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.jpg) In every
culture death is recognized and addressed. In some it is more
important how you die than how you live. In others death is
assigned an insignificant role. We at the AIA have the sad duty to
inform you of the passing of one of our leaders. In early October
Diane Trevarrow Evans passed away as a tragic outcome of clinical
depression. For us, it was how she lived that we want to
remember.
Diane served for the last year and a half as the editor of the
SPP Journal. This edition of the journal was the last that
she edited. In her time as editor she demonstrated great
enthusiasm. Her e-mails were thoughtful and frequent. Her efforts
were always concerned with how to better serve the practitioners
that are the Small Project Practitioners (SPP) Knowledge
Community’s (KC’s) constituency. This KC was the place in
the AIA where she chose to serve after having filled leadership
roles in Charlotte and Milwaukee. Her enthusiastic participation in
the small practitioner community and her clear dedication to the
AIA were primary reasons for her selection this past summer to join
the SPP Advisory Group. She would have been chair in 2011.
The advisory group will consider others to fill her position. We
can’t, however, even conceive of replacing her. Her character
was distinctive, her passion infectious. Her troubles were sadly
more than she could overcome. She will be missed in the same way
that, in a West African village, a warrior or griot would be
missed. The warrior represents a village’s strength and
energy. The griot, an elder and story teller, represents a
village’s wisdom. Diane embodied both of these aspects for our
community. In losing her, an essential part of who we are is gone.
We will carry on; we will not be the same. Even in death, she
continues to teach and inspire.
AIA Milwaukee plans to honor Diane’s contributions and
dedication by hosting an annual program in her name that will
promote dialogue and inspire the community, design professionals,
and future architects by showcasing the work of innovative,
culturally diverse architects. Charitable donations to support this
effort may be sent to the attention of:
Diane Trevarrow Evans Memorial
Wisconsin Architects Foundation
321 S. Hamilton Street
Madison, WI 53703
Contributions to the Wisconsin Architects Foundation (WAF) are
tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Include your
e-mail address if you want an invitation to the program. For
additional information, contact William Babcock, Hon. AIA, WAF
Executive Director, at 608-257-8477 or waf@aiaw.org.
Louis B. Smith, Jr., AIA, NOMA
2007 Advisory Group Chair, SPP KC
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