Vale Alan Obrart, a true AIRAH legend

February 4, 2025

AIRAH is sad to inform members that former president and James Harrison Medallist Alan Obrart, L.AIRAH, has passed away aged 83.

Alan was a true legend of both AIRAH and the Australian HVAC&R industry. He held the AIRAH presidency from 1991–92 and was awarded the James Harrison Medal – the Institute’s highest honour – in 2018. He was an AIRAH member for 43 years, having joined in 1981.

Alan also held distinguished positions with Engineers Australia, the Society of Building Services Engineers, RACCA and AMCA. In 2014, he was inducted into the ARBS Hall of Fame.

A storied career

As part of AIRAH’s 100 Faces campaign to celebrate the Institute’s centenary, Alan was asked why he decided to pursue a career in HVAC&R building services. He responded with typical dry humour: “An early interest in air conditioning as a technology … and the delusion I could make good money in this industry.”

Alan was the owner of a design-and-construct air conditioning contracting business, which ran from 1976–2000. After selling the business, he continued as a consulting engineer in building services.

When most people might be looking to retire, he also took on the role of adjunct senior lecturer and co-ordinator for Sydney University’s graduate building services program, where he worked to provide better learning outcomes for young (and not so young) engineers and architects.

The mighty pen

One of Alan’s greatest attributes was his willingness to share his knowledge with others in the industry. He was a regular contributor to Ecolibrium, AIRAH’s official journal, having last penned a feature in December 2023. In 2016, he published a textbook: Building Services Engineering for Architects and Building Services Professionals.

Alan’s writing was witty and insightful, but never flippant; he had a knack for taking complex technical issues and presenting them in a way people could understand. He also took the time to explore multiple perspectives in his writing, always acknowledging that there were other sides to the story and trying to understand them rather than deriding them.

Ecolibrium will indeed be poorer without Alan’s regular contributions.

Remembering the man

At a touching memorial service held on October 27, Philip Levy paid tribute to his friend of 66 years.

“Alan would have protested loudly if called an intellectual, striving always to the highest standards, recognition by his peers, setting and achieving difficult goals,” Philip said in his eulogy. “For example, Alan achieved his Master of Philosophy, a gruelling two years of individual research, in his mid-70s – most of us had wandered off to smell the roses by then.

“He was very smart, but modest about it. He was enquiring, persistent, set high goals and achieved them. He was generous with his time and skills. He was loud, funny, enthusiastic and great company. He had great courage. He always looked forward, not backward. His optimism was relentless and never failing.

“He was an inspiration and a great bloke.”

Alan was the beloved husband of Alexa, father to Natalie and Juliet, grandpa to Alice, Rose and Lawrence, and brother to Lindsay. He will be sorely missed by Nicholas, Duncan and Guy. AIRAH sends its deepest condolences to Alan’s family and friends.