Local obituary: Louis Bakanowsky Jr., 94, architect behind New England Aquarium, Boston Children’s Museum

It is with deep sadness, coupled with an abundance of love and gratitude, that we announce the passing of Louis J. Bakanowsky, Jr., on March 13, 2025, at the age of 94.

Lou, fondly known as “P” to his family, wore many hats throughout his extraordinary life: artist, sculptor, professor, architect, sailor, car aficionado, dog lover, designer, academic leader, mentor, friend, “garlic grower,” to name just a few. But his most treasured and well-worn “hat” was always that of a loving and devoted family man.

Lou was born on October 8, 1930, to Louis J. and Alice (Sullivan) Bakanowsky in Norwich, CT. He was raised in Jewett City, a small, close-knit borough of Griswold, CT. It is here where he met his first and only, “sweetheart”, Marie Golas. Lou and Marie were married during a snowstorm in January of 1951 and quite fittingly, would spend the next 74 years weathering any and all of life’s storms with an unwavering love and devotion to one another.

Immediately after marrying, Lou was called to serve in the United States Air Force with a fighter squadron in Iceland. Upon discharge, Lou and Marie left for Syracuse University, where he earned his BFA in Design and Sculpture, while also serving as a Teaching Assistant. Lou went on to study architecture, first at Yale University and then at Harvard University, from where he received a Master Of Architecture in 1961.

Three years later, Lou and Marie welcomed a son, Louis J. Bakanowsky, III “LJ”, who not only shared a name with his father, but also his “creative eye.” Lou and LJ spent countless hours designing, building and fixing things together and Lou treasured this time with his son above all else. When asked what he was most proud of in his life, Lou would always answer, “LJ” (though, in later years, his grandchildren were a razor-thin second).

Lou’s professional life afforded him countless opportunities to share his gifts and passion for looking at the world through an artistic lens. He started his esteemed four-decade tenure at Harvard University as a Professor of Architecture and then, continued in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies (VES), where he was appointed The Osgood Hooker Professor of VES. Lou also served as Chairman of the VES and the Council of the Arts. But his greatest honor was to be chosen as the Director of the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, which is housed in the only building in the United States designed by the famous French architect, Le Corbusier. Lou felt extremely privileged to work in such a venerable building and environment and to share that special space with so many talented artists.

Lou was a lifelong, practicing architect and a founding partner of Cambridge Seven Associates, which designed the U.S. Pavilion at the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, as well as many award winning buildings, both locally and globally. Of note, and always recalled with great pride, were the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum.

At the end of his life, we were blessed to have an amazing team of healthcare professionals from RiverMead (Peterborough, NH), who joined us and offered such incredible grace and compassion during Lou’s final days and hours. There are no words to adequately express our gratitude for their kindness and for the peace they brought to all of us.

In addition to his wife, Lou is survived by his son, Louis “LJ” (Nancy); two grandchildren, Hannah (Kyle) and Louis “Luke” (Allison); and two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Aaron.

Lou is also survived by his two brothers, Paul (Martha) and Mike (Jennifer); sister, Meg (Mike); sister-in-law, Constance; brother-in-law, Charles (Carmen); many beloved nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews; and his dearest and closest friends, Peter Chermayeff, Robert Luchetti, Jan Mazur and Marta Zurad.

At Lou’s request, Services will be private. However, we invite you to share your photos and/or favorite memories on this memorial page, as a testament to Lou’s lasting legacy.

This local obituary is published via Legacy.com and Lasting Memories. Want a loved one’s obituary featured on Boston.com? Submit your obituary here, or email it to [email protected].