Remembering Paul Godlewski

It is with a heavy heart that we reflect on the memory of our friend and colleague, Paul Godlewski.

Paul spent 44 years at Shannon & Wilson, and was beloved by his colleagues for his knowledge, technical expertise, humility, and kindness to others. A mentor and company leader, Paul served on the Shannon & Wilson Board of Directors and was the former Seattle Office Manager. 

Paul attended the University of Illinois from 1971 to 1978, graduating with a master’s degree in civil engineering. In 1977, as a research assistant, he studied the consolidation behavior of clay soils and co-authored a famous paper in the geotechnical community called Time and Stress Compressibility Interrelationship. His research is still in practice in the geotechnical industry and referenced in geotechnical textbooks.
After graduation, Paul moved to Seattle. In 1978, he joined Shannon & Wilson, where he spent his entire professional career.

During his long and accomplished career, Paul managed and worked on hundreds of tunnel and railroad engineering projects, many of which shaped the structure of our communities. Paul’s work included Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail System, the North Corridor and Beacon Hill Light Rail Tunnel, the East Link project, the SR-99 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel, and extensive work at Howard Hanson Dam. 

In addition to his professional achievements, Paul had a strong understanding of giving back to his community. He volunteered with the Chore Ministry to help those in need and served as a volunteer tax preparer for low-income families. After being diagnosed with cancer, he joined a support group, which he helped co-lead and worked with to help support others.