Riaz Hasan, a previous member of IIBEC, died April 27, 2025. The cause of death, according to a published obituary, was cancer.
“Riaz had a long and storied career and had 41 patents, several of which were awarded weeks before his passing,” the obituary states. “He was published in many journals and magazines over the years. … He was known as an expert in his industry and was often referred to as a ‘celebrity’ amongst the commercial roofing community.”
Andy Barriento, RRO, director of business development at Building Envelope Consultants Ltd., where Hasan worked, said, “Riaz was very active in IIBEC and invented roof insulation screws and plates as well as the stand-up tools used in just about every roof application worldwide.”
Born in Pakistan, Hasan earned a Bachelor of Advanced Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Karachi before immigrating to the US and undertaking graduate coursework in mechanical engineering through the University of Houston.
“He found his true passion and life’s work in new product development and in the commercial roofing industry,” the obituary states.
Married for more than two decades to Deborah Grillo, Hasan had a daughter, two sons, and eight grandchildren.
Hasan attended seven IIBEC meetings between 1998 and 2019. He also presented “Daylighting and Photovoltaics” at an IIBEC regional meeting in 2010.
