Obituary

30 January 2002 |

Donald Reay
Professor Emeritus Donald Reay, an architect, planner and educator, died unexpectedly but peacefully at his home in Berkeley Jan. 2, at 87.

Reay, who taught in the College of Environmental Design for more than 30 years, collaborated on winning designs for Zellerbach Hall and the student union.

Reay was born in 1914 near Liverpool, England. As a young man he bicycled throughout Europe, camping at youth hostels, visiting cathedrals in France and Italy, and developing an appreciation of the continent’s architectural gems.

After graduating from the University of Liverpool in architecture, Reay attended the Royal Institute of British Architects, and was later elected a fellow there. He was one of the first people to receive a master’s in City and Regional Planning from Columbia University. During World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he later became chief architect, responsible for building flight-training schools, and designed construction of the giant Goose Bay Aerodrom, a refueling stop for transatlantic flights.

After the war, Reay worked for the Ministry of Housing in London, where he was chief architect for several new towns. In 1955, he accepted a position as visiting professor at Berkeley. Reay designed the Santa Rosa Court House and numerous other projects in the U.S., Australia and Mexico. He was still an active consultant in San Francisco at the time of his death.

Reay is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Sylvia; his daughter, Claudia Reay Livingston of Santa Cruz; a son, Jonathan Reay of Dublin, Calif; daughters Caroline Reay of Portland, Ore. and Elizabeth Reay of Davis, Calif.; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial gathering was held Jan. 27 in the Faculty Club.