William Blurock

Blurock, William E. April 27, 1922 - June 12, 2012 William E. "Bill" Blurock, 90, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at his home in Newport Beach, California. His collaborative approach to architecture led his firm, The Blurock Partnership, now tBP/Architecture, to international success in education, civic and corporate markets. Bill and his firm are credited with hundreds of schools and colleges for the State of California, and many others throughout the world, including Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea and Saudi Arabia; corporate campuses for Allergan, Home Savings and Hunt Wesson Foods; and restaurants for Far West Services: Coco's, Reuben's, and the Reuben E. Lee. Bill was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1968, for outstanding contributions to the design and science of construction. Governor Ronald Reagan appointed Bill to the California State Board of Architectural Examiners, where he served for 13 years. He also served as a national director of the AIA. In 1982 the Orange County Chapter of the AIA presented The Blurock Parnership with its Honor Award for "historically significant design and achievement during the past 30 years." Bill received a lifetime achievement award from the AIA in 2009. Son of a dentist, Bill was born and raised in Los Angeles, with early dreams of becoming an architect. But his architecture studies at USC were interrupted by WWII. While stationed in Foggia, Italy he flew 62 missions as a P38 pilot over Europe and North Africa. After the war he remained to study at the University of Florence, before graduating from USC in 1947. He stayed involved with the USC School of Architecture throughout his life, serving on the Board of Councilors since 1986, and establishing the William Blurock Family Endowment for Publications and the William Blurock Family Research Suite. He received a Distinguished Alumnus award in 1993. He was a dedicated USC football fan. He also stayed involved with the 82nd Fighter Group Association, attending yearly reunions, and organizing the 2011 reunion in Palm Springs. Bill's war experience and international career fueled his passion for travel, with visits to Russia and China in the early 1970s, cruises on the Amazon and Yangtze, and to Antarctica. Over his life he visited most countries. He piloted his own boat from Bellingham, Washington to Glacier Bay in Alaska. Cruising and racing sailboats -- with family and friends -- was a lifelong passion. An active member of Balboa Yacht Club, he served as commodore in 1963. Upon semi-retirement, he spent 27 summers aboard Blurocket IV, cruising the Pacific Northwest. He was also a long time supporter and board member of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, where he established its educational endowment fund in 2006. Bill was preceded in death by his wives Helen Blurock, Edna Hileman Blurock, and Dolores Wilson Blurock. He is survived by his sister Florence "Betty" Hohwiesner of Laguna Woods; his three children, Thomas Blurock FAIA of Los Angeles, Dona Jo Blurock of Laguna Beach and Edward "Ned" Blurock PhD of Lund, Sweden; his stepchildren Linda Berry, Sheryl Kratz (deceased), Bud Hileman, Mark Wilson, Thomas Wilson and Daniel Wilson; step son-in-law John Kratz; and many step grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill asked that charitable donations in his memory be given to the charity of your choice. A memorial will be held at Balboa Yacht Club, with a P38 flyover.