Guido von Autenried

Guido von Autenried (Park Ridge, age 91) passed away on Tuesday June 4 at home with his loving wife at his side. He was born in 1927 in Lauterbach, Germany. His father was a civil engineer and his mother was an English teacher. He grew up in Berlin and was drafted into the German army at age 16. He lost his parents during the final weeks of World War II in Pottsdam, Germany. After the war, when he was released from the army, he reunited with relatives in Moerfelden, Germany and attended the Darmstadt Technische Hochschule, where he majored in civil engineering. During that time, he met his future wife, Erna Bergmann, who was the granddaughter of Guido’s landlady.

Guido immigrated to the United States in 1953 and he and Erna were married in August 1954. They first settled in New York City and then New Jersey for the last 51 years.

Guido worked at Buck, Seifert and Jost from 1953 until 2011. During his 58 year career at Buck, Seifert and Jost, he was a structural designer, engineer, project engineer, responsible professional engineer, and Director and Chief Engineer for the design of water and wastewater treatment plants, transmission and collection systems, and pumping stations throughout New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Puerto Rico. He received the AWWA NJ Section Fuller Award in 2011 in recognition of his distinguished service, sound engineering skill and constructive leadership in the water supply field.

Guido was uplifting, caring and a good friend to all in his life. He enjoyed visits to watch the construction of the new Tappan Zee bridge. In his spare time, Guido enjoyed model trains, puzzles, photography, travel, family history/ancestry and was intrigued by magicians. Guido cherished every minute he spent with Erna.

The family will receive their relatives and friends at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ on Friday, June 7 from 4-8PM. The service celebrating Guido's life and faith will be held at t he funeral home on Saturday, June 8 at 9:30AM. Interment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 112 N. Main Street, Pearl River, NY 10965.