Thank you for posting obit for Herb Githens.  I feel like I almost knew
him, given his accomplishments and similar interests.  Scary loss...


QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS

Ilene R. Tyler, FAIA

219 1/2 N. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
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www.quinnevans.com
v 734.663.5888
f 734.663.5044


Date:    Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:58:06 EDT
From:    Mary Krugman <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: In Memoriam: Herbert J. Githens, Historic Architect and Planner

Herbert J. Githens, award-winning historic architect, died of heart
failure=20 early Sunday August 17, at age 52. Mr. Githens=E2=80=99s
twenty five years o= f=20 experience in building-related fields included
the restoration, stabilizatio= n, and=20 relocation of numerous cultural
resources; the identification and nomination=  of=20 hundreds of
historic properties to the National Register of Historic Places=20=
and=20 recordation of structures to Historic American Building Survey
and Historic=20 American Engineering Record standards. He was a
recognized expert witness in= =20 architecture, historic architecture
and historic preservation planning. =20 Githens was born in Cinnaminson,
New Jersey.  The building arts were part of= =20 his family heritage, as
his maternal grandfather was a building contractor a= nd=20 on his
father=E2=80=99s side was the noted early Nineteenth Century architec=
t, Alfred=20 Morton Githens. =20 Herb Githens was a man with a
commanding presence who loved historic=20 structures.  There is nothing
that gave him greater joy -- except his belove= d wife=20 Sarah and
daughters Caity and Erin -- than the care and restoration of old=20
buildings and sensitively adapting them to new uses. =20 After his
graduation from the College of Architecture at Clemson University=20 in
1973, Mr. Githens worked for a short time in an architecture firm=20
specializing in the design of new schools. This work failed to inspire
him,=20= and Herb=20 soon talked his way into the new graduate program
in historic preservation t= hat=20 had been founded at Columbia
University by the revered preservationist James= =20 Marston Fitch. =20
His experiences at Columbia under Fitch lead Githens to the path that
was to= =20 become his life=E2=80=99s work. He first worked with
architect Albin Rothe a= nd noted=20 archaeologist Edward S. Rutsch,
with whom he remained close friends until hi= s=20 death earlier this
year. During the same period Githens was an adjunct=20 instructor in
architectural history and special lecturer in historic preserv= ation
at=20 New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark N.J.  He was a
licensed archite= ct=20 and professional planner in New Jersey, as well
as a licensed architect in=20 Pennsylvania and New York.=20 =20 In 1983,
Githens founded his own architecture firm in Montclair, New Jersey,= =20
where he continued to practice until his unexpected death. From the
modest=20 former residence just off the town=E2=80=99s main street,
Githens firm produ= ced=20 thoughtful and meticulously crafted plans for
such noted New Jersey landmark= s as the=20 Ridgewood Avenue Rail Road
Station, Glen Ridge; Immaculate Conception Church= ,=20 Montclair; Our
Lady of Grace Church, Hoboken; Fosterfields Living Historical= =20 Farm
and Historic Speedwell, both in Morristown; the Morris Canal in
Warren=20 County; and the Bergen County Justice Complex, Hackensack. =20
Mr. Githens was awarded many honors over his meaningful career
recognizing=20 his contribution to the fields of architecture and
historic preservation. He=  was=20 a member and past president of the
New Jersey Chapter of the Society of=20 American Registered Architects
(SARA) and in 2001, the National Chapter awar= ded him=20 a Fellowship,
its highest honor. In the coming year he was to serve on SARA=
=E2=80=99s=20 National Committee. Among his memberships in other
professional and history=20 organizations were the Association for
Preservation Technology, the Society=20= for=20 Industrial Archeology,
Partners for Sacred Places, the National Trust for=20 Historic
Preservation, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the Montclair=20=
and=20 Glen Ridge, NJ, Historical Societies. =20 Community service was
an important part of Mr. Githens life. He played an=20 active role in
many organizations including membership on the Boards of the=20= Glen=20
Ridge Public Library and  the Glen Ridge Art Parents Association; a
Delegate= =20 for Diabetes, American Diabetes Association; Commissioner,
Montclair [NJ]=20 Historic Preservation Commission; Trustee of the
Montclair Historical Societ= y; and=20 member of the Montclair Parking
Advisory Committee. =20 Mr. Githens was proud of his Irish ancestry and
made several visits to=20 Ireland to trace his family roots. He was a
jazz aficionado who enjoyed even= ings=20 with family and friends at
jazz venues such as Birdland and the Village Vang= uard.=20 An avid fan
of Seton Hall=E2=80=99s basketball team, he supported the =E2=
=80=9CPirates=E2=80=9D=20 loyally by his regular and enthusiastic
attendance. =20 Mr. Githens is survived by his wife Sarah, daughters
Caity and Erin, his=20 mother, and two sisters. =20 Memorial services
are scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Sunday, August 24, at=20 Immaculate
Conception Church, 1 Munn Street, Montclair, New Jersey.=20

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