Bernard Michael McNamee

September 13, 1930 - July 3, 2022

A resident of Shannondell of Valley Forge for the last 4 years, Bernie passed away on Sunday morning. He was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia. A graduate of St. Ambrose Grade School (1944) and Northeast Catholic High School (1948), Bernie went on to study Civil Engineering and play basketball at Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University). After graduating in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army surveying Alaska’s Brooks Mountain Range and after military service returned to Drexel for graduate studies. There, he discovered two loves of his life: his wife of 65 years Nancy McNamee (nee Kelly) and teaching.

In1957 Bernie and Nancy wed at Saint Alice Church in Upper Darby, PA. They raised a family of five children in Drexel Hill, PA and in Rosemont, PA. All their children graduated from Drexel University, married, and blessed Bernie and Nancy with nine grandchildren. Bernie and Nancy lived in Narberth, PA until retirement, and then lived the snowbird lifestyle in Cape May, NJ and Bonita Springs, FL. They loved when their kids and grandkids visited.

Bernie loved to teach and was immensely proud of his students. Dr. McNamee obtained his PhD in Structural Engineering at Lehigh University (1967). He taught as a professor of Civil Engineering at Drexel University (1955-1988), was the Department Head of Civil Engineering (1976-1983) and was a curriculum creator and first Director of Drexel’s ABET-accredited Architectural & Engineering program (1984-1988). He served as President of the Am Soc. of Civil Eng. ASCE Phila. Chapter from 1982-83 and received many awards for leadership in engineering education and service from ASCE and Drexel across his 37-year career. He delighted in the successes of his students and loved regaling his family with their stories.

He is beloved by his family and students and leaves a legacy of instilling family values and leading innovation in engineering education.

He is survived by his wife Nancy (nee Kelly) children, Michael B. (Linda), John P. (Leslie), Bernard J. (Emma), Robert J. (Mary), and Patricia M. Dade (Anthony); sibling Sheila Connor and Sister-in-law Hannah McNamee. Also nine grandchildren: John, Bernard, Patrick, Kelly, Elizabeth, Jimmy(Krystal), Maura(Will), Marcus and Matthew.

Funeral Mass is 10:00AM Friday, July 8, 2022, at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1260 S Trooper Rd, Norristown, PA 19403 preceded by viewing there from 8:45A-9:45A.

Burial is at St Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers to Drexel University, https://giving.drexel.edu/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AllevaFuneralHome.com for the McNamee family.