Eugene A. Delmar

Eugene A. Delmar, FAIA, died December 30, 2018 at his home in Derwood. He was 90.  A resident of the Washington, DC area since the 1950s, he was the founder and president of Delmar Architects, PA. 

“Gene” was born and raised in Gallitzin, PA. After high school, he joined the US Army Corp of Engineers where he was an officer and served in post WWII Germany. With the help of the GI bill, he went on to earn his architecture degree from Columbia University in New York. After college he moved to the Washington area. He founded Delmar Architects in 1959 and remained president of the company until his death. In fact, he still went to work every day until two days before he died.

Gene was devoted to his surviving wife Bettie and three children Diana, Daniel and David Delmar, all residents of Montgomery County, MD, as well as his six grandchildren Nicole, Jacqueline, Kristin, Anthony, Joseph and Christopher.

He was active in his professional community. In 1967, he was president of the Potomac Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He was also a past president of the Maryland Society of Architects. In 1970, he was elected a fellow of the AIA. That’s the same year he earned his master’s degree in urban design from Catholic University. He was honored with awards for his mid-century designs. He was active in community service organizations such as the Lions Club and Jaycees and participated in many charitable activities to help the underserved of Montgomery County.

Mid-career, Gene was proud to have his son David join him in his architecture practice. Together they designed many of the public schools in Maryland: Eubie Blake High, Clarksburg High, Rock View Elementary, Weller Road Elementary, Greenbelt Middle School, Huntingtown High — and the list goes on. The firm also designed the Montgomery County Courthouse in Rockville and the District Court of Maryland in Caroline County.

Gene is best described as a Renaissance man — he was an intellectual, an avid reader, an excellent artist and a golfer and hunter. He built his family home with his own hands and the homes of relatives. His family deeply mourns his passing but he will live on in their hearts and for generations to come through the many beautiful structures he designed.

A memorial service will be held in Gene’s honor at the Barber Funeral Home, Laytonsville, MD, 21525 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville, MD, 20882, on January 6, Sunday, from 2 PM until 4 PM.

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