Tributes to Elmo DiBiagio

Elmo was really a giant in the instrumentation and monitoring world, with huge experience and deep knowledge of measurement techniques, and a unique capability of “inventing” solutions for the most complicated problems. For his attitude and his capability to solve problems, Prof. Peck wrote about Elmo: “ …But when I look back and remember when you and Laurits (Bjerrum) came into my office to discuss progresses on your thesis, I realize that a lot of years have passed. During those days your genius and ingenuity (two words from the same root) have made you Mr. Instrumentation for the geotechnical world. I’m sure you will look back on this with great satisfaction. You should”. This is probably the best acknowledgment Elmo received.

We all learnt from him and his experience. We all owe him part of what we know, the way we use instrumentation and how to understand measurements. Listening to his words and following his lectures we all have increased our professional skills and human attitude. Elmo was a great man who stimulated others to enjoy facing difficult and challenging problems. He taught us that answers are very often embedded into the smallest details and that our job is  not a “single person’s work” but “team work” and everyone can contribute to the final result.

I have had the privilege of knowing Elmo for more than 40 years and we have been colleagues but, above all, friends, because working with him meant to be friends. We spent time together, we met many times and our families have become closer and closer, and to me Elmo was a mentor, an example, a reference. I will miss him but will never forget what he gave me.

Grazie Elmo, always with us. 

Giorgio Pezzetti

On behalf of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), I wish to thank Elmo for his lifetime of achievements.

Elmo worked for NGI for 40 years and then 20 more years as a retiree. He never really retired from his professional life.

Elmo led the development of instrumentation and safety monitoring at NGI and made it a success with his solid theoretical background and ingenuity, combined with exceptional technical and practical insight.

He established NGI as an international leader within instrumentation and monitoring, working on, for example, the Oslo tunnels in very soft clays, dams in Norway and abroad, offshore platforms and wind turbines.

What a professional life Elmo has had!

Everyone at NGI knew him, we are 350 people mourning him today, from Houston to Perth, Australia. To us, he was a force of nature, the man of legends and fabulous stories:

Elmo lowered down in a basket from a helicopter to an offshore platform, under strong winds and high waves;

Elmo unexpectedly stuck in a diving boat for 5 days, unable to return to base because of bad weather.

Elmo was the Red Adair of geotechnical monitoring!

Elmo appreciated creativity and quality, he gave credit where it was due, and then went on to further develop, bringing new solutions to the engineering world. It was impressive how Elmo, with the new technology developing at lightning speed, followed the new developments and continued to create and give advice.

Not surprisingly, upon his ("quasi")-retirement in 1998, a volume called "A Tribute to Elmo" assembled gratitude and recognition from all corners of the world. Among those: Professor Ralph B. Peck – one of the true greats of geotechnical engineering, said: “Your genius and ingenuity have made you Mr. Instrumentation for the entire geotechnical world".

Elmo liked to quote Lord Kelvin: "To measure is to know. If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." He lived by these words, both scientifically and personally.

Elmo was profoundly interested in the well-being and the future of NGI, his loyalty was exemplary. He was the one fighting to keep NGI's unique culture, inspiring us to write the story of NGI, to write professional papers: he himself summarized the evolution of instrumentation and monitoring.

He wanted NGI to thrive as a family, to be successful and become a world leader. And, …. he certainly succeeded in his area of expertise!

Thank you Elmo

‒          For inspiring several generations of NGI engineers and scientists.

‒          For keeping NGI at the forefront, with new robust solutions.

‒          For being our friend, always willing to help, both professionally and privately.

‒          [Thank you, Elmo,] for just being you!

We are left with the memory of an incredibly fine colleague and a wonderful human being. Elmo gave us so much as a person, as an engineer and as a colleague. He was a true mentor.

An outstanding member of the NGI family has passed away. It is with gratitude and pride that we think about Elmo, and all the experiences we shared with him. Elmo's skill, commitment and contribution will forever be written in NGI's history. We thank him for his life contribution.

We send our thoughts to Jorunn and her family who have helped make Elmo the unique person he was.

May Elmo rest in peace!

Suzanne Lacasse