In Memoriam: Dr. Ward R. Malisch (1939–2025)

The ASCC is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Dr. Ward R. Malisch, who died on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Lebanon, Tennessee, after a courageous battle with cancer. A brilliant engineer, respected educator and dedicated servant to the concrete construction industry, Ward was a valued member of the ASCC family whose contributions left a lasting mark on our organization and membership.

Ward joined the ASCC in 2008 as our first-ever director of engineering, a role he held until 2013. He then served as concrete construction specialist until his retirement in 2020. In both roles, Ward was a vital technical resource for ASCC members across the country, translating complex engineering principles into practical, job-site-ready knowledge that helped members build better and safer concrete projects.

Ward’s career began in academia, following BS, MS, and PhD degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois. He went on to teach at three universities before joining the American Concrete Institute (ACI), where he served as director of engineering, and later as senior managing director. Ward was an honorary member of ACI and an active contributor to several key committees, including ACI 117, 301 and 302, often serving as a bridge between ACI’s technical community and ASCC’s contractor members.

Over his lifetime, he authored or co-authored more than 200 articles, books, reports and papers on subjects of direct importance to ASCC contractors, including tolerances, floors and specifications. His work consistently addressed real-world challenges faced on job sites, and he had a rare gift for offering practical, contractor-focused solutions.

Dr. Malisch wasn’t just a technical expert — he was a mentor, a problem-solver and a champion of concrete contractors. His voice, insights and passion for quality construction helped shape the culture and credibility of the ASCC we know it today. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.

Our thoughts are with his family and all those in the industry who were fortunate to call him a colleague and friend.