Dr. Murray I. Mantell passed away peacefully at home on February 9, 2020 at 102 years old. He was born in New York City on September 6, 1917 and attended the University of Miami from 1935 to 1938 as a physics major and subsequently transferred to the University of Florida where he earned a BS in mechanical engineering and a Master of Engineering degree. Additionally, he held a diploma in naval architecture from The Citadel, an MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a PhD from the University of Texas.
Dr. Mantell was a beloved University of Miami Professor Emeritus and founding Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, as well as a Miami Beach pioneer. Working alongside his father, John Mantell in their firm, Dr. Mantell built many of the famous Art Deco hotels and homes in the 1920s designed by architect Henry Hohauser. In addition to his 57-year career at UM, Dr. Mantell was a renowned community activist, environmentalist, and leader in many civic and professional organizations, serving on a number of national, city and county boards and committees, including the Dade County Quality Education Committee, Dade County Water and Sewer Board, past chapter president of four professional engineering societies and in his late 80s and early 90s was elected to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and served as Vice Chairman. His first textbook, published in 1955, was adopted by over 200 universities and community colleges. In 1964, he authored the first textbook related to engineering ethics. Additionally, he was the recipient of a national award for outstanding teaching and a British Admiralty Commendation for engineering achievement during World War II, among numerous other accomplishments.
Dr. Mantell was married to his beloved wife, Rose Tern Mantell for 67 years. Dr. Mantell is survived by his four children Melodie Berdoll, Andrea Mantell Seidel, Tobi Mansfield, and John H. Mantell; grandchildren Mia Lamm, Brett Berdoll, Nicole Moody, David Seidel, and Merina Seidel; great grandchildren, Mariah Lamm, Jordana Lamm, Dalton Moody, and Dakota Moody and sisters Gloria Mantell Pallot and Sally Raylesberg.
The Mantell family has generously donated copies of Dr. Mantell’s Handbook for Living to give complimentary to any faculty, student, staff, or alumni who would like. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please email James W. Carras, Development Associate, at jwcarras@miami.edu.
As many alumni know, Dr. Mantell always endeavored to help Engineering students get scholarships to attend UM. What would please him most would be contributions, however small, to the Murray I. Mantell Scholarship fund so that any needy student who wishes to study Engineering would have the means to do so. Donations can be made online to the Murray I. Mantell UM College of Engineering Scholarship by visiting www.miami.edu/murray-mantell.
