In Memoriam – Howard Horii, FAIA

November 18, 2015

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Howard Nobuo Horii

(January 4, 1923 – November 16, 2015)

Architect, Artist, Educator

Howard Nobuo Horii of Westfield, N.J., died peacefully at home on November, 16. He was 92. Born and raised in California, he moved to New York City after World War II, from an internment camp in Arizona where he and his family, from 1942-1945, and thousands of other Japanese Americans had been relocated from their homes. In New York City he worked fulltime as an artist and designer while attending and earning degrees in architecture from The Cooper Union for Science and Art, and from Pratt Institute. Following his graduation from Pratt in 1958, he was hired by the Grad architectural and engineering firm in Newark, New Jersey where he was employed for 50 years, starting as a junior designer and retiring as principal emeritus. Major projects he worked on at Grad in New Jersey include The Hilton at Short Hills, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Newark, the North American headquarters for Mercedes Benz in northern New Jersey, Prudential corporate office buildings in Newark and Roseland, and BASF North American Corporate Headquarters in Mount Olive.

Long active in the architectural profession and the recipient of numerous awards, Howard was a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), a past president of The New Jersey State Board of Architects, and a past president of the Newark/Suburban Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. An educator, Howard taught in the Construction and Facilities Management Department at Pratt for 44 years, and for many summers conducted a walking tour of Manhattan’s historical and landmark buildings. An artist, his watercolors are featured in the book Truth in the Rivers written by his brother-in-law, author and historian Bruce Hopkins, which includes essays about the Japanese American experience during the war, along with essays and poems about civil rights, nature, and community.

Howard is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Paula; his former wife, Shizuko Nakamura; his beloved children Steve (Gail Fishman), Ken (Harriet Pappas) and Jane (Bob Clancy); his grandchildren Mary (Jamie Riches), Bryan, Patrick, Kevin, Michael, John and Katherine Clancy, and Jina and Amelia Pappas-Horii; his brothers Harry (Chita) and Robert (Mary), his sister Louise Kawamoto; his sisters-in-law Jeanette Horii and Jeanette Hopkins (Bruce); his brothers-in-law Marc (Jane Bunnell) Embree and Warren (Anne) Embree, and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and a daughter.

A memorial service was held at First Congregational Church, 125 Elmer Street, Westfield, N.J., on Saturday, December 12 at 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a gift in Howard’s memory to The Fund for Pratt – Architecture at https://giving.pratt.edu

To see Obituary click here.

AIA-NJA Note From AIA-NJ:

AIA New Jersey is very saddened by this loss to our architecture community in New Jersey.   In keeping with our policy of promoting architecture and mentoring our future professionals, AIA New Jersey will be making a donation in Howard’s name to the AIA New Jersey Scholarship Foundation.

If you would also like to make a donation in his name to the Scholarship Foundation, please send donations to:
AIA New Jersey Scholarship Foundation
c/o Jeanne Perantoni, AlA
1011 US Highway 22, Suite 203
Bridgewater, NJ  08807

 

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