BILL LACY Obituary

LACY--Bill N. The Cooper Union honors the memory of its ninth president Bill N. Lacy, FAIA, who passed away on August 25, 2020. We thank President Lacy for his lifelong com-mitment to education, as he led not only Cooper Union, but multiple colleges and architectural institutions, including the Pritzker Arch-itecture Prize and National Endowment for the Arts' Architecture and Environmental Design Program. As president from 1980-1987, President Lacy, who was a practicing architect throughout his 50-year career, helped to break barriers in STEM by appointing the first female engineer to be named dean of an engineering college in the United States. During his tenure, the college celebrated its 125th anniversary, founded the Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design and Typography, one of the nation's first graphic design archives, mounted multiple exhibitions, including "Rauschenberg/ Performance," and greatly expanded its free, public programing in the college's historic Great Hall. From the start of his presidency at his inauguration featuring the Brooklyn Philharmonic and culminating with a residency of the American Jazz Orchestra, President Lacy especially helped revive music on the Great Hall stage. Our condolences go to his wife, Jane Stieren Lacy, and his entire family. Rachel Warren, Board Chair; Laura Sparks, President

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Published by New York Times on Aug. 30, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for BILL LACY

8 Entries

Paolo Ceratto

July 19, 2021

Deeply saddened by Bill's death. We shall miss his sense of humor, cleverness and vision of the future.
He loved Italy and always wore a ring depicting Piazza del Campo in Siena. I shall treasure the times we spent together in preparation of The Italian Idea for the IDCA and the selection of who to invite for this event which turned out to be extremely successful. Bill was generous and loyal, friendly and talented.
A most special human being a real gift from the
Gods. Ci mancherai tantissimo caro amico ! Paolo e Dodie

Jack Trifero

September 11, 2020

Bill is Important to our modern history here in New Canaan, Ct. Before anyone else he spoke to me eloquently about its importance and it’s important place in world Art History. He was a personal friend who over many dinner conversation put the ‘Big Picture’ into a young merchants mind and changed it forever.

Joseph Fashing

September 9, 2020

I worked closely with Bill during his entire tenure at Purchase. He was a fine man and an all around exemplary college president. Most important to me were his willingness to leave academic policy to the faculty and to promote respect for faculty and to attend to their welfare. As with most senior administrators who do a good job, they are not fully appreciated until they are gone. After Bill left, I heard frequent laments about what we had lost. I counted him as a good friend as well as the "Boss." I missed him when he left and I will miss him more now.

Joseph Fashing
Emeritus Professor of Sociology
Purchase College

Simone Taylor

September 1, 2020

Please except my deepest sympathies, Grief can be so hard, but your special memories can help you to cope. Remembering your loved one today and always.

Alexia Lalli

August 30, 2020

Colleague, neighbor, friend, Bill was kind and generous to me and my family. Through many projects most especially the International Design Conference in Aspen, Bill was a mentor and collaborator. I was sorry to hear of his death and will remember him with great affection and admiration. Alexia Lalli

Katja

August 30, 2020

I am so sorry for your loss. I have only met Bill once, but knowing his descendants Shawn, Jucy and Ross he must have been kind, handsome, witty, generous, very intelligent, compassionate, and charming. He will live on through you and your families. I wish I could have ask him about all of you when you were growing up. I wish I could be there now to listen to your stories about him. They will be with you forever. Sometimes even more so now. May he rest in peace. Much love
Katja

Jan Factor

August 29, 2020

As Faculty Presiding Office at Purchase College at the time, I knew Bill Lacy as a fine gentleman, showing respect for all, and always striving to enhance the faculty and the reputation of the college. His contribution can be felt even to this day.

Peter Schwab

August 29, 2020

I am so sorry to hear about Bill's death.
Peter Schwab,
Professor, Political Science,
Purchase College, SUNY.

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