Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) lost a long-term academic staff member, Head of Department of Railway Transport at the Faculty of Transport Engineering, Prof. Leonas Povilas Lingaitis. The professor passed away on 19 July 2013 after his illness at the age of 75.

The graduate of Kaunas Polytechnic Institute gained the mechanical engineering diploma in 1964 with the road construction machinery being his major. He worked in the construction bureau at the Radio Factory in Kaunas for 4 years before entering the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute in 1968. In 1971 Leonas P. Lingaitis was awarded the Doctor’s degree in technical sciences and came back to Lithuania to develop his career as an associate professor at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (at that time – Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute). In 1972he worked at the Department of Automobiles and in 1985 he started working in the Department of Technologic Equipment. In 1988 Dr L. P. Lingaitis defended his thesis for Doctor Habilitus degree at Moscow Civil Engineering Institute and in 1990 was awarded the Professor’s title at his home institution.

In 1994 Prof. L.P. Lingaitis was appointed the Head of the newly established Department of Railway Transport at the Faculty of Transport Engineering, and worked there till his last days. The Professor was the Dean of the Faculty of Transport Engineering in the period of 1998–2007.

Prof. Leonas Povilas Lingaitis was the coordinator of a variety of contracts for the research and expert analysis ordered by companies. He was the initiator, the leader, the author and co-author of more than 250 scientific articles, the author of a monograph and the co-author of two monographs. The Professor’s mission in education resulted in his authorship of several manuals and 8 textbooks published for the university students. In 2002 the Ministry of Education and Sciences of the Republic of Lithuania granted L.P. Lingaitis with the state outstanding researcher’s award. In the period of 2003–2006 the Professor won awards for his manuals “Railway Coach Maintenance”, “Diagnostic Analysis of Rail Coaches”, “Maintenance and Reliability of Railway Coaches”.In 2006 on the occasion of VGTU 50th anniversary L. P. Lingaitis was awarded the University golden medal for the professor’s fruitful academic activity and devotion to the academic community. In 2013 the Senate of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University conferred Leonas Povilas Lingaitis the title of Professor Emeritus.

Professor initiated and actively promoted the cooperation between the Department of Railway Transport and “Lithuanian Railways” Plc. Leonas Povilas Lingaitis was elected the member of Railway transport committee in the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), a member of Technical Council in “Lithuanian Railways” Plc., a member of the Engineering Industries Association in Lithuania, and a member of Research and Information Technology Council in the Ministry of Transport and Communications. In 2004 the professor was awarded the name of a “Distinguished Railman” for his active scientific support and influence to the company “Lithuanian Railways”, he was also selected the Chairman of the Union of the Narrow Gauge Railway in Lithuania. Prof. Leonas P. Lingaitis actively participated in international research projects, made over 40 scientific presentations in international conferences. He was involved in partnership activities with the colleagues of the relevant institutions and companies in Latvia, Belorussia, Poland and Ukraine. The professor was the member of editorial boards of two international scientific journals and the member of scientific committee of 5 international scientific conferences.

The colleagues will remember Leonas Povilas Lingaitis as a competent, and demanding leader, and at the same time hardworking, open to suggestions and a kind person.

Everyone who knew the Professor will always keep a bright memory of him. God bless Prof. Leonas Povilas Lingaitis.

prof. Gintautas BUREIKA