Robert Pett, AIA 1953-2023 The family of Robert Nilson Pett was heartbroken to share the news of his unexpected death at age 70 on Oct. 31, 2023. Rob was born on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1953, to Marjorie Nilson Pett and Stuart Brandon Pett Sr., the youngest of four siblings. Rob attended William Penn Elementary, Evergreen Jr. High and Olympus High Scott Theobald, AIA 1953-2023 Scott Theobald passed away on Feb. 26, 2023, a few days before his 70th birthday. At his retirement in 2018, he was the Senior Vice President of Design West Architects in Logan, Utah. Scott was born and raised in California. After high school, his family moved to New York, where he obtained a Fine Arts degree from the State University of New York. In 1979, he received a Master of Schools and received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Utah in 1980. Upon graduation, Rob joined FFKR Architects, where he worked until 1994, at which point he joined MJSA Architects as a shareholder. He became president of MJSA in 2005 and remained so until his retirement in 2018 after 25 years with the firm. Rob loved his profession and deeply respected his associates and clients. Notable projects where Rob was lead architect were Governor’s Mansion Restoration, David Keith Mansion Restoration, Utah State Capitol Gold Room Restoration, Safe Haven for Valley Mental Health, Provo City Library, C. Roland Christensen Building at the University of Utah, Carmen B. Pingree School, Utah State Capitol Restoration and the O.C. Tanner Flagship Store. He was also proud of his work with the Natural History Museum of Utah. He served on numerous boards and received many awards for his work. No project was too big or too small for his exacting work, be it the Delta Center or a friend’s birdhouse. He was a hardworking, respected architect inside and outside of the community and was at a job site on the day he died. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the contractors who tried to save him and cared for him after he died. He and Kathryn (Snedaker) Holmes married in 1997 (later divorced) and together raised Sarah Snedaker and their own two sons, Robbie and Michael. Rob was proud of and loved his kids, and they loved him in return, “If you knew my dad, you know how silly and witty he was. I am so grateful I got to have him as my dad.” Rob is survived by his sons Robbie (wife Madison and baby Rowan) and Michael (Celestria); stepdaughter Sarah (Joe); siblings Susan (Mary), Stuart (Virginia) and Rip (Claire); lifelong best friend John Felt and dear friend Robyn Seldin; many adored cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved friends. Architecture degree from the University of Utah, and then returned to New York for four years. While working in Rochester, Scott married his wife, Jan, and also developed his lifelong professional love for Historic Preservation and the design of Performing Arts facilities. Scott joined Design West in March 1983. During the 1983 Christmas break at Utah State University, a fire severely damaged the North Wing of Old Main, the original academic building on campus. Old Main was designed, in part, by K. C. Schaub, Design West’s founder in 1892. Scott’s historic preservation experience helped Design West win the assignment to help USU save their flagship building. Over the next 15 years, Scott led three major projects to rehabilitate the entire 156,000 square‑foot historic building. In 1985, Scott Theobald filled a substantial leadership void when Richard Clyde died in a plane crash. Scott continued the company’s K-12 school design throughout the western states and its associated Energy Conservation initiatives. He became a principal of the firm in 1994. Among Scott’s significant projects was Design West’s first YearRound Education school in Oxnard, California, the Eccles Performing Arts Center in Park City and major projects for the Ellen Eccles Theatre and the Utah Theater. Scott was a key member of Design West’s 2002 Winter Olympics Housing project team at the University of Utah. That led to many Student Housing projects, including an 11-year assignment at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. Scott demonstrated a remarkable diversity of interests and capabilities. He was the company’s primary Specification Write and the Manager of Quality Control at Design West. Many young architects learned the hard way from Scott’s merciless redlining of their construction documents. Scott’s relationship with on-site superintendents always started with the declaration that “My only job is to help make you successful,” and he defined success as, “Projects which are delivered on time, on budget, without major issues.” 21
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