Liam (Bill) McCumiskey, who died last week aged 64, left his mark from Sudan to Zambia, and in Ireland with an important and well-regarded institutional legacy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A water engineer and environmentalist with a strong commitment to public and international service, he retired earlier this year as director-general of the EPA and had previously been chief executive of An Foras Forbartha.
In 1984 Bill McCumiskey and a colleague visited Sudan to determine how the government might assist in relief work following the disastrous drought and famine.
The result was a rural water-supply project in the central region (Gezira, Blue Nile and White Nile provinces) for which he acted as consultant.
Goats and sheep were slaughtered for feasts in his honour and brass bands played to celebrate his role in the provision of that most precious of commodities, safe drinking water.
Liam Martin McCumiskey was born on November 8th, 1937, the son of James McCumiskey, a motor mechanic, and his wife, Josephine (née Francis), of New Road, Galway.
He went to school at St Joseph's, Nun's Island, where he founded and edited a school newspaper while still a primary pupil.
He studied civil engineering at University College Galway, graduating in 1960. He went to work for Galway County Council, later moving to Sligo County Council and there first met his wife, Cathleen McGowan of Teesan.
He left the council to join a local consulting engineering firm that specialised in water supply and water treatment systems and, apart from a brief spell with Cavan County Council, he remained with it, gaining experience which proved invaluable when he joined An Foras Forbartha.
An Foras Forbartha was established in the early 1960s with United Nations help and initially concentrated on physical planning, and road and building construction. In 1969 Bill McCumiskey joined the water resources division soon after its establishment.
His work in this area led him to complete an MSc in Trinity College Dublin in 1972 and it was around this time that he established the network of hydrometric offices to quantify water resources in the State.
Six years later he was promoted to head the water resources division and he set about establishing the network of regional laboratories in Monaghan, Kilkenny and Castlebar. The division did ground-breaking work on water quantity and quality both in rivers, lakes and estuaries Both the hydrometric and laboratory networks are now part of the EPA.
When the authorities in Bahrain sought someone to reorganise its water-supply directorate he seized the opportunity for An Foras Forbartha and spent two years there heading a 700-strong workforce recruited in India and the Far East. His work, which led to the term "Bahraini Special" entering the engineering lexicon, was completed on time and transferred to local management.
In 1983 he was appointed chief executive officer of An Foras Forbartha and two years later he was in Zambia - under armed guard - installing wells in villages around the country.
He also inspected projects in Libya and Tanzania. But, with the sudden, unexpected dissolution of An Foras Forbartha in 1987, his attention turned to securing positions elsewhere for the staff. It was a stressful time for everyone involved, but Bill McCumiskey did sterling work in helping people to find alternative employment in the public service
He continued as director of the environmental research unit and in 1992 travelled to Bulgaria to oversee European Union assistance for institutional building.
With the setting up of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1993 he was appointed director-general and in 2000 had his appointment extended a further two years.
Since its inception the agency has grown to a 250-strong organisation which is respected by all stakeholders throughout the country.
Bill McCumiskey oversaw the construction of the EPA's headquarters in Wexford, as well as a number of new premises around the country. He achieved a long-term ambition by merging the agency's Dublin laboratory and offices in Richview on the UCD campus.
He also served in the FCA which he joined in 1953. Each year part of his annual leave from work was devoted to training exercises with the 5th Field Engineering Company, Western Brigade, in which he held the rank of commandant.
He is survived by his wife, Cathleen; son, James; daughters, Helen, Maeve and Clodagh; and sisters, Maudie, Teresa and Kit.
Bill McCumiskey: born November 8th 1937; died October 24th, 2002.