Mehmet Civgin

Mehmet Civgin, 92, of Glenview, Illinois, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 1,
2022.

Mehmet (known as Dede if you happened to be his grandchild) was born in Omcular Koyu,
Kastamonu, Turkey on December 19, 1929. He was the eldest of two children born to Izzet and
Hatice Civgin. He attended both elementary and high school in Kastamonu, and earned a
scholarship to Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul. Mehmet graduated in 1951 with a degree
in civil engineering. He joined the Turkish Highway Department and led many road and traffic
projects, including the foundational feasibility study for the first Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
He attended engineering programs in Washington DC, Atlanta, and Boston as well as the
Middle East Public Administration Institute in Ankara.

In 1960, Mehmet married Gul Kuday in Istanbul. They moved to Chicago in April 1966 with their
son Dogan and welcomed a daughter, Oya, in 1967. Mehmet joined the Chicago Area
Transportation Study, eventually becoming Chief Traffic Engineer, and attended further courses
at Northwestern, Princeton, and the University of Illinois.

Mehmet enjoyed reading (especially history books), classical music, chess and bridge, all of
which took a back seat to spending time with his grandchildren. Mehmet was a true
gentlemen, possessing and encouraging simple grace.

Mehmet is survived by his wife, Gul, his children Dogan (Susan Civgin), Oya (Aydin Akgun), and
his grandchildren Ian Civgin, Catherine Civgin, Eliz Akgun, and Erin Akgun.

Mehmet cared deeply about advancing educational opportunities for underprivileged children,
particularly girls. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mehmet Civgin Scholarships
through Turkish American Women’s Scholarship Fund (TAWSF.com)

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