Sven B. Svendsen

1921 - 2025

November 23, 1921 - April 11, 2025 Sven Bollaeren Svendsen, beloved father, grandfather, structural engineer, business leader and decorated WWII hero, died on April 11, 2025 in Palm Desert, California. He was 103.
Sven was born in Kristiansand, Norway to Sverre and Ragnhild Svendsen. When he was 19 years old the Germans invaded Norway. Sven served in the Resistance, saving the life of David C. Besbris, a U.S. Air Force navigator, whose B-17 bomber had been shot down over Norway. For his courage and exceptional service, Sven was awarded medals by the Norwegian Government and Military, and by the U.S. Air Force.
Following the war, Sven completed his structural engineering degree and in 1948 immigrated to New York City, where he met and married Wanda Faith Corbin. Their loving marriage lasted 57 years, until her death in 2009.
Sven's distinguished career included structural engineering work on iconic projects such as the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the first cable-hung roof in America. Sven spent four years in Caracas, Venezuela, building a nuclear reactor and managing a scientific research institute.
Later Sven worked on civilian and military facilities in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam before moving to Los Angeles in 1965. In Los Angeles Sven rose to Principal of AECOM Design of AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm, with 51,000 employees and over 700 offices around the world.
Sven was deeply committed to his family. He wrote many letters to his grandfather and parents. He maintained close contact with his three sisters and cousins in Norway. He took his four daughters, Liv, Berit, Mia and Randi, and his six grandchildren, Chrix, Annika, Kirstin, Tia, Kai and Finn to visit their relatives in Norway many times.
Sven was a good man, a kind man, and a gentleman. He will be sorely missed. A Memorial and Celebration of his life will be held July 11 at Dignity Memorial, 520 W Raye St., Seattle WA 98119.