George W. Christensen

George W. Christensen, 74, of Phoenix, Arizona, died December 28, 2003 in Tucson, AZ. Born in Evanston, Illinois, on February 26, 1929, George was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, graduating from New Trier Township High School in 1947. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1953, studying under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. After founding his own firm in Glenview, Illinois, in 1954, George moved to Phoenix in 1957 and founded George Christensen and Associates. His firm designed hundreds of residences and more than 40 churches. Many of his designs won regional and national recognition from the American Institute of Architects and other professional organizations. His buildings appeared in such publications as the Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, and Phoenix Home and Garden. In 1985, George was inducted into the Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects. In addition to his private practice, George also became a visiting professor, beginning in 1960, for the School of Architecture at Arizona State University. At the time of his death, he was still on the faculty as a professor emeritus. George had a life-long love of the outdoors. He was an Eagle Scout and was elected Chief of Order of the Arrow, an honorary scouting society. He was an enthusiastic sailor, beginning in his teenage years on Lake Michigan and continuing on the open ocean up to the time of his death. He also enjoyed flying in the Naval Reserve, hiking, camping, surfing and spelunking. George traveled the continents of the world, both as an individual and as a professor showing his graduate students the world's architectural masterpieces. To family, friends, clients, and students, George was known for his keen sense of humor, his comic sketches, his warmth, and his generous nature. George is survived by his mother, Julia M. Christensen; his brother, Donald J. Christensen; his sister-in-law, Annegrethe Christensen; his nephew, Peter L. Christensen; and many cousins in several countries. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or to the School of Architecture, Arizona State University, under the George Christensen Trust, to fund travel prizes for Architecture students. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ