Memories of Bill Dennis

In memory of

Bill Dennis

Providence, RI, USA

May 24, 1955 - August 9, 2018

May 24, 1955 - Aug 9, 2018

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Robert Steuteville

Here are words about Bill collected from his friends in the New Urbanism.

A FOND FAREWELL TO A FRIEND
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 atwhatever 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 toPienza 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 abook 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.
Victor Deupi
Miami FL

Bill was talented, hardworking, witty, genial, and always a gentleman. Everyone is irreplaceable… but especially Bill.
Milton Grenfell

On behalf of John Massengale
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: Nathan Norris Friday, August 10, 2018 12:31 PM
Pasted below is a rare photo of Bill -- catching him reading a code when one of his mostcommon refrains at charrettes was "I don't need to read no f'ing code!"Also pasted below are his "Lucky Boy" posts from earlier this year about his medical challenges. They do a great job of representing the beautiful mix of intelligence, wit (to include his artful use of curse words) and optimism that Bill carried with him everywhere.
NATHAN R. NORRIS | Founding Principal CityBuilding Partnership

From: Bill Lennertz
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 sent: Friday, August 10, 2018 11:09 PM
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:
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

Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 4:40 PM
He will be very missed. His happy demeanor and humor always enlivened things!
Lew Oliver

Eric Moser 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 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 atravel stipend or scholarship that helps document the urban environment.

Emily Talen 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 reallycool guy with no pretensions. We interacted about his Sketchup for New Urbanism idea which Ihope will continue in his honor. Where can I access his various writings? Also I would love toknow 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 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 onour first hours off of the plane. Not only did he take us to two remarkable, beautiful places inthe 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' 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
Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 10:43
A really, really sad day! 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: 'Howard Blackson'
Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:41 PM
Bill's book of watercolors, Draw Your Own Conclusions, is availablehere: http://www.blurb.com/b/217976… and images online arehere: http://drawyourownconclusion.… Your Own Conclusion by Bill Dennis | BlurbBooks www.blurb.com Find Draw Your Own Conclusion by Bill Dennis at BlurbBooks.
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, sandy sorlien 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 Mouzon 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 storyof his selflessness and generosity and how it should be the backbone of NU architecture. Thereis talk of carrying on Hank Dittmar’s legacy by publishing the books that were his last work. Howmight Bill’s legacy best be carried on?
Steve

From: Steve Coyle
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 inNantucket - just before the savings and loan crisis hit. He remains a wonderfully talented andcollaborative artist, architect and urbanist. He rose way above his illness and died an urbanist as samurai.

From: BraulioCasas <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 st 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. Younever 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 Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2018 1:29 PM To: lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com
Cc: CNU Board
In moments like this, the words friend, colleague, mentor, special, talented, are often thoughtand spoken. In Bill’s case, these and many more, are just inadequate to describe the magnitudeof our collective loss. Our family and office are in deep mourning.
Stefanos

From: Sandy Sorlien<sandysorlien@comcast.net>
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 09:39To: Lean Urbanism <lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com>
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) werethe 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 toknow him and really enjoyed his visits. He did a water color of my backyard, entitled “Midnightin 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
PrincipalTorti Gallas + Partners

From: 'Anne Fairfax' via New Urban Guild Discussion <theguildhall@googlegroups.com>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 CDTTo: "lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com" <lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com>
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 feelingextremely 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 AMTo: lean-urbanism@googlegroups.co… at this news....a true brother in the movement lost.
Lee

On Thu, Aug 9, 2018 at 8:44 AM Stefanos Polyzoides <spolyzoides@mparchitects.com> wrote:
We lost a brother! It is such a tremendous loss. SP

From: Paul Crabtree
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' via Lean Urbanism <lean-urbanism@googlegroups.com>wrote:
Really painful. Saw him for the last time on the Fresno project a few months ago. When Idropped him off near LA I knew it was the last time I'd see him. Deeply sorry.
Peter Swift

From: Joanna Lombard <joanna.lombard@gmail.com>Subject: Fwd: [LEAN] Bill DennisDate: August 10, 2018 at 12:55:54 PM
When I read his first post, my first thought was glioblastoma - this is what killed my cousin atage 33 and more famously, Ted Kennedy.But then it seemed not, until I read the second post-he is amazing to have been able to powerthrough so long on something which is so rapidly debilitating and deadly. I am so so sorry.

On Aug 9, 2018, at 7:17 AM, Andres Duany <amd@dpz.com> wrote:Bill Dennis passed away this morning in his home in Providence. Mary Dennis called Buff to tellhim.Andres Duany

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