Alex E. Nussbaumer

A Mass for township resident Alex E. Nussbaumer will be offered Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m., at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave., Short Hills. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston.

Mr. Nussbaumer, 48, died Aug. 10 at home.

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1965, he grew up in Rumson, prior to relocating to New York City and later to the township. He earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a master's degree in design studies from Harvard University.

In high school, he was an accomplished athlete, having participated in football and track. He achieved state-wide recognition for his sprinting ability at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in Rumson, N.J.

Mr. Nussbaumer was the founding member and driving force behind AENA Architecture, an architectural design, building and construction firm in New York City. Some of the firm's work included residential projects in the Harlem section of New York City by acquiring properties, renovating and developing to contribute to the renaissance of the neighborhood.

Prior to forming his own firm, he was employed at Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut and Kuhn Architects, Richard Meier & Partners, Perkins Eastman Architects, Rafael Vinoly Architects. During his career he worked under the instruction of several world renowned architects, including Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman and Rafael Vinoly.

While working with Mr. Meier, he contributed to The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, one of the largest planning projects to be commissioned to a single architect, as well as being part of the design team for the proposed Kennedy Center expansion with Rafael Vinoly.

During his career, Mr. Nussbaumer received several awards and honors along with the design teams for their work, including Honor Award on the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles; American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design Award for Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, Pa.; and AIA Design Award for Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., among many others.

Mr. Nussbaumer is survived by his wife, Eda; two daughters, Mary and Emily; his mother, Ruth; and a brother, Ralph.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New York University Melanoma Research Fund, Atten: Dr. Anna C. Pavlick, 160 E. 34th St., ninth floor, New York, NY, 10016.