Siegfried Fassmann
Obituary

Siegfried Fassmann (Oct 16, 1942 -Sep 3, 2025) predeceased by his father, Josef, his mother, Anna and his brother, Bruno Fassmann. He leaves behind his loving wife, Stella, daughters, Julie and Lynn Murphy.

Siegfried was an engineer whose life‘s work helped shape the very paths that brought communities closer, made commerce more efficient, and helped shape a more connected future.

A graduate of the University of Technology, Munich, Germany, and later, earning his Masters degree from the University of Toronto Canada, he quickly distinguished himself in the field of transportation infrastructure. His work included the development of part of the city of Calgary‘s light rail transit system. While working for BRW in Portland, Oregon Siegfried served as the Design Manager for the Trimet Westside MAX Blue Line Extension. This project involved extending the light rail transit system from Southwest Portland under the West Hills of the suburban city of Hillsboro. The extension included Washington Park Station, a 3-mile long twin-bore tunnel under the West Hills. The extension included the Washington Park station, which at the time,  was the deepest transit station in North America at least 260 feet below ground.

While employed at URS, Siegfried served as Project Manager for the Mission Valley East SDSU Segment Light Rail Extension for the San Diego Trolley Green Line. The project designed and constructed a tunnel under San Diego State University, connecting the Grantville and La Mesa segments of the 6.9-mile extension. It also included the only underground transit station on the San Diego Trolley system network.

In Seattle, WA, Siegfried was the Senior Track Advisor on the Floating Bridge to develop a track attachment system for the track way across the I90 floating rail structure.

While working for AECOM, Siegfried was the Design Project Manager during the construction phase of North County Transit District's SPRINTER Rail project. The project involved building a commuter rail line along the freight corridor between Oceanside and Escondido, California constructing 22 miles of new track and 15 new passenger stations, two new bridge structures crossing over State Route 78 and a rail loop segment to serve the California State University at San Marcos.

Other professional highlights were Speciality Designs for Floating Bridge crossing Lake Washington, Design Built reviews for EXPO Phase ll for the City of Santa Monica. Review of the PMOC World Trade Centre-Calatrava Oculus Design and Subway Extensions, FTA, NY. Special Track Design for the Airport Extension, Salt Lake City, Utah.

While working at David Evans and Associates, Siegfried managed the design of numerous rail transit projects for the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), before retiring in 2015.

Siegfried was an avid skier and enthusiastic golfer, who loved to travel. In his professional life, he was more than an engineer. He was a collaborator, a mentor, and a leader, whose integrity guided every project. His colleagues remember him as a meticulous designer, a generous teacher, and an advocate, for safety, innovation, and excellence. He was a lifelong member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.

Those Siegfried’s tracks may end here, the journey he made possible continues – – in every train station that runs safely, in every bridge that holds strong, and every young engineer, inspired by his example.

He will be deeply missed by family, friends and colleagues, and forever remembered.