Support for next generation of engineers

After graduating from UNH with a degree in civil engineering, Robert Bussiere ’59 began what would be a 50-plus-year career in the steel industry, where he worked on projects from schools and skyscrapers to bridges and power plants.

He subsequently became a sought-after resource for work involving preservation and repurposing older structures for modern uses. Examples include the Simon Pearce Mill in Vermont, preserving the building that houses the Portsmouth Athenaeum and extensive work with developers as they transformed Manchester’s Millyard into a bustling multi-use community.

Now, a new scholarship in his name will help engineering students chart their own paths to success. The first recipient, Timothy Barrett ’24 of Hudson, is a mechanical engineering major who hopes to work in renewable energy.

Bussiere passed away in June 2020, but the new scholarship pays homage to his legacy of a storied career and his commitment to family, which includes son Daniel ’89 and niece Christine Ambrose and her husband Jesse ’04 ’10G, who all contributed to create the scholarship, along with others. Ambrose says her father and her uncle grew up during the Great Depression, but thanks to their strong work ethic and creative problem-solving, experienced great success. She believes her uncle would have appreciated this kind of support when he was a UNH undergraduate.

“My Uncle Bob was always determined; that and his grit and generous spirit earned him many accolades and friendships,” says Ambrose. “We hope this scholarship serves as a lasting legacy to help UNH students learn the science of engineering as well as the art of it — which requires patience, perseverance and hard work.”

She recalls her uncle as an “old-school engineer” who was a master of many of the trades of engineering.

“And also,” she says, “just a really kind-hearted guy.”