Dimitry K. Vergun

Born in Prague to parents Kiril Vergun, Civil Engineer, and Vera Vergun, artist and Concert Pianist trained by Rachmaninoff. Dimitry became eldest brother to Alexei Vergun after the family moved to Yugoslavia. In 1941, the family was captured by the Nazis in Belgrade and were taken to a labor camp in Germany. After the war ended, stateless, orphaned and in care of extended family, they immigrated to the US where they joined other Slavic refugees at The Tolstoy Foundation in New York State run by Alexandra Tolstoy.

He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, with a scholarship to the Memphis Academy of Art and decided to pursue architecture and engineering. He graduated from MIT in architecture in 1956 where he was co-captain of the basketball team and the highest scorer in MIT history at the time. He was recruited by the Lakers but decided to pursue engineering instead and graduated with a MS in Structural Engineering from Stanford in 1957.

From 1960-1969, he was Chief Engineer for Reid & Tarics in San Francisco. From 1969-1972 he was EVP of Dukor Modular Systems, specializing in factory housing using lightweight steel. From 1973 until he retired at the age of 80, he was in private practice and teaching Building Science and Architecture at USC. He was one of the world’s experts in designing buildings for earthquake and environmental safety and an expert witness for litigation cases.

He was co-author with James Ambrose of: 1980 – Simplified Building Design for Wind and Earthquake Forces; 2nd edition 1990; 4th edition 1994; 5th edition 1997; 1985 – Seismic Design of Buildings; 1987 – Design for Lateral Forces; 1999 – Design for Earthquakes.

Dimitry was directly involved in the Los Angeles Tennis League, winning Men’s Double Championships. Loved to sail and swim in the Pacific Ocean. An avid artist and accomplished watercolorist. He was a mentor and employer of talented students from the USC School of Architecture and Engineering. Including, architects and engineers who relocated to the US from places such as Russia, Poland, Armenia, and Iran.

Survived by former wife, Dr. Judith Vergun, daughters Shannon Vergun, Sasha Vergun, Dr. Anna Vergun, and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his honor to: Heal-the-Bay, The Audubon Society, or The Nature Conservancy.