AUBURN – Longtime clean water advocate Steve Ranney, a former city engineer, died Monday after a long illness.

Ranney joined Auburn’s engineering staff in 1974, after graduating with a civil engineering degree from the University of Maine at Orono.

As city engineer, Ranney led Auburn’s efforts to comply with federal clean water guidelines. His work helped earn the city a merit award with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System.

Ranney resigned from his municipal post in the fall due to complications from cancer. He died at Clover Health Care Center in Auburn. He was 60.

“He actually had cancer for a very long time, but he never let it interfere with his work,” said Bob Belz, Auburn’s public works director.

Belz said he learned about Ranney’s illness about 12 years ago.

“But most people in the city didn’t know about it until very recently,” Belz said. “He just kept plugging away, showing up every day and carrying on his work assignments.

“Nobody realized, other than a few confidants, and he never made any excuses.”

City employees recognized that spirit, selecting him for a “Hero” award at the city’s annual employee recognition banquet in October, according to Human Resources Director Deborah Grimmig.

“It is a peer recommendation, not coming from his supervisor or anybody else,” Grimmig said.

“His co-workers wanted to recognize him for doing so much, despite being so uncomfortable.”

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.