Sidney L. Delson, an architect whose unusually diverse career was distinguished by his work helping architects and engineers improve the quality of professional services they provide to their clients, died at the age of 89 on October 27, 2021 of natural causes at home.

After nine years working for firms designing hotels, commercial buildings and residences, developing advanced technologies of house production, and creating an architectural department for a large engineering firm designing waste treatment, military and nuclear facilities, in 1966 Mr. Delson joined a new public benefit corporation, the Mental Hygiene Facilities Improvement Fund (later called Facilities Development Corporation), established by the Rockefeller administration to create a new generation of mental health care facilities in New York State. He intended to work there only three years, but because the program became especially interesting as it expanded to include hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities and mental health community residences for state and local government throughout New York, Mr. Delson stayed 25 years. He was Director of Design for eleven years, and developed a staff of 35 senior architects and engineers to oversee the work of more than a hundred private sector architect and engineer firms designing hundreds of projects statewide. He developed a system of design quality management enabling private sector architects and engineers to reliably create projects satisfying client needs within established schedules and budgets. Mr. Delson was active in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and, in 1987, was made a Fellow of the AIA. He also served as president of the Pratt Institute Alumni Society, chairman of the Brooklyn Museum Community Gallery advisory committee, and vice-chairman of his local community planning board in Brooklyn.

In 1991, Mr. Delson retired from Facilities Development Corporation and established a private practice as consultant to architects and engineers on quality management of professional services.

Sidney Leon Delson was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 10, 1932 to Robert Delson and the former Evelyn Fistel. The family moved to Florida in 1937 when his artist father became technical director of the WPA Florida Federal Art Project. Mr. Delson graduated from high school in Tallahassee, Florida and, prevented from attending West Point because of poor eyesight, enrolled in the University of Florida to study architecture. He withdrew after one semester to enlist in the Army early in the Korean War. Three years later, he resumed the study of architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. There he met art student Elizabeth Pfannmuller, who was studying painting and drawing after her recent graduation from Smith College. They were married in September 1955 and embarked on the life of a penniless student couple, and on their respective careers of architect and artist.

In 1999, the Delsons moved from Park Slope, Brooklyn to their house in Lion Head Beach in Springs, where they had vacationed since 1978. After building an artist’s studio for Elizabeth behind their house, they became active in the art community on the East End. In addition to his consulting practice, Mr. Delson was an officer of the Lion Head Beach Association and its president for six years, and also assisted local architects to establish their new Peconic Chapter of the AIA, but his favorite occupation was as his wife’s “studio assistant”; they were always seen together in the community.

When his wife Elizabeth died in October 2005, Mr. Delson set all else aside and embarked on a project to advance her artistic legacy by placing her work in public collections where it can continue to be seen and enjoyed by all. He considered it the most important and worthwhile project of his career. He published a catalogue raisonné of her paintings and prints on www.atelierliz.com and sought every opportunity to extend public awareness of the art of Elizabeth Delson.

Mr. Delson is survived by: two daughters, Karen Keusseyan and Sara Delson of Carlsbad, California; son and daughter Matthew and Ju Chun Lai Delson of Springs, New York; sister Irma Delson-Canan of Alexandria, Virginia; grandsons Zaven and Levon Keusseyan; great-grandson Robert Leon Keusseyan; cousins Jerry and Esther Delson and their children Nathan, Leah and Beth.

During his lifetime Mr. Delson supported the Springs Food Pantry.
Memorial Donations in his name are welcome.

www.springsfoodpantry.com

5 Old Stone Highway, East Hampton, NY 11937