Harry Simpson Culpen

Harry Simpson Culpen
Harry Simpson Culpen, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2025, at the age of 88. Born on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1936, in La Belle, Missouri, a small town of 600 where he grew up, Mr. Culpen was the son of Chester Riley Culpen and Mildred Simpson Culpen.
Mr. Culpen earned a B.S. from the University of Missouri in 1958. After completing Officer Candidate School, he served as a U.S. Navy officer aboard the USS Conway. He later pursued architecture at the University of Nebraska, graduating first in his class in 1965 and receiving an American Institute of Architects Honor Award.
His career began at Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK) in St. Louis, where he rose to leadership roles during a 20-year tenure. He relocated to the New York office to oversee major projects including the 1980 Winter Olympics facilities in Lake Placid, retail and healthcare developments throughout the U.S., and embassy housing in Cairo, Egypt.
In 1991, Mr. Culpen founded Culpen and Woods Architects in Stamford, Connecticut, where his signature achievement was the Cuisinart Resort and Spa on Anguilla (now the Aurora Resort and Spa) in the Eastern Caribbean, a decade-long project that earned multiple design awards. His projects spanned from New York to Japan and included waterfront developments, shopping centers, affordable housing, and healthcare facilities.
Mr. Culpen retired in 2007, spending his later years traveling with his wife, Dianne, while dividing time between Florida, Connecticut, and Colorado.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Dianne McKeown Culpen, their daughter, Alison Culpen Schwabe (Paul), his sons Christopher and Scott Culpen, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and by Anne Anderson, a dear family friend, mentor, and guide throughout his early life.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.