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Former UA architecture dean dies

Ronald Robert Gourley, former dean of the UA College of Architecture and professor emeritus, died Friday at the University Medical Center of natural causes. He was 80.

Gourley was named dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Arizona in 1977 and continued in that position until his retirement in 1988.

He was then named distinguished visiting professor and continued in that position until his health faltered.

Faculty at the College of Architecture have fond memories of Gourley as an individual who was welcoming and kind.

"He was a person of tremendous elegance and he always had a sparkle in his eye," said Richard Eribes, dean of architecture administration.

Gourley's wife Phyllis said her husband possessed many qualities that balanced each other very well.

"He took what he did very seriously but he didn't take himself seriously," she said. "He was loved and will be missed by family, friends and students."

Gourley earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota and finished his education at Harvard University, where he received his master's degree in architecture in 1948.

His teaching career began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an instructor in the school of Architecture and Planning while working on his master's.

At Harvard, he was an associate professor from 1953 to 1964. Later he was a professor in the Graduate School of Design, where he stayed until 1970.

Gourley received many awards, including the National Honor Award for Outstanding Design at the Boston Arts Festival in 1958. He was also awarded first prize in the competition for the State War Memorial in New Hampshire.

Gourley is survived by sons Robert Gourley of Tucson, Geoffrey Gourley of Flagstaff, daughter Karen Gourley Lehman of Salem, Mass. and six grandchildren.

Celebration services will held for the public at the Gourley home, 2522 E. Third St., on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Donations can be made to the Ronald R. Gourley Award for Design Excellence at the College of Architecture.