Arkan Say

Arkan Say, age 88, of Cochranville PA, passed away peacefully at home on February 12, 2024. He was born on March 10, 1935 in Istanbul, Turkey to the late Fuat & Zehra Say.  

Arkan’s education began in Istanbul where, while in high school, he set his eyes on a career in civil engineering. At the local Y he mastered English well enough to gain admission to Robert College (an American University in Istanbul). He also learned to play soccer at the Y and became proficient enough when he got older to play with a minor league team. This helped to pay for his education. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in 1957 he came to the United States where he earned a Master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Delaware. He returned to Turkey in 1963-1965 to serve in the Turkish Army. With his fluency in English, he became the interpreter for a four-star general. 

After being discharged, he returned to the United States and married Carol Harris on November 13, 1965, whom he had met at the University of Delaware in 1961. He became a Naturalized Citizen in 1971 and always had a copy of the Constitution nearby. He began his professional career in 1958 working for Edward H Richardson Associates, an engineering firm in Newark DE. His first assignment there was on a survey crew working on the new Interstate-95. He remained at Richardson Associates (which later merged into Tetra Tech) for 45 years, eventually becoming President of Richardson and then Vice President of Engineering at Tetra Tech. It was truly the American Dream. Arkan’s professional affiliations included the Delaware Engineering Society, the University of Delaware Engineering Alumni Association and the American Arbitration Association.  In 1985 he was named Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Delaware College of Engineering. In 1991 he was selected as the Engineer of the Year by the Delaware Engineering Society. In 2013 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers. 

Arkan returned to the Y in the 80’s when his son Aydin joined the Western Y’s soccer league. He coached for many years, then served on their Board of Directors. He was instrumental in the development of their soccer complex. In 1983 he was appointed Outstanding Adult Volunteer and in 1989 Volunteer of the Year for the Delaware Valley YMCAs. His record of community service also included the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce and other business boards.   He always believed it was important to give back to your community. 

During his life and into retirement Arkan enjoyed participating in and watching sports. Soccer, skiing, bowling, tennis and golf were sports he participated in until his knees gave out.  He enjoyed watching most sports particularly Fenerbache Soccer, the Philadelphia Eagles, University of Kentucky basketball and the University of Delaware Blue Hens football. He and Carol enjoyed traveling, not quite completing their bucket list of seeing all 50 states and playing a round of golf in each one. They returned to Turkey many times. Two of these occasions were with extended family when they toured important sights and sailed the Mediterranean Coast. Maui also became an important destination after Aydin moved there. Throughout his life, his family and friends were most important to him. The Say home became the gathering place for the family for many holidays. He never minded the chaos and reveled in the activity. He was an eloquent speaker, inspiring graduating engineers at their Convocation Ceremony in 1983 and expressing his love and joy at Aydin & Katie’s wedding in 2012. He had quite a sense of humor and could tell a good joke among friends.  He loved being around the younger members of the family who were always impressed by the animal sounds he could make. 

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol Say, his son Aydin Say (Katie), his sister-in-law Char Eisner (Dave), his brothers-in-law Bill Harris (Wendy) and Barry Breslau and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He is predeceased by his sister Emel Say and sister-in-law Peggy Breslau. 

The family is very grateful to the Brandywine River Valley Hospice, particularly Brianna and Lisa who stepped in quickly to bring Arkan home for his last days. Memorials will be private.  In memory of Arkan, please consider a donation to your local Y, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice.