Delawie, Homer, 1927-2009

Biography

Homer Delawie was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1927. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17, shortly before the end of World War II. Following his time in the military, Delawie joined the U.S. Forest Service in Los Padres National Forest. He left forestry work to study architecture at California Polytechnic State University, in Luis Obispo. Delawie graduated in 1951, later becoming the school's first licensed architect.

In 1954, while visiting San Diego, Delawie met architect Lloyd Ruocco. The two architects began working together, forming a partnership in 1958. Delawie struck out on his own in 1961, running his own firm until 1966, when he partnered with Al Macy. Two years later, they were joined by John Henderson. That firm split and, at the time of Delawie's retirement in 1997, the firm had become Delawie, Wilkes, Rodrigues, Barker, and Bretton Associates.

Delawie and his firm designed numerous modern residences throughout San Diego, as well as exhibit space for SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, Thurgood Marshall College residence halls on the UCSD campus, and the Coronodo Ferry Landing. Along with his architectural practice, Delawie participated in civic planning and development issues. He served on the City of San Diego Planning Commission, the Housing Appeals Advisory Board, and the Historic Resources Board. Delawie was a founding member of Save Our Heritage Organisation, helping to save the Sherman-Gilbert House. He received lifetime achievement awards from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects in 1997 and Save Our Heritage Organisation 2002.

Homer Delawie died in 2009, at age 81.

From the guide to the Homer Delawie Papers, 1945-2007, (Mandeville Special Collections Library)