Memories of Bill Dennis

Artist & Architect extraordinaire, exemplar Husband to Mary, and Dad to Chloe, friend to many, Bill who's eye and vision drew a path that we ambled through with him in many places, made better by his presence!

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Trudy Thomas

Mary and Zoe, I just learned of dear Bill's passing, through our mutual friend, Laurie Phenix. What a shock. He was a very dear and important friend in my life--a companion and healing force during the time we dated, around 1978 and 1980 or so. I loved his humor, his creativity, his gentle spirit. We visited briefly at Findlay Market several years ago and he showed me many watercolors he'd done in Europe. And he spoke with pride and affection of the two of you.

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Steve Coyle

1993, Portland, OR, USA

Struggled with the design of a large meditation hall that was the final phase of a large residential facility unit we contacted Bill who quickly produced an excellent design that matched the 1911 architecture of the surrounding buildings, we produced the plans and built it as designed, a wonderful tribute to Bill's native and practiced talent - from building to town!

One of many stories of Bill's artistry, kindness and dedication to our collective work.

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Nancy Saah

Shared a heart

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James Murphy

Mary Zoe and family Bill was the best most capable architect I ever had the pleasure to work with. Bill had this ability to see everything clearly in 3D in his head before ever drawing a plan. I built my addition per plan in Belmont all handicap accessible for my Colleen often when looking at it I think of Bill. I truly miss Bill he was a genius and truly a good friend. Bill’s legacy is out there with all the great work Bill did. One last thought was our conversations about how to cope with ADD he lived it as I have and yet the genius came out. Please if there is anything I can do for you or Zoe.

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Lisa Nisenson

To all friends and family of Bill. I am a lucky Bill Dennis art owner. I had a stretch of tough times Bill heard about.

He remembered a comment on a watercolor in Venice. Not long thereafter I got an envelope with a watercolor.

To say it lifted my spirits does not come close. I hope stories like this help lift us all. I will treasure memories, conversations, and the art.

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Howard Blackson

2019, Louisville, KY, USA

Attention Congress for the New Urbanism friends, colleagues, and family of Bill Dennis... This is a call for those of us attending CNU 27 in Louisville, KY, June 12 - 15, to bring their favorite Bill Dennis original drawings, watercolors, photos, and personal mementos. We're going to have Gator Boards to pin up images to honor Bill's life and what he means to us in the CNU Exhibition Hall. We'll host a dinner/wake event for everyone to attend as well. For more information, please contact me, Howard at HB3 (at) me (dot) com.

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Howard Blackson

2013, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Bill and Howard (organic network) vs Klinkenberg and another (grid network)

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Howard Blackson

At some obscure CNU long ago, Bill and I teamed up to debate the merits of organic/informal block patterns... Read more At some obscure CNU long ago, Bill and I teamed up to debate the merits of organic/informal block patterns vs rigid/formal blocks,... Read more At some obscure CNU long ago, Bill and I teamed up ... Read more

Howard Blackson

Oh, and Lee Sobel was involved too, I think. A who's-who of Wendy Loo Hoos... Oh, and Lee Sobel was involved too, I think. A who's-who of Wendy Loo Hoos... Oh, and Lee Sobel was involved too, I think. A who's-who... Read more

R. John Anderson

Bill shifted from being a solid friend and colleague into an indispensable friend when he helped me deal with my depression. He was very generous with his time, talking me off of the ledge on many occasions. I kept my notes from those late night phone calls and continue to benefit from what he told me.

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Susan Henderson

Still - these moths later - I find my heart aching at the loss of my dear friend, colleague, mentor, partner in crime, and fellow New Mexican. I loved all of the times we collaborated over the years and the way he made creative brilliance look so easy. His easy smile, warm hug, and generosity of spirit are bright lights in my professional experience. Thank you Mary and Zoe for sharing his time with all of us in the CNU family.

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Randall Imai

2018, Boston, MA, USA

Scattered about in the multiverse that is the internet are little pieces of Bill Dennis' work. If one is engaged at all in the practice we blithely call Traditional Town Planning, you cannot escape finding them: watercolor sketches drawn on site, building designs constructed, one can discern, of both overall composition as well as minute details of visual design and vernacular building practice, and the town plans. I saw some today and decided to write.

There is almost a dismissive air about some of these drawings, as though Bill is saying: Of course that is the way you build. We who were fortunate to work alongside him could see it in his process. Designs that seemed to arise from nowhere and everywhere but were always almost impossibly appropriate.

I worked with Bill in Mashpee, on Great Island, in Scarborough and Winslow Maine, Londonderry NH, Providence RI, and at his generous invitation twice in Beijing China. We last worked together in Mashpee (where we first met 30 years ago). Bill was undergoing treatment and was not speaking yet still produced entire town plans on big drawings in two days that will form the base of our planning efforts going forward. Today, I am renovating one of his buildings in Mashpee that I consider the best design in town and designing buildings in Maine for town plans that he did many years ago.

I have loved working with him and treasure the time we got to spend together, especially for the generous way he and Mary shared their time during his illness. It is a lesson in Life. For me, it's the best thing to come out of the New Urbanism.

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michael perkocha

1984, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Bill was nothing but a positive influence in my life from the day I met him at ADD inc to my latest visit with him and Mary in Oakland in 2015. Sadly we didn't have the chance to spend more time together as we were on different coasts. My favorite memories of Bill - playing racquetball with him at the Cambridge Y and having a few laughs and a pint of Guinness with a Ploughman's Platter for lunch after. Carefree days to be sure. I was so happy for him and Mary when they hooked up and started a lifelong journey together.
Two peas in a pod... He was a brilliant thinker with a keen eye for design, an appreciation for beauty and a fantastic wit.

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Sarah Burrows

I have known Mary since I was 16. I met Bill soon after they met and thought they were meant to be together-perfectly matched - in looks, abilities, sensitivity and intelligence- Bill was so strong and accepting and appreciative of the limited time we spent with him- in the last weeks of his life- this was a gift that changed the way I think about death. Bill savored every moment until the last moment- we will miss you our friend-
Sarah Burrows & Dan Borden

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Eliza Harris Juliano

2015, Dallas, TX, USA

I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Bill as well as many of my colleagues, but it didn't take much time around him to know that Bill was a wonderful person to be around, kind, friendly, energetic, and curious. Despite his great talent in hand-drawing he was excited to expand into the digital world and bring others along with him. I don't remember when we met, but my most vivid memory was from CNU Dallas when he gathered a group of people, mostly younger than himself, to conquer SketchUp for the New Urbanism. I'm sure he's finding new worlds to conquer now. He is dearly missed on this one.

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Steve Coyle

1995, Mercer Island, WA, USA

I met Bill and Mary around 1977 or so. Natural artists, both, almost twins with ginger hair, peach complexions, and deep sensitivities. Bill, soon an architect, focused on buildings and places, their physical essence, as part of a group of three architects (and I a contractor-aspiring architect. His trajectory arced up and out though we formed a business briefly in the 80s. His plan for Fairview Village, its City Hall and apartments exemplifies his mastery of the craft, and then Mercer Island. Ever the cut-up, he and his sister endured a tough childhood which he used as propellant for his rise to excellence.

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Randall Imai

From: Victor Deupi, Miami FL

I’m not sure when it was that I first met Bill Dennis, though in the late 1990’s I certainly saw him at any number of CNU or Modern Classical conferences and gatherings. I distinctly recall a lecture by Stefanos Polyzoides where he discussed the Civano project in Tucson, and Bill’s
contribution as the lead designer of the team. Shortly after that presentation - possibly at whatever conference it was - I met Bill (and Mary – I loved how they traveled together for work) and was immediately taken by his sincerity and wit. His presence was that of a gentle man.

At some point around 2005 Bill and I started crossing paths more regularly, either as New Urban Guild members or as participants in the Seaside Institute trips. I recall New Urban Guild charrettes with Bill (and Mary) at Elim Valley, Utah, Blakely, Georgia, Omaha, Nebraska, and Lawrence, Kansas. In all of these, Bill played a lead role in coordinating the masterplan while the rest of us were frantically designing building to slot in as necessary. Bill was the obvious choice for so many reasons, but I believe at the top of the list was his genuine affability and remarkable capacity to work with anyone - especially hot-headed, ambitious, young architects like me. Bill exercised authority with grace and subtlety and therefore garnered the respect of everyone working with him. I don’t recall there ever was a conflict when Bill was in charge. But
what I remember most of those charrettes was the sociable side of Bill. He really was a funny bloke and never took himself too seriously.

Perhaps because Bill was ultimately an urban designer, he had a secret desire to produce work that was more tangible, more visceral, more “dirty” as he would have said with a straight face. I think that is why we began drawing and water color painting more regularly as it was a way of
satisfying a certain hunger for in-the-flesh expression. Through several Seaside Institute trips to Pienza and Paris, Bill and I - and usually David Brain as well - would spend our days sketching buildings, landscapes, and public spaces. Bill took to water color quickly, and after a summer at
the Tuscan Classical Academy in Capitignano (near Florence), a program that I organized for several years, Bill was hooked. His creative output flourished, and we would frequently discuss such arcane notions as point of view, atmosphere, value, and color. But most of the time, we
would simply sit still for long periods of time, without saying anything, just focusing on the task at hand with the occasional “hmm,” or “awh,” as the water and pigment dictated our emotions.

There is a special bond that occurs when two people are drawing in tandem, as if they are bound on a journey to some unknown place. Bill and I shared that ride on many occasions and I will never forget those drawing expeditions.

The last time I saw Bill was about five years ago when I was living in Newtown, Connecticut. He and Mary were passing through on their way to someplace for the July 4th holidays, and I was home alone – my wife encouraged me to forego a family excursion so that I could work on a
book manuscript that needed to come to an end … that, and to feed the cats while she and the children were away. In any event, Bill and Mary stayed the night in our Connecticut farmhouse.

We cooked, drank Brunello wine (Bill was not only hooked to drawing and painting in Italy), and the next morning we toured some of the lesser known villages of northern Fairfield County. It was the perfect tonic for what was otherwise a grind of a time for me.

Thank you, Bill, for your kindness, grace, and friendship. Thank you for teaching me how to be a
better person, architect, teacher, husband, father, and friend. I am a better man because of you.

From: Bill Lennertz <blennertz@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2018 11:34 AM

My classmate at University of Cincinnati, Bill was always a towering talent and source of humor.
He had that unique and precious ability to add lightness to his art with humor. That is so rare
right? Here are some photos from those college days. Here with me and our classmate Paul
Sennett c. 1979. And yes that is Bill channeling Frank Zappa. We will miss our New Urbanists
brother. Love to Mary and Zoe.

Ryan Stephenson <ryan.patrick.stephenson@gmail…>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2018 11:09 PM
To: lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com
I’m new to CNU, but at an Art Room: Plein Air session in Detroit Bill told me I drew “like a
jeweler.” Here he is in the black pants at the last Savannah session at Christ Church. Also his
Charter video on YouTube is pretty funny. https://youtu.be/Rv1LztWLuWA

From: Steve Maun <sjmaun@leylandalliance.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 10:19 PM
Oh - so sad. So sorry to hear this terrible news. Such a friend... in the very best way. So smart,
engaging.. and so full of ideas.
Love to Bill and family,
Steve Maun

From: l.oliver@wholetownsolutions.c… <l.oliver@wholetownsolutions.c…>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 4:40 PM
He will be very missed. His happy demeanor and humor always enlivened things!
Lew

From: John Massengale <john@massengale.com>
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 4:04 PM

Terrible news. It was good to see Bill in Savannah and at the Seaside Prize, when he was still
talking. After Savannah I sent Bill a copy of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar. I hope it gave
him some laughs, as he gave many others.
John

From: Eric Moser <eric@moserdesigngroup.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 3:52 PM
So very sorry to hear this news. Bill will be missed. I am in full favor of a program to honor him.
Eric

On Aug 9, 2018, at 1:58 PM, Steve Mouzon <steve@mouzon.com> wrote:
Yes. And at a lower level, I’m thinking of how to do something with his SketchUp work. He really
was quite an evangelist for it, and got me started with it along with many others.
Steve

On Aug 9, 2018, at 1:33 PM, Jeremy Sommer <jsommer@sommerdesignstudios.c…> wrote:
This is very sad news indeed and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I know there
was so much more to Bill but in honor of his love of travel and sketching maybe we can create a
travel stipend or scholarship that helps document the urban environment.

From: Emily Talen <etalen@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 2:57 PM
I did not know Bill very well but whenever I interacted with him I felt like he was just a really
cool guy with no pretensions. We interacted about his Sketchup for New Urbanism idea which I
hope will continue in his honor.
Where can I access his various writings?
Also I would love to know more about his life story — where did he grow up?
sorry for everyone’s loss,
Emily

On Aug 9, 2018, at 1:48 PM, Kevin Klinkenberg <kevinklinkenberg@gmail.com> wrote:
What can you say about Bill that hasn’t been said?
A few years ago, when Bill was working in Beijing, he met my wife and I for dinner and drinks on
our first hours off of the plane. Not only did he take us to two remarkable, beautiful places in
the hutongs of old Beijing, he also relentlessly mocked me as I was falling asleep in my plate.
(jet lag) It was pure Bill, and I’ll never forget.
This has been a rough year, but I feel we all must honor Bill by making crass jokes and taking
each other down a peg. I think he’d insist.
Kevin Klinkenberg
Principal, K2 Urban Design

On Aug 9, 2018, at 2:39 PM, 'Cristina Polyzoides' via Lean Urbanism googlegroups.com> wrote:
My husband worked closely alongside Bill at M&P for years, and loved him dearly. He was
genuinely heartbroken when I shared the news with him this morning.
I will always remember Bill as a person who loved his family (ALWAYS had a picture of his
daughter in his wallet), was a gifted artist, worked relentlessly to make the world a more
humane and livable place, and gently but persistently poked fun at everybody, including
himself.
All our love to his family, who out of all of us are no doubt feeling this loss the most.
Cristina

From: Vinayak Bharne <vbharne@mparchitects.com>
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 10:43
Bill Dennis was one of my mentors in this office; someone who saw me grow from a young
graduate student to a mid-career professional. The first project we did with him was Civano
about 20 years ago. The last was a SW Fresno neighborhood only a few months back.
I learned a lot from him about urban and architectural design. But by far the most important
thing he taught me was to never take myself too seriously.
You will never leave us Bill Dennis.
Vin

From: Steve Mouzon <steve@mouzon.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:58 PM
To: New Urban Guild
Subject: Re: Bill Dennis
Yes. And at a lower level, I’m thinking of how to do something with his SketchUp work. He really
was quite an evangelist for it, and got me started with it along with many others.
Steve

On Aug 9, 2018, at 1:33 PM, Jeremy Sommer <jsommer@sommerdesignstudios.c…> wrote:
This is very sad news indeed and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I know there
was so much more to Bill but in honor of his love of travel and sketching maybe we can create a
travel stipend or scholarship that helps document the urban environment.

From: 'Howard Blackson'
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:41 PM
Bill's book of watercolors, Draw Your Own Conclusions, is available
here: http://www.blurb.com/b/217976… and images online are
here: http://drawyourownconclusion.…
Draw Your Own Conclusion by Bill Dennis | Blurb
Books
www.blurb.com
Find Draw Your Own Conclusion by Bill Dennis at Blurb
Books.
All I can say is, well, crap... as I loved Bill and always, always enjoyed time spent with him. My
favorite watercolor, for obvious reasons, is attached.
Cheers!
Howard

On Aug 09, 2018, at 10:31 AM, sandysorlien <sandysorlien@comcast.net> wrote:
I would love to see a publication of his beautiful watercolors, so many of which he shared with
us on Facebook.

On Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 1:01:58 PM UTC-4, Steve wrote:
Oh, I am so very sorry to hear this! I’ll always remember the awesome display of courage, when
he and Mary came to Savannah. And even when he struggled mightily to get a word or two out,
and when the words didn’t come, he resigned with a smile and a chuckle, not with frustration.
I’m not sure I know anyone else who could do that.
We hope to carry on the legacy of Michael Barranco with the award, carrying forward the story
of his selflessness and generosity and how it should be the backbone of NU architecture. There
is talk of carrying on Hank Dittmar’s legacy by publishing the books that were his last work. How
might Bill’s legacy best be carried on?
Steve

From: Coyle Steve <stephenjosephcoyle@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:38 PM
Bill Dennis, Lennertz and I partnered briefly in Portland in an architecture and planning firm,
and earlier, planned a DPZ New England venture with the both Bills, Liz and Andres, meeting in
Nantucket - just before the savings and loan crisis hit. He remains a wonderfully talented and
collaborative artist, architect and urbanist. He rose way above his illness and died an urbanistas
samurai.

From: Jeremy Sommer <jsommer@sommerdesignstudios.c…>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:33 PM

This is very sad news indeed and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I know there
was so much more to Bill but in honor of his love of travel and sketching maybe we can create a
travel stipend or scholarship that helps document the urban environment.

On Aug 9, 2018, at 1:23 PM, Steve Mouzon <steve@mouzon.com> wrote:
I am very sorry to pass along the fact that Bill Dennis passed away at his home this morning. I’ll
always remember that awesome display of courage, when he and Mary came to Savannah. And
even when he struggled mightily to get a word or two out, and when the words didn’t come, he
resigned with a smile and a chuckle, not with frustration. I’m not sure I know anyone else who
could do that.
Bill becomes the second member of the Guild we have lost. We hope to carry on the legacy of
Michael Barranco with the award, carrying forward the story of his selflessness and generosity
and how it should be the backbone of New Urbanist architecture. Hank Dittmar was always a
great friend of the Guild, advancing us before many in the movement knew much about us.
There is talk of carrying on his legacy by publishing the books that were his last work. How
might Bill’s legacy best be carried on?
Steve

From: Braulio Casas <leo@casasarchitecture.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:32 PM
So so sad.
So glad do have worked with him and gotten to know him.
So glad I saw him and Mary at the seaside prize this past February. Gives a whole new meaning
to gatherings such as the seaside prize, the Ross awards, the CNU and the Driehaus events. You
never know who might not show up the next time.
Condolences to Mary and their daughter whom he so dearly loved.
Braulio Casas

From: Stefanos Polyzoides <spolyzoides@mparchitects.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:29 PM
In moments like this, the words friend, colleague, mentor, special, talented, are often thought
and spoken. In Bill’s case, these and many more, are just inadequate to describe the magnitude
of our collective loss.
Our family and office are in deep mourning.
Stefanos

From: Sandy Sorlien <sandysorlien@comcast.net>
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 09:39
Oh no! So sad and shocked. I talked with Bill in Savannah, and he had the look of a guy who was
going to get well. Smiling, glad to see people. Now I know it was wishful thinking on my part.
Such a big loss in all the realms he populated – NU and Facebook (hilarity and lovely art) were
the ones I saw frequently. And having moved to Rhode Island, I was hoping to see him here.
Way too young to go!
Condolences to all of you who worked closely with Bill.
Sandy

On Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 12:31:29 PM UTC-4, npayton wrote:
There are so many things about how wonderful Bill was; his talent; his tenacity; his voice
imitations, etc. but, I’ll just add that he was by far the funniest person I knew. He was the
Henny Youngman of new Urbanism.
He often stayed at our home when he came out to work in projects and thus my family got to
know him and really enjoyed his visits. He did a water color of my backyard, entitled “Midnight
in the Garden of Payton-Spiegel”. There is so much to say, but I am still processing. We will all
miss him.
Neal I. Payton, FAIA, LEED-AP, CNU-A
Principal
Torti Gallas + Partners

From: 'Anne Fairfax'
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:27 PM
I am mightily disheartened by this news. We are losing the pioneering urbanists, the really
selfless, cause-driven talented visionaries. We are in their debt. Condolences to all his close
friends and family left behind, he will not be forgotten, by a long shot.

From: ANN DAIGLE <abdaigle@aol.com>
Date: August 9, 2018 at 9:33:01 AM CDT
Thank you, Andrés. Bill was undoubtedly one of my favorite people of all time - so brilliant,
talented, funny and generous. Please excuse my selfishness when I say I am not only feeling
extremely sad, but this terrible sense of loss has me frightened. We are losing our best and
brightest and are ill prepared.
Ann

From: Lee Rayburn <lee.rayburn@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 11:44 AM
Heartbroken at this news....a true brother in the movement lost. Lee

From: Paul Crabtree <pcrabtree@crabtreegroupinc.com>
Date: August 11, 2018 at 4:37:12 PM GMT+2
We had a great time with Bill on that charrette. The trips to and from the studio were
hilarious, with plenty of jesting about your erratic driving, and you and I completing Bill’s
sentences for him, which he found quite amusing.

On Aug 9, 2018, at 12:25 PM, 'phswi' wrote:
Really painful. Saw him for the last time on the Fresno project a few months ago. When
I dropped him off near LA I knew it was the last time I'd see him. Deeply sorry.
Peter

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Lucy Rowland

1999, Athens, GA, USA

Oh, where to start on a tribute to my multi-talented and very funny friend, Bill Dennis!
My experience with Bill was not as a fellow architect, designer, or urban designer. Bill had a profound influence on my interest in new urbanism going back over 20 years, and that continues as my position as a planning commissioner since 1988.
I first met the very talented Bill Dennis about 1998, and he was without a doubt one of the first to welcome me to the then pretty small NU Club. Following the 1999 Congress, John Massengale and I established Pro-Urb listserv for Practitioners of the New Urbanism, thereby making virtual, the daily connections with new urbanists worldwide. Bill always donated his expertise and ideas freely.
Then a core group of energetic CNU members, including CNU Founders, established the New Urban Councils in the early 2000’s to be held semi-annually, and Bill organized the fall meetings in Santa Fe. Spring Councils were in Charleston SC, and I got to know Bill the best at these much smaller meetings, limited to 100 participants who had experience in CNU. Councils were short, intense, and intellectually challenging, including presentations of built projects with juries, and Bill figured largely into the success.
Our final Council was held in Belgium in 2002. Bill and Mary were a big part of it, as there were 45 Americans who attended, representing one of 14 countries, and it resulted in the Council of European Urbanism.
Bill Dennis was a large part of my 20+ years in citizen planning and urban design. I’ll miss not having those crazy encounters at congresses and councils with the funniest guy in our circle. On the Transect of Humor, Bill is #1.

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Dede Christopher

Bill and I met in 2005 on a charrette and found ourselves seated together at the post charrette dinner drinking margaritas and sharing our history. Turns out we went to the same High School and college, which paved the way for our fast friendship. I loved his sharp mind, wit and salty sense of humor. He was our bad boy, but at the core we all knew he was kind, and decent, and cared about his work, his family, and the projects we designed. Bill was an introvert (self proclaimed) but loved the messy chaos of charrettes and the group of New Urbanists who invited him to collaborate on amazing projects in far away places. I love how Mary accompanied him on many of these ventures and how they were both brilliant in their own individual ways. Bill loved to introduce us to artists that crossed the line, that saw the world in a different way, and I believe he also belonged to that group of creative genius. Bill was always learning, always sharing what he was discovering with all of us. I am so thankful that I was able to travel with Mary and Bill in Italy last year, painting and staying at amazing places Bill found for us. He was a master of finding the most beautiful places to stay when he traveled. I miss you, Bill Dennis. Your calls, your laugh, your gentle support and your genuine friendship.

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Howard Blackson

2000, San Diego, CA, USA

I don't remember the first time I met Bill, but I do remember the last. The dignity and determination I saw in both Bill and Mary in Savannah was beautiful... thank you. I love(d) Bill. You call came to my house. I have his watercolors, his books, his mentorship, and his humor bouncing around my heart. You all are the kind of people I want to be. Thank you. - Howard Blackson

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Sandra Koch

Mary- I’m so sad to hear this news. You two were such a special couple; can’t imagine you divided. My heart is with you. If you’d like to come visit Nevada would love to have you. Wishing you moments of joy amidst the sadness as you remember all the wonderful times you shared

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Alfonso Tejada

Dear Mary, time goes too fast for us to be able acept the farewell of a dear friend. 10-15 year ago I have the unique pleasure to meet both of you in Vancouver and collaborate in a planning project our lives continued far apart and the breve communications we had over the year did not change the affection and respect to both of you. I'm sad not have had the opportunity to see him again in person but his memory always remaind within me a real planner with a great heart and a very lovely and supporting companion. Mary my deeps condolences to you and your family and that his memory and our friendship honour his departure. A big hug and a cheer to a positive and productive live of Bill Dennis.

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Chenxi Bai

2018, Beijing, China

This is such a hard note to write.

I still couldn't believe that Bill has gone. I was in a big shock hearing that news this month from Dhiru. And from August 2016 I met Bill until this year, I indeed kept worrying his health conditions. I sent out several mails to him this year, however with no reply. The last mail was sent inquiring his health and with some general greetings after I arrived in the US this year, August 10th... It would be a mail that he could never read:( What a deep regret that I should come earlier.

Bill and I got to know each other back to the early 2000s. He was invited to attend a workshop in Beijing on an important local project, Tongzhou New Town Planning. The workshop was hosted by my friend, President Yang from (Beijing) Homedale Urban Design and Architectural Design Institute. Bill, Mr. Yang and I had been very good friends after that event. Bill showed great expertise, leadership and personal attractions to all the young urban planners, and impressed us with his New Urbanism ehnthusiastics.

I still remember well when he explained the challenges that the US was facing toward the New Urbanism, he quoted a true story he had with his client, a town mayor or planning director... the client said he preferred "old-styled" city, so he would choose "old urbanism" rather than New Urbanism... Hilarious but bitter. This has been Bill's style, very pleasant, lovely and optimistic to the world.

After that, Mr. Yang and I invited Bill and Mary both to attend another workshop in Beijing. This time, not only Bill was impressed, Mary was also very impressed by her presentation on landscape design. We admired this lovely couple so much.

I met Bill in Beijing for another couple of times later. But they were all after he suffered from the first surgery. I asked if he could travel, he replied as nothing had happened though.

The last time Bill visited me was during the time he had a Nanjing project with his friend Dhiru. We had lunch together in a local restaurant at Liangmaqiao, and had again, great chat and memorized conversations on everything, on personal changes... Bill didn't mention his health, but I could see that he turned to look more pale than before. Hearing that my daughter was learning US and world history, Bill even brought a comic book that Zoe had when she was at school and that was really a nice and helpful book.

Bill also gave Mr. Yang and I his printed book on the water color drawings he made. This book was very delicate and gifted. And when we missed him, we checked the book or visited his personal website.

The very last chance that I met Bill and Mary was in August 2016. I took my daughter on her college visiting trip in the East Coast, and on our way to Brown University, we went to his home in Providence. That was a lovely day, with all the nice memories. Bill and Mary showed us around in their house, with the paintings and collections they had from Japan, and we sat in the backyard for the first time in my life the smallest birds flying around. Time was calm and pleasant. Bill told my daughter how he made water color drawings and showed her all the beautiful pieces he and Mary made. What a lovely artistic family they built together.

At that night, Bill and Mary told me that they would go pick up Zoe from New Mexico the next day so we didn't have more time staying with them. But we enjoyed very nice food at a Japanese/Korean restaurant close to their home. Bill and Mary treated us generously and I had the best Korean food ever in the US.

Due to the internet issues, I hardly visit FB and other posts that Bill made when I was in China. Our communications were mostly through emails. He dropped me several messages when I greeted him; and he never mentioned anything on his health or related.

Although I didn't have more chance to be with Bill, he had been the best friend of mine for long. I guess everyone would benefit from working, formal talking or leisurely chatting with him, his great humorous, his kindness and thoughtfulness, beyond the great gifts and expertise he had, and the great passion towards friends, family and life had always impressed and memorized by all.

Bill, I have been so sad and unwilling to hear you leave so early. It is a big life loss not only to your family, but also to all of us known you before. You will always be remembered and survive in our hearts! And please God take good care of this great guy! Tears... and love. R.I.P.

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Mary Dennis

From Brittany Kelley:
"Dear Mary, I’ve been at a loss for words since I heard the news from David last Friday. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the last time I ever spoke to Bill was two Christmases ago, when you were both in Albuquerque visiting Zoe. I can’t believe he’s gone, and I’m just so sorry for your and Zoe’s loss. I’m really going to miss Bill. Your home was always like a second home to me, and for that I’ll always be grateful. I’m going to miss Bill’s easy laughter and dry humor. I’ll miss his eye/stomach for excellent restaurants, and his presence in the kitchen. I still remember him teaching me how to make spaghetti pancakes in your Albuquerque kitchen all those years ago, the morning after Cincinnati chili, if I’m not mistaken. Bill had such a zeal for life – for food, for travel, for art, for laughter, and the world just won’t be the same without him. You and Zoe are in my thoughts, and if there is anything I can do, please let me know. With love, Brittany."

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Mary Dennis

From Marina Khoury‎:
"Indeed, Bill's time came too soon. My heart aches for Mary and Zoe who made him so happy and proud. I hope they can take solace in the amazing thoughts our New Urbanist community are sharing about Bill. One of his last posts with "do not dare to feel sorry for me for I have lived a good life" will resonate with me forever. A real inspiration."

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Mary Dennis

2017, Florence, Italy

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Howard Blackson

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