Scott Limbach, a prisoner of war who returned to help build his family's North Side construction company into a $400 million firm, died Oct. 13 at his Sewickley home of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 84.

Mr. Limbach was raised in the Perry Hilltop section of Pittsburgh and graduated from Perry High School. He flew B-17 bombers during World War II and was shot down over Germany on May 31, 1944. He spent the remainder of the war in the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp southeast of Berlin, where the Great Escape recounted in the 1963 movie of the same name took place.

After the war, Mr. Limbach worked with U.S. intelligence agencies in Germany, providing covert support to German publications and news services.

"I knew almost nothing about that until the last few years of his life," said one of his sons, Mark Limbach of Sewickley.

Mr. Limbach later joined Limbach Co., founded in 1901 by his grandfather Frank Limbach, as a sheet metal apprentice. Along with his brother Walter, he built the company into one of the nation's largest mechanical contractors. In Pittsburgh, the firm's projects included Gateway Center, Three Rivers Stadium, Mellon Arena, PPG Place and Allegheny General Hospital. Mr. Limbach was responsible for international business and teamed the company with German contractors on several large construction projects in Saudi Arabia.

"He was very effective in developing close personal relationships with people who were important to the business," Walter Limbach said.

After retiring in 1987, Scott Limbach discovered he had bladder cancer. An acquaintance introduced him to Dr. Ron Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, who recommended treatment at the medical center. Cured and wishing to express his gratitude, Mr. Limbach discussed ways to support cancer research with Dr. Herberman.

"After quite a bit of discussion, we finally settled on something that made his eyes light up," Dr. Herberman said.

Mr. Limbach started the Limbach Entrepreneurial Center at the institute in 2000. The center, which promotes the commercialization of faculty research, is now part of the university's Office of Enterprise Development.

"I very much admired him for his insights and his drive," Dr. Herberman said.

In addition to his brother and son, Mr. Limbach is survived by two other sons, Eric of Moon and Brian of Mt. Lebanon, and three grandchildren.

Services will be private.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 96268, Washington, DC 20090-6268.