Henry "Bud" Conversano

Henry "Bud" Conversano
Resident of Lafayette, CA
Henry "Bud" Conversano, Designer, a resident of Lafayette, CA formally of Oakland, CA, and the Borough of Queens in New York City, passed away on September 4, 2018 at the age of 86 years old. Henry grew up in Flushing, New York and went to Flushing High School. He attended Pratt University and majored in Industrial Design, focusing on Automobile Design. After graduation, Henry went to Detroit and worked for General Motors. After serving in the United States Army for two years, Henry moved to California to become a furniture designer. Henry accompanied an interior designer to a meeting with Bill Harrah. The meeting was a disaster and Bill Harrah turned to Henry and asked him if he could do any better than what he was just shown. Henry said he could, and he did. This started the long and successful design career of Henry Conversano. He was president for over 30 years of Henry Conversano & Associates. Henry was the designer who created the modern day casino resort. He designed casinos for all the great casino mavericks including Steve Wynn, William Harrah, Sol Kerzner, Kirk Kerkorian. Hugh Hefner and Donald Trump. Henry was the genius who created the majority of the designs for Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Golden Nugget (Las Vegas and Atlantic City) Sun City South Africa, The Mirage Las Vegas, the MGM Las Vegas and many more. Henry truly believed that each design he created was theatrical. He worked on Donald Trump's casino Trump Plaza in Atlantic City and designed his current residence at Trump Tower in New York. Henry was a complete designer. He could design anything from architecture to furniture. Henry was also a great artist. Henry assisted with Give Kids the World in Florida. He loved what Henri Landwirth was doing for the terminally ill children. Henry designed several structures in the Village. For all of his great talent, Henry had a warmth and respect for all, especially his family. He mentored his son Brad, an interior designer and his late son Todd, an architect. Henry lived life to the fullest. He often said, "Make the magic," and that he did! Henry will be sadly missed by his wife Mary, his sons Brad and Ryan, and his four grandchildren (Gabriella, Marco, Gio and Grayson). Henry was predeceased by his father William Michael Conversano, mother Alyce Katherine Engelmann, first wife Roberta Goldstein, and his son Todd.


View the online memorial for Henry "Bud"  Conversano