James Robin “Rob” Barrick, who led Nashville-based Smith Seckman Reid Consulting Engineers for 32 years and was respected for his passionate service to Vanderbilt University and the Vanderbilt School of Engineering, specifically, and his native Nashville more broadly, died Nov. 6, 2025, in Nashville.
Barrick received his bachelors in engineering in mechanical engineering in 1974 and an EMBA in 1983 from Vanderbilt, where he also served as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering for 11 years. He served on the engineering school’s former Board of Visitors, and was a generous supporter of the school and university.
Rob spent his 48 working years at Smith Seckman Reid Consulting Engineers. After he retired, he served as a board member for SRF Consulting Engineers, Minneapolis, Minn.; Lee Industrial Contractors, Detroit; Environmental Health and Engineering, Boston; and EOSYS Controls, Smyrna, Tenn.
Rob served on several non-profit boards, including STARS Nashville, the Nashville Food Project, St. Mary’s Sewanee, Adventure Science Museum, and American Consulting Engineers Council. He founded Mobile Loaves and Fishes in Nashville with three high school friends in 2007, which three years later became the Nashville Food Project, preparing 1700 meals a week for the homeless, and other non-profit organizations.
He is survived by his life partner, Tammy Thompson, his twin sons Luke and Ryan Barrick, and his sister, Sarah Lea Barrick.