10/2005

 FROM OUR FRIENDS AT AIA GEORGIA
Bernard B. (Rocky) Rothschild, FAIA, 1915–2005
 

It saddens us to notify you that the indefatigable Bernard B. Rothschild, FAIA, passed away on the morning of September 16.

For almost 60 years, Rocky Rothschild performed continuous, dedicated service at the local, state, regional, and national levels of the AIA.

Rocky touched the city of Atlanta, the profession, and all those he came in contact with. He will not be forgotten. His accomplishments since joining the AIA in 1947 are far too numerous to acknowledge fully here, but it is irrefutable that he served with a deep commitment to the integrity of the profession of architecture and the Institute that represents it.

Rocky served as secretary, vice president, and president of what was then the Georgia Chapter. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Georgia State Association and served as its president in 1972. He served as director of the South Atlantic Region as its representative on the AIA national Board. For six years, he acted as an AIA observer at all Georgia Architectural Registration Board meetings and was deeply involved in five Georgia Registration Law changes. This led him to his two-term appointment to the Georgia Registration Board.

His major contributions relate to professional practice. Starting with membership on the National AIA-AGC Joint Committee in 1957, his interest in the AIA contract documents became a near obsession. He participated on the AIA Documents Committee for 13 years, chairing the committee from 1969 to 1971. His contributions to the work of the commission and the Documents Committee were intense and significant, involving every aspect of practice.

These accomplishments, few among many, came while serving as principal of Finch Alexander Barnes Rothschild & Paschal Architects Inc. (FABRAP), from which he retired in 1981. FABRAP succeeded the firm of Alexander & Rothschild Architects, which he formed in 1948 with Cecil Alexander, FAIA.

One of the things Rocky was most proud of was the role he played in Georgia on behalf of accessibility for people with disabilities. Through his years of active participation with the Georgia Society for Crippled Children and Adults (Easter Seals), he was selected to be general and program chair for the first AIA Southern Barrier-Free Architecture Workshop Program (1969) and played an important role in the drafting of and lobbying for Georgia’s Architectural Barriers law (1977). He was one of the two architects appointed to the State Building Administrative Board Advisory Committee, which prepared Georgia’s first statewide building code.

The breadth of Rocky’s involvement and continued commitment to the AIA and the profession of architecture have been honored more times than we can name here and include the AIA Edward C. Kemper Award (1973), Special AIA Board Citation for CSI (1981), Fellow of the Institute (1966), and Fellow of CSI (1964). Rocky served as Chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows in 1984-’85.

The culminating recognition for these long years of exemplary service was the creation by AIA Georgia in 1981 of the Bernard B. Rothschild Award for Outstanding, Meritorious Service to the Profession or the Institute. This is the highest and most prestigious award the architects of Georgia can bestow on an individual.

AIA Georgia honors Rocky Rothschild the man, the architect, and the Institute pillar. His passing truly marks the end of an era and continuation of a great legacy.

Copyright 2005 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved. Home Page

 
 

Tribute
I join you all in saluting Rocky as one of the giants of our profession, especially in the area of practice management. When John Higgins and I opened our office in 1953, Rocky and his partner approached us about providing construction administration services on a bakery they were serving as architects for here in Charlotte. It was much-needed work for us and the beginning of a great friendship that lasted to this day. I followed Rocky as regional director for the South Atlantic Region, as a chairman of the Institute’s Commission on Professional Practice, and later as a chancellor of the College of Fellows. The College has lost a dedicated advocate and leader whose commitment has only been matched by Les Boney.
—S. Scott Ferebee, FAIA
AIA President, 1972–1973

Our Institute has lost one of its “greats.” As a Fellow, a member, a documents specialist, he ranked among the “top.” I served with Rocky on the Documents committee from 1975-80. As a friend and mentor, no one could have asked for more. He will be sorely missed by an enormous group of people. We are blessed to have had him in our midst.
—Donald J. Hackl, FAIA
AIA President, 1982–1983

A class guy who will be missed by all—and one of the few who could get away with calling me “Sly.”
—Sylvester Damianos, FAIA
AIA President, 1989–1990

I am sorry to hear the news of Rocky’s passing. He was a good friend to Mary Lee and me and was a real mentor for us all. A great architect and a credit to the College of Fellows.
—Ted P. Pappas, FAIA
AIA President, 1987–1988, Vice Chancellor, College of Fellows

We are all so sorry to receive the sad news of our friend Rocky. I had known him from the fifties and never knew anyone with more enthusiasm and love for the profession, the AIA, and his fellow architect and man. He will be greatly missed by all, particularly in The College of Fellows.
—Frank Lucas, FAIA
Secretary, College of Fellows

He was a lovely gentleman. Glad I knew him.
—Raymond P. Rhinehart, PhD, Hon. AIA
Senior Director for Special Projects, Executive Office, AIA national component


  
     
Refer this article to a friend by email.Email your comments to the editor.Go back to AIArchitect.