Stephen E. Silliman

Dr. Stephen E. Silliman , (also known to his students as Super Sillyman) passed away at the age of 68, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve was the former Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at Trevecca Nazarene University, the former Dean of Engineering at Gonzaga University, and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Steve graduated from Lake Forest High School and received a degree in Civil Engineering from Princeton University. He enjoyed music and playing trumpet in jazz bands, both in High School and at Princeton.  He also enjoyed experiencing God’s creation through mountain hikes and bicycle touring. In later years, nature photography became a favorite hobby. Spending time with his three sons was also a top priority. He enjoyed helping to coach their youth soccer leagues and travelling with them whenever possible.  His Christian faith was central to his family and work life.

After receiving a Master’s Degree from the University of Arizona Department of Hydrology and Water Resources in 1981, Steve worked as a hydrologist for the U. S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia for a year before returning to Arizona to continue his graduate studies. Steve met his wife, Julie (Engelhart) Silliman (Notre Dame class of 1978) while they were graduate students at the University of Arizona, and they enjoyed more than 40 years together.

Following receipt of his doctorate in 1986, Steve began his professional career working as an Assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, Steve engaged in foundational research projects related to the study of groundwater contaminant transport. He published dozens of professional papers related to this work.

Heavily involved in international development projects, Steve took dozens of Notre Dame students to Haiti in the 1990s to help drill and repair water wells and train local teams of well drillers.  He began working with colleagues in Sub Saharan Africa in 1998, where he continued to facilitate the drilling of water wells in villages in Benin, West Africa but also worked with students on water related research and development projects in Benin.  Students worked with villages to determine ways to help protect existing water wells from human and animal waste contamination.  Steve also taught and collaborated with researchers at the University d’Abomey-Calavi in Benin West Africa and Universities in other African Countries, including Uganda and Ghana.  Steve was perhaps most proud of the development of international experiences that allowed students and faculty to work together on complex, interdisciplinary water resource development, pursued in research teams with their overseas counterparts. Steve was especially gratified by the many students that reached out to him over the years to share how formative these international experiences were in their lives. Steve taught a number of short courses to University students in Benin and served on advisory committees for several international PhD students as well.

In 1998, Steve received a Fulbright award to collaborate with colleagues on water contaminant transport issues at the Weitzman Institute in Rehovot, Israel.  He also served in administrative roles at Notre Dame as the associate chair of his department and as associate dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering.

In 2011 Steve became the National Groundwater Research and Educational Foundation (NGWA) Darcy Lecturer.  He traveled to over 60 locations throughout the world sharing his research efforts in Benin, West Africa.

Dedicated to teaching and mentoring his students, Steve received several teaching awards, including the Notre Dame College of Engineering outstanding teacher of the year in 1992 and 2003 and the American Society of Engineering Educators Outstanding Teaching Award (Illinois-Indiana Section) in 2006 and Global Engineering and Technology Educator Award in 2006.  He also received several service awards from the University of Notre Dame, including the Grenville Clark Award for peace and human rights in 2002, the Rev. Toohey Award for Social Justice in 2004 and the Rodney F. Ganey Faculty Community-Based Research award in 2007.

Steve contributed to several Professional Associations and, at various times, was associate editor of the Journal of Hydrology, Ground Water, Water Resources Research and Journal of Hydrogeology.

After 26 years working as a research scientist, teacher and administrator, Steve retired from the University of Notre Dame in 2012.  That same year he became the Dean of the College of Engineering at Gonzaga University.  In 2018 Steve received a Jefferson fellowship to work with the U.S Agency for International Development Global Development Lab in Washington D.C.  After that sabbatical year, he returned to Gonzaga University as a Professor of Engineering and Senior University Fellow for International Development.

In 2021, Steve became the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at Trevecca Nazarene University, where he continued his research related to international development and helped Trevecca continue to grow as a solid educator in the STEM-related disciplines, including helping to launch a new 4-year nursing program, until complications from pancreatic cancer forced him to step down in 2024.  Steve was honored that a scholarship fund was established in his name at Trevecca to help enable future students at Trevecca to train for STEM-related careers.

Steve is survived by his wife, Julie, his three children: Carl, Scott and Timothy, his brother and sister, William Silliman and Nancy Shaw and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Monday April 7, 2025 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 11:00 am in Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Stephen Silliman STEM scholarship fund at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN ( https://www.givecampus.com/rznne6) or the Global Water Center, ( https://globalwatercenter.org ).

Arrangements by Bond Memorial Chapel, 1098 Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773- 2663, www.bondmemorial.com