Robert TESSIER

Robert TESSIER , of Springfield MA, died on 14 October, 2017 at Newfield House, Plymouth MA. He was 86. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, brother, Henry, and daughters, Beth and Allyce.

Bob was born and grew up in Chicopee, MA, where he and his brother, Hank, idolized Ted Williams and began an obsessive love/hate relationship with the Boston Red Sox, which would last, undiminished, his entire life.

In 1953, he received a degree in architecture from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Then, after two years of military service in Augusta, GA, he returned to Springfield and married the love of his life, Peggy Fitzgerald.

He began practicing architecture at Tessier Associates, Inc., a Springfield architecture firm that was founded by his father, Henry, in 1923. Here, he designed a variety of significant municipal and ecclesiastical buildings throughout the western New England area.
Throughout the 70's and 80's, Bob devoted a great deal of his time to architectural registration organizations. He was first appointed to the The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects, following in the footsteps of his father, Henry, who was a founder of the Massachusetts Boards in 1941. He then moved onto The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and was elected its president in 1986. He was instrumental in the development of the Architect Registration Examination and furthering national standards for architectural licensing.


In recognition of his service to the profession, he was elevated to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows in 1987.

Generous, intelligent, charming and subversively witty, he was a delight to be around. He loved travel and parties, and adored his wife, family and friends. Who, equally, adored him, without reservation.

Published in The Republican on Oct. 27, 2017  source http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/Robert-Tessier-obituary?pid=187064405