Florida’s engineering community is mourning the loss of our friend and fellow engineer, Don Ditzenberger, PE. For more than a century, Florida’s Professional Engineers have been designing and shaping the future of our state, safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of all Floridians. Few embodied that mission more fully than Don.
A lifelong champion of the profession, Don’s vision and dedication led to the creation of the Don Ditzenberger Florida Engineering Society Historical Museum, which preserves the skills and contributions of Florida’s engineers for generations to come.
Members of the Florida Engineering Society (FES), American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida), and the Florida Engineering Foundation (FEF) know well the depth of Don’s commitment to both the profession and the community he served.
Don spent a lifetime helping to shape Florida’s future. His professional journey began in 1969 when he received his PE license. That same year, he joined FES and remained active in the association for more than 50 years.
While living in Broward County, he served as an officer and chair for numerous FES local chapter committees. Don volunteered for the very first MATHCOUNTS® competition and stayed involved in this middle-school educational competition throughout his career. After relocating to Jacksonville, he joined and became active in the Northeast Florida FES Chapter, where he continued to support both chapters with the same dedication and passion.
As a recognition of his tremendous contributions and service to the engineering community, Don was awarded the FES Engineer of the Year honor in 1990, the FES Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession award in 1995, and he was the first and only recipient of the FES Legends Award in 2012.
