategic planning and business development activities, while also speaking at water and wastewater industry conferences throughout the United States.
This is a tremendous loss to the industry, our membership, but most of all, the Filanc family. We extend our deepest sympathies to them during this difficult time.
A memorial service was planned for May 17, 2007 at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in California. The Filanc family has also established The Peter John Filanc Foundation to fund the various education-related organizations and institutions that Peter championed throughout his life. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the foundation at 650 Alvarado #102, San Francisco, California 94114.
Sincerely,
Walker Lee Evey
President
Design-Build Institute of America