Weaver High School - Portal Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

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LEONARD G. TULIN 20 May 1920 - 23Aug. 2016 Liev Saulovitch Telyatitzky was bom on 20 May 1920 to Saul Leibovitch and Lyuba Gamburg Telyatitzky in Mazyr, Russia (now Belarus),. After the 1917 Revolution, Russia suffered horrific violence that lasted into the mid- 1920s. His parents were desperate to escape the constant danger, and to join Saul’s seven older siblings who had previously fled Russia to the United States. With help from Saul’s brothers, the family made the arduous journey to Germany and passage across the Atlantic. Upon arrival at Ellis Island on Nov. 1, 1923, the family took the surname Tulin, which Saul’s brothers had adopted. Liev’s sister Rozalia decided that her little brother should have a “fancy” new name, and insisted that it be Leonard George Tulin. And so it was. The family settled near relatives in Hartford, Connecticut. Leonard soon declared that he would no longer speak Russian at home, and everyone must learn English. Although that demand helped his parents to learn English quickly, he later regretted that it cost him his native language. Leonard attended Hartford schools, graduating from Weaver High in 1938. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1941 and trained as a Weather Forecaster. He served overseas on the Indian subcontinent in what are today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma. His forecasts supported pilots flying supply and combat missions. Leonard flew “over the hump” monthly on C-46s ferrying fuel into China, and sometimes had to help the crews push barrels of gas out of the plane to clear the high Himalayan peaks. After discharge in 1945, he moved to Boulder with a flood of other GI Bill veterans to study Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado. At a CU vets gathering, he met Navy WAVE veteran Vera Thompson. Leonard was instantly smitten, and proposed on their second date. Though she delayed giving her answer for quite some time, they were married June 20, 1948. They enjoyed 42 wonderful years together until Vera’s death in 1990. They had one daughter, Holly. As a CU junior, Leonard fast-talked his way into a job as a physics teaching assistant, and in the process discovered his true life’s work. He earned his BSCE in 1950, and began teaching full-time in the CU Civil Engineering Department. He attained full professorship in 1961. Leonard devoted himself enthusiastically to teaching and research. He completed his MSCE degree at CU in 1952, and earned a Ph D. in Theoretical Applied Mechanics from Iowa State University in 1965 under a National Science Foundation fellowship. He was a Colorado Registered Professional Engineer continuously from 1954 until his death, and consulted with many private and governmental clients. Leonard set very high standards for his teaching, and he prepared meticulously for every class he taught, no matter, how many times he’d presented the material. This standard of excellence, which he expected his students to match, earned him a reputation as a tough but fair professor. His renown eventually garnered the College of Engineering’s Meanest Professor Award, and he always prominently displayed its gaudy Purple Screw trophy. From 1972 to 1976 Leonard served as chairman of the CU Civil Engineering Department. His favorite memories from that period were handing his daughter her • BSCE degree when she graduated from the. department in 1972, and watching her follow in his footsteps to Colorado Professional Engineer registration. He also relished learning how to be “Doubledad” to his grandson David. He especially enjoyed working with his graduate students, who counted on him to dispense wise research counsel along with ... .U I

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excellent writing and editing advice. Several of his students told him that his example inspired them to pursue university teaching careers. Leonard published numerous papers on concrete, timber and masonry design. He was a sought-after presenter at international technical conferences. He retired from the university in 1990, but continued to teach masonry and timber courses for several years. Leonard was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, and was granted many accolades for his teaching and research. He received the CU College of Engineering’s Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award, the Max Peters Faculty Service Award, the Charles Hutchinson Teaching Award, and the American Concrete Institute’s Wason Medal. Leonard was a member of Masonic organizations for 64 years, twice serving as Master of Boulder’s Columbia Lodge 14. He volunteered as a Director of homeowner associations for more than 35 years. Into his 90th year, Leonard had a regular Meals On Wheels delivery route and participated in other community volunteer projects. Since 2011, he enjoyed being a part of Frasier Meadows Manor’s Assisted Living community. His family is grateful for the support of the wonderful staff and residents there. Leonard is predeceased by his parents, his wife Vera, sister Rosalie Kravet, and second wife Crescence Michel Binet Lyman Tulin. He is survived by daughter Holly Tulin of Boulder, and grandson David Laingor of Loveland. His nephew David Kravet and family of Connecticut also survive him. A few days before his death, as he reflected on his experiences, he said repeatedly ‘Tve had a really good life.” He died on 23 August 2016 under the compassionate care of TRU Community Care Hospice in Boulder. At Leonard’s request, services will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions to Engineers Without Borders (1031 33rd Street, Suite 210, Denver, Colorado 80205), or Frasief Meadows Staff Scholarship Fund (http: www.ffasiermeadows.org donate ).