George Kateiva
KATEIVA, George Anatole Raymond, DiplIng(Hons) MIEAust (1924-2021)
George was born in Skuodas, in north west Lithuania on January 7, 1924, the son of schoolteachers, Vladas Kateiva and Brone Kateiva (nee Erimenas).
George’s secondary education was at Kaunas High School.
In 1940, he started his studies at the University of Kaunas, completing three years of study. In 1943, he escaped from the advancing Russian Army by rowing a dinghy into Germany and travelling to Bamberg where his aunt and uncle lived. He met his wife Birute Maria Cibulskas (Betty) here in a displaced persons camp. They married in 1946.
Post-war he was accepted into Technische Hoschschule Munich where he completed an engineering diploma with honours. In 1946, as a structural engineer draftsman, he helped rebuild bridges in Bamberg.
George, Betty and their young daughter Virginia arrived at Fremantle on the “SS Mozaffari”on May 21, 1949. George and the other men were segregated from their families and he went to dormitory accommodation in Northam. He initially worked as a janitor at the camp before working with a builder at Dalwallinu.
He returned to his engineering career with work at the architects, Krantz and Sheldon before establishing himself as a consulting engineer in 1954.
George gained world wide recognition in the design of load bearing brick structures in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He spoke at events, in the USA, Japan and Europe, such as the International Masonry Conference held at Keele University, Staffordshire, England in 1970. After the Meckering Earthquake of 1968, he was involved with geologist Ray Gordon and the University of Western Australia in formulating seismic theory for local State and Federal building codes.
With Krantz and Sheldon he was involved with the iconic “thermos flask” Mount Eliza Apartments (1964), Windsor Towers South Perth (1969) and Broadway Fair, Nedlands (1972).
With architect Peter Parkinson he was involved in the design of the Subiaco Arts Centre (1957), UWA Octagon Theatre (1969), UWA Dolphin Theatre (1976) and the restoration of the His Majesties Theatre.
During the 1970’s, George pioneered the use of on site formed and precast panels for floor slabs.
With architect, Raymond Jones, they developed the Tetrakit system of prefabricated kit homes for the North West in the wake of cyclone Tracy in 1974.
George and Betty had three children, Virginia, Dian and Artur. Artur joined George in establishing Modus Design and Construction which used lightweight steel framing and tilt panel construction in residential projects.
George joined the Institution of Engineers as a Junior Member in 1950, becoming a Member in 1953. He was also a Member of the WA Panel of Consulting Engineers.
George died on July 14, 2021, at Shawford Lodge, Innaloo, aged 97. He was predeceased by his wife Betty who had died in 2010.
References:
Obituary by Peter Elliot, West Australian 15.10.2021, p. 73.
The WAY 79 Who is Who, Margaret A Sacks (editor), Crawley Publishers, Nedlands, 1980.
West Australian, 27.2.1954, p. 40.
