Roy Braswell

A bright San Antonio light went out on June 18th, 2018. Far too early, and totally unexpectantly, Roy Braswell was taken from us due to complications from a cerebral aneurysm. Roy was born on November 29, 1960, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to LeRoy and Arline Braswell. After a few moves, his Army family settled in San Antonio in 1969, where he graduated from Robert G. Cole High School in 1979. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in Architecture from UTSA in 1986 and was a Registered Texas Architect and member of the American Institute of Architects. Roy is survived by his wife Susan (née Calvetti), his parents, his siblings Jeannette Timmons (Matthew) and Dennis Braswell (Carol Anne), and his nephews and nieces Ben and Alex Timmons, Stephen and Elizabeth Hablinski, and John and Anna Braswell. So many have special reasons to cherish the memory of Roy. He was a devoted and happy husband, a beloved son, a loyal younger brother, an admired big brother, a bigger-than-life uncle, a helpful neighbor, an inspiring mentor, a faithful partner to his clients, a demanding superintendent, and above all, to all who knew him, he was a true friend. In his busy life, he made time for all. Even for his beloved dogs, Ralphy and Jojo, with whom he fought off coyotes and he is undoubtedly playing with now! Roy met Susan at his first architecture job, and it has been love ever since. The two were one, and together built Roy's career. Susan cleared the way for Roy to do what only he could do. In 1991, they opened the doors of Braswell Architecture, Inc. and created a legacy unparalleled in the field. His widely admired brilliance knew no bounds. His attention to detail, work ethic, and demand for perfection were absolutely unrivaled. Although he won countless awards, accolades and honors, his sincere humility remained. The pride and passion he put into his work created an inimitable portfolio that included hundreds of multi-million-dollar homes and buildings, for some of the most highly regarded people in the world. A consummate master of his craft, a common quip of his may have been his professional motto: "You can always design your way out of a problem!". Roy was a true artist and spent countless hours perfecting hand-drawn renderings, which he often mentioned was a dying art. He was a champion of honest, authentic architecture, and refused to label his unique style, although it is quite discernible to those familiar with his work. The list of loyal clienteles that repeatedly returned to him over the years to create their next dream project is as extensive as it is impressive. His fidelity, both to people and to his vision, was his hallmark. When asked which project his favorite of all time was, he could never narrow it down. He completely poured himself into each job and treated them as if they were his own personal home, making sure each one was as functional as it was beautiful. Roy assembled a team at Braswell Architecture that has faithfully followed his lead for well over a decade, some since day one. His influence as a pillar of the design community will continue to spread through those privileged enough to have worked with and been mentored by him. Roy was always a worker. He began his career as a 13-year old paperboy on Mulberry Avenue, moving up to Jack-in-the-Box, McDonalds, Diamond Shamrock, Scuba Den (Roy loved to Scuba dive), Alaskan fishing boats, Priscilla's fans, construction work, janitorial services, and finally to architecture. Work was not drudgery for Roy, it was a calling. At the time of his unexpected passing, Roy was deeply engaged in the construction of his own home, a project his team agrees was his favorite of all time, and the definitive guide for every project that will follow. Roy was a rare success; a man who loved well, excelled in his work, was true to his passions, and who never sacrificed personal relationships. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Roy Braswell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Department of Architecture at UTSA. Donations can be sent to One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249. A celebration of Roy's life will be held at San Antonio Country Club, on Tuesday July 17, at 11:00 am.