H.P. Davis Deever Rockwell

North Branford - H. P. Davis Rockwell "Deever", 88, of North Branford, formerly of Chicago, husband of 66 years of Priscilla Huffard, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

He was born March 10, 1926, to the late Sherburne Battles Rockwell and Louise Davis Rockwell. Raised in Waterbury and Madison, he enrolled in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17 and served in the Pacific during World War II. A graduate of The Taft School, Mr. Rockwell obtained a degree from MIT in industrial relations and mechanical engineering, and in architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where he studied under architect Mies van der Rohe and landscape architect Alfred Caldwell.

Mr. Rockwell started his career in Caldwell's office, then worked in the office of Mies. He went on to form his own firm, Brenner, Danforth, Rockwell (1961-1981), in Chicago with Daniel Brenner and George Danforth, both faculty members from IIT. The partnerships in which Mr. Rockwell served as principal for 25 years acquired distinguished reputations for excellent work, as well as awards from the American Institute of Architects. Design, construction and interior planning and design for museums, libraries, historic buildings, corporations, and zoo buildings were specializations of the firm.

His other work included site development and landscape design for public parks, schools, zoological gardens, churches, commercial and corporate buildings, as well as private residences. Among his noteworthy projects are the Great Ape House, the Penguin-Seabird House and the Administration Building at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. He also worked on the renovation of the Spertus Museum in Louisville, Ky. One of his private projects was the House on a Bluff, Olympia Fields, Ill., 1964, which he designed and built for his family. He also designed private residences in Puerto Rico and Connecticut. Much of Mr. Rockwell's work is archived at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Surviving him besides his wife are their children, Philips and his wife, Jane, Alden Murphy and her husband, Jamie, Taylor and his wife, Martha Wolf, Lindsay and her partner, Ami Ladd; and five grandchildren.

Donations in his memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders by visiting their website at www.doctorswithoutborders.org,

A memorial service is being planned for a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted to Keenan Funeral Home, 330 Notch Hill Road, North Branford. Those wishing to send condolences online may do so at www.keenanfuneralhome.com.