Farewell Johnny Tundra, Hello Big Picture, with Rob McManamy

LISTEN: Our latest Editor's Notes audio pays tribute to the late Ron Wilkinson, the heroic character he created, and the very real contributions of our industry to daily life.
Feb. 2, 2026

This month's editorial essay bids farewell to beloved commissioning engineer, Ron Wilkinson, creator of The Adventures of Johnny Tundra: Cold-Weather Engineer. He was also perhaps the only film critic who ever focused exclusively on the proper use of HVAC systems in popular movies? (i.e. "Were the ducts that Bruce Willis was crawling through in Die Hard properly sized?")

But Ron's passing last month, and the glowing tributes to him that have poured in, also gives us opportunity to remember the truly meaningful impact that engineers in this industry can have on each other, as well as the public at large. At the end of the day, the reason most readers got into this industry was to contribute something larger to society.

For more, click to listen... 

About the Author

Rob McManamy

Editor in Chief

An industry reporter and editor since 1987, McManamy joined HPAC Engineering in September 2017, after three years with BuiltWorlds.com, a Chicago-based media startup focused on tech innovation in the built environment. He has been covering design and construction issues for more than 30 years, having started at Engineering News-Record (ENR) in New York, before becoming its Midwest Bureau Chief in 1990. In 1998, McManamy was named Editor-in-Chief of Design-Build magazine, where he served for four years. He subsequently worked as an editor and freelance writer for Building Design + Construction and Public Works magazines.

A native of Bronx, NY, he is a graduate of both the University of Virginia, and The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Contact him at [email protected].

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