David Raphael Singer

David Singer, a noted San Diego architect, died at his home in La Jolla, CA, after a long battle with multiple myeloma on Thursday, May 1, 2014. David was 76 years old.
David grew up on Long Island, NY. He grew up playing the viola in the family band, exhibited his work ethic early, selling newspapers at the train station and frequently listened to New York Giant games on the radio. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania studying architecture under Louis Kahn. David was very supportive of the civil rights movement and attended the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech in 1963.
David's love and commitment to family was central to who he was. In fact, David was the family genealogist and flew across the globe interviewing relatives in South Africa, Argentina, and Israel weaving together the disparate anecdotal histories into a coherent family story.
David married Sandra Clothier and they had twin boys, Gidon and Nathanael. The young family took a road trip west across the continent in a customized black Chevy Sportsman visiting National Parks, Anasazi Indian sites, notable architecture, and friends and family. They parked the van nine months later when the asphalt turned to sand at the end of the road along the coastal bluffs of La Jolla, the year was 1969.
David later married Marie Murphy. Marie, a music loving teacher, had a strong influence on David, helping him pull away from the demands at the office to jog, ski, travel, see the grandchildren, and provided a musical soundtrack inside their home.
A resident of La Jolla for the last 45 years, David's architectural practice received awards for his residential, commercial and non-profit institutional projects.
David's office designed the original and current Museum of Photographic Arts and the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park; renovations and additions to the Athenmaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla; the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's original downtown space; adjacent trolley stop; and San Diego's Temple Emanu-El. His office also designed numerous homes in San Diego, La Jolla in particular, ranging from modest renovations/additions to new contemporary houses. David approached each project openly, letting the site constraints and client's programmatic desires dictate his design approach. Natural light and ventilation, simplicity, and a sense of place were also important factors in his designs.
David was a founding member of the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy, helping preserve the unique La Jolla coastline; Board Member of the Mingei International Museum of Folk Art; Board Member of Installation Gallery / inSite 93 & 97, which worked to foster better understanding of San Diego – Tijuana border issues; Member of the Public Art Committee for the San Diego Commission of Arts & Culture; and Co-Chair of the La Jolla Town Council Part & Beaches Committee.
He was a fantastic father, sibling, husband, uncle, grandfather and a mentor to many. He was always there, listening first, and then giving you his own distinct and informed opinion. He was a good, honest, gentle, yet strong man. He will be missed.
David is survived by his two sons, Gidon (Christine) and Nathanael (Stacy); four grandchildren, Taylor, Corten, Elory and Elias; five siblings, Naomi, Aharon, Miriam, Rachelle and Deborah spread out from San Diego to Israel.