Beloved city engineer remembered by family, friends

Robert Westerman dedicated 40 years of his life to the City of Shreveport's Engineering department. As the department's director, he oversaw major design and construction activity on drainage, water and sewer projects, as well as street repairs. He answered multiple media inquiries about the city's efforts to improve its infrastructure. And he made many friends along the way who remember him fondly and will miss him greatly. Westerman died Dec. 26 in Shreveport. Patrick Furlong, the interim engineering director, has worked with Westerman for the past six years. He said Westerman "was an expert in basically everything." "He knew everything about Shreveport, and he was very interested in history as well, which is essential for engineering," Furlong said. "He was a really great friend and a good person. There will be a void in this department." Furlong said Westerman had recently undergone several surgeries, from which he was recovering. Westerman's family, in his obituary, gave special thanks to Dr. Robert Hernandez, Laura Perkins, Dr. Scott Howard and "the many other medical professionals for their care and compassion."