Thomas William Brockenbrough
July 14, 1920 - August 14, 2026
Thomas William Brockenbrough, 106, died on August 14, 2026, at Paramount Senior Living at Newark, where he had resided for the last four years.
Tom was born on July 14, 1920, in Buena Vista, VA, to Bernard Jeremiah and Lucy Myrtle (Orr) Brockenbrough. The second of eight children, he grew up in Buena Vista and graduated from Perry McCluer High School. He attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, for one year then transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg. In 1942, Tom graduated from VPI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He supported the war effort in the next years in the aircraft industry with Glenn L. Martin in Baltimore. In 1945, he enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1946.
After a few years in California with the Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, CA, he returned to Virginia to teach Civil Engineering at VPI in 1949. In 1953, he joined the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Delaware, where he was on the faculty until his retirement. At UD he taught nearly all subjects within the field of civil engineering and served as Department Chair (1957-1960 and 1975-80) and Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering (1964-1974). At various times, he served as advisor to the student chapters of ASCE, Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Chi Epsilon. Tom was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (Delaware Section President in 1964), the American Concrete Institute, the American Society for Engineering Education, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi and Chi Epsilon. In 1979, the Delaware Engineering Society honored him as Engineer of the Year. Upon his retirement in 1988, he served on the ASCE National Board of Directors
Tom met Mary Louise Kocher in 1953, when they were both chaperoning undergraduate events at UD. They were married in 1954, and moved to Windy Hills, Newark. Tom and Mary Lou raised two children, Bill and Mary Alice, and were active in scouting, church and community life. Tom was also an avid gardener, filling their yard with flowers and a vegetable garden. Tom was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, where he served as an elder, taught Sunday School, and participated in committee work.
In the community, Tom was active for many years with the Delaware Academy of Science, volunteering many hours at their Iron Hill Museum, and serving as President of the Academy in 1978. Tom served on the Council and the Examining Committee of the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers. He served on the Advisory Board for the Delaware Administration for Regional Transportation in the 1970s, including a term as Board Secretary. For several decades, beginning in 1973, he chaired the City of Newark’s Board of Building Appeals. In retirement, he enjoyed several years as a volunteer with the Delaware Master Gardeners.
Tom was predeceased by Mary Lou, who passed away in 2016. He is survived by his brother Roger L. Brockenbrough, son T. William (Kimberly) Brockenbrough Jr., and daughter Mary (William) Sears, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff of Paramount Senior Living at Newark, and the Bayada Health staff who cared for him there. Thanks also to the congregation and staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, and the St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Hockessin, DE.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church (Newark), 292 West Main Street, Newark, DE, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch in Memorial Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s honor may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, Attn: Financial Secretary, 292 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711 or online by clicking here, the St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 or online by clicking here, or any of the other organizations mentioned above.
Mary Banks
Praying for your strength and that the Lord comforts you and your family during this time of bereavement. Your dad lived a remarkable long, rewarding life of service. He truly is inspirational and a remarkable man of faith. May he rest in paradise.
Tom and Judy
You have our love and prayers. So thankful for your dad’s long life!! may God grant you peace.
Joyce Shaw
I am sorry for your loss. What a remarkable life! May his memory be a blessing.
John M Kennel Jr
I am sorry for your loss.
Kimberly K. Raff
Tom was a very special friend to me and taught me a lot about love and faith. As a Deacon with First Presbyterian Church (Newark), I visited Tom several times and shared my first home communion service experience with him. Tom and I had some great conversations and enjoyed sharing pictures of our families. Tom always spoke so lovingly and proudly of his family. I will forever cherish our laughs, taking selfies together and Tom showing me his hand weights and exercise he did daily. (1 of the keys to his longevity, he told me). Tom, I will miss you. Rest in peace my dear friend. All love, Kim Raff
Martina Culik Moore
I was a civil engineering student at UofD and had Professor Brockenbough for a few courses. The one I most fondly remembered was the Surveying course I took during Winter Session. We went out a midnight to shoot Polaris, and had to be reminded not to bring spirits even though the temperture was in the high 20s. We also surveyed a rail siding on North Campus during the day, with temperature in the 30s, and Professor Brockenbrough showed up eating an ice cream cone! Lovely memories of a sweet, kind, and knowledgable man!
Drew Persinko
I graduated UD with an undergraduate degree in civil engineering in 1974 and had Prof Brockenbrough for several civil engineering courses. He was a great professor, always willing to meet with and help students. He played a big role in my life. Not only did I have him as a professor, but when I was considering attending UD, I visited the school with my parents and we spoke with Prof Brockenbrough at length in his office when he was the Assistant Engineering Dean. That conversation was the reason I chose to attend UD. I loved his dry sense of humor. He will definitely be missed by the college and everyone with whom he came in contact. — Drew Persinko
Rob McCleary
I am a civil engineer and had the great fortune of having Professor Brockenbrough at the University of Delaware for two structural engineering courses, concrete design and timber structures. He was by far my favorite professor and inspired my love of civil engineering. He made complex concepts understandable by offering real-life practical examples. He was genuine and kind. He even gave me a reference so I could land my first job out of school. I count myself lucky to have been his student.
Sireen Muhtaseb
My sincere condolences to Bill Brockenbrough and family and may the memories of Thomas Brockenbrough give them peace and comfort.