Oct. 18--Evanston architect Gregory Maire knew how to listen to clients, understand exactly what they were after and to present plans that met those desires.
"He had a very thorough interview process," said former associate Ken Parel-Sewell, describing a detailed set of questions that guided Maire's approach, whether the project involved changes to an existing home or new construction.
"He was very able to tap into what would make a client happy and do a house in that style with excellence," said Parel-Sewell, who formed his own firm, One World Architecture, after Maire retired and closed his firm, Gregory Maire Architect Ltd., in 2005.
That was two years after Maire, then 55, was diagnosed with younger/early onset Alzheimer's and dementia, according to Michael Horvich, his partner for more than 40 years.
Maire, 67, died of pneumonia and complications of the disease Oct. 4 in the Alzheimer's special care unit of the Lieberman Center for Health Rehabilitation in Skokie, according to Horvich. Maire, a longtime Evanston resident, had been living in the facility for the last 18 months.
"He lived with the diagnosis," Horvich said. "You get diagnosed and then you live the best you can, and Gregory lived very well. You compensate, and he did it with elegance and grace."
Maire and Horvich traveled and had extended stays in places including Spain and France, as well as several trips to Italy and Mexico. Horvich said Maire continued to be active in many charitable organizations, attended the Lyric Opera and other theater events and entertained.
Part of the couple's story was told recently in a documentary film, "Alzheimer's: A Love Story," following the couple's journey with the effects of the disease.
Maire was born in Elmhurst and spent part of his youth in Goshen, Ind., before moving with his family to Connecticut after high school. He earned an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University there before going on to earn a master's in architecture from Harvard University.
His interest in architecture came from his grandfather and from playing with toy blocks as a boy, Horvich said. Maire, an accomplished pianist, also attributed his love of classical music to his grandfather.
Maire was married for a time and came to Chicago when his wife got a job here.
After spending a couple of years trying to get published as a writer, Maire got involved as on-site staff for a group home for disabled adults, according to Horvich. When the interior for a new group home was being designed, Maire was asked to lend his design expertise.
"That reawakened his interest in architecture," Horvich said.
After an internship, Maire passed the examination for his license, then went to work with a partner for a short time. In 1982, he opened his own firm. Although the firm is closed, information on its website notes Maire's styles ranged from contemporary to traditional and work that includes residential and commercial from Chicago's North Shore to Boca Raton, Fla., to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
"He was very passionate about residential architecture in particular," said Parel-Sewell, who joined the firm in the late 1990s. "He would read about homes, study homes, tour homes."
After Parel-Sewell joined the firm, the two began doing some work for religious organizations. "I had been invited to enter a design competition for the Nashville (Tenn.,) Baha'i Community Center," Parel-Sewell said. The two worked together on a design, presented it in Nashville and, as Parel-Sewell said, "We won."
The colleagues also worked together on the garden and terrace of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.
"Listening was key -- that was what I learned from him," Parel-Sewell said. "Listening to what would make them (clients) happy and then finding ways into their joy."
On a much smaller scale, Maire was instrumental in designing display spaces when Horvich's collections of small items, now known as Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, was in a room in their house. He was part of the team that helped reimagine the collection as it moved to a permanent home in Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier.
"One cabinet holds Greg's favorite part of the collection," Horvich said.
Maire is also survived by a brother, Mark.
A memorial was held.
Megan is a freelance reporter.
