One of Wollongong's most experienced civil engineers died at the weekend, aged 78.
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Ross Sherson died on Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack and is survived by his wife, Sherryl Sherson, sons Mark and Wayne, daughter Colette Sherson and stepsons Brett and Grant.
Mr Sherson achieved much during his 50-year career and his legacy can be seen in many buildings around the city.
But it was a frightening prediction he made in the 1980s that made headlines in September 2001 when two aircraft slammed into New York's World Trade Centre towers.
Less than two decades before, Mr Sherson studied the likely effects of a 747 aircraft hitting the World Trade Centre when he attended an inservice course at the University of NSW.
He admitted to feeling shock when the theoretical exercise turned into reality on September 11, 2001.
The university course investigated vibrations in buildings and explored whether the World Trade Centre would fall over if hit by a jumbo jet.
Those involved in the project estimated the building would move about three metres sideways but would not fall down.
When the towers were hit, they did vibrate and did not collapse. His prediction was correct because it was the fire that brought the buildings down much later when the steel columns heated up and then softened.
Mr Sherson's career predominantly took place in Wollongong but he also worked interstate in Victoria and overseas in Brunei. He came to Wollongong in 1950 and soon became one of the most respected and knowledgeable civil and structural engineers in the Illawarra. Most of his business was done under the business name Sherson and Associates until his retirement in 2001.
Close friend and work colleague David Miles described him as a man with a big, deep baritone voice who was highly regarded by many.
"Ross was incredibly respected by his peers, his clients and by everyone that he met during his professional career," Mr Miles said.
"He never shied away from a challenge and he believed strongly in his principles. Ross worked on every imaginable project from humble single-storey residences to multistorey residential, shopping centres, commercial buildings and everything in between.
Some of his most high-profile work was his connection with the terror attacks at 9/11, and the recent landing of the 747 at Albion Park Rail. You can drive down any street in Wollongong and it is a treasure trove of the examples of his engineering work.
His legacy is everywhere from the North Bay apartments to Sorrento, from IMB commercial premises, to exotic architectural masterpieces."
Mr Miles said Mr Sherson would also be remembered for his laughter and his work in the local wine industry.
His funeral will be held at 3pm on Friday at Hansen & Cole, Northcliffe Drive, Berkeley.