By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - James M. Morand was passionate about teaching and the environment. He made an impact internationally - having served as a Fulbright lecturer in Poland, and volunteering in Czechoslovakia - and locally, as a longtime professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati.

"He was very curious about the world and other people. And he was a great family man," said his daughter, Lynn Evans of Mackinaw City, Mich.

Dr. Morand died of multiple myeloma Nov. 23 at his Mariemont home. He was 64.

The Cincinnati native began teaching environmental engineering and science at the University of Cincinnati after earning his Ph.D in engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1964.

Dr. Morand believed everyone should have access to clean, healthy water, and he spent much of his time researching ways to make water cleaner and safer. But his real love, said Ms. Evans, was teaching.

"He wasn't just a research professor. He was very interested in working with his students."

Dr. Morand was raised in Sayler Park and graduated from Western Hills High School in 1955.

He continued his education at the University of Cincinnati, where he completed a bachelor's in civil engineering and a master's in engineering in 1961.

During his tenure as a professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at UC, Dr. Morand was the principal investigator on a project to optimize water treatment plant performance, and led research projects on drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal. He also authored several technical publications.

Dr. Morand served as acting assistant dean of UC's College of Engineering from 1976-'78.

For several years - even after his retirement from the university in 1989 - he worked as an engineering consultant for the Environmental Protection Agency.

In 1991, for six months, Dr. Morand served as a Fulbright lecturer at Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland. His professional pursuits also took him to other parts of Eastern Europe and China.

Dr. Morand was a longtime coach of community girls' softball leagues.

He served as an adviser to the UC Bearcat Band; and was a statistician for the university's football and basketball teams for several years.

He was also a trustee for the Northern Hills United Methodist Church in Finneytown, and a member of the Danforth Association.

For many years, the Morand family took part in the Children's International Summer Village. He served as the treasurer of the organization, in addition to being the chaperone to the Czechoslovakia village.

Besides his daughter, other survivors include his wife of 42 years, Diane; another daughter, Laura Karnes of Mariemont; a sister, Joanne O'Toole of Batavia; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 7701 Kenwood Road in Montgomery.

Burial was in Spring Grove Cemetery in Winton Place.

Memorials: University of Cincinnati Foundation, PO Box 19970, Cincinnati, 45219; or International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607.