Dennet Waldron Latham, 72, passed away at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on November 12, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He fought a long, courageous battle with cancer. An Oregon architect, Dennet helped create projects across the United States and internationally, mentored countless up-and-coming colleagues, and created a lasting legacy for local communities.
Dennet was born on May 24, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, the third child of Arline Downs Latham and Dr. Raymond Latham. He was raised in Prairie Village and Mission Hills, Kansas. An avid competitor, Dennet started running cross country and track in junior high.
At Princeton, Dennet majored in biology while competing on both the the cross-country and track teams. He was a member of Cloister Inn.
Following Princeton, He completed architecture studies at the University of Kansas and then earned a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dennet’s architectural career spanned four decades and multiple firms in New Jersey, Portland, Oregon and Atlanta, Georgia. He drew from his background in science and research, which allowed him to focus on the most technical aspects of his profession: design development, documentation and execution. His projects ranged from manufacturing facilities, semiconductor plants, solar plants, data centers, research facilities, infrastructure, government buildings, and schools
An advocate for sustainable design and construction, Dennet was a LEED Accredited Professional. He was an active member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) including serving as President of Portland, Oregon chapter for two terms and President of CSI NW Region, and was also a member of the American Institute of Architects.
In college, Dennet met the love of his life, Claire Kamm. He proposed to her in Central Park and the pair married at the Princeton Chapel in 1974. They were devoted, loving partners who spent almost 50 years supporting one another, their children, and each other’s careers.
They settled early in Portland, Oregon, a decision they considered to be one of the best of their life together. They became parents to daughters Michelle and Nicole. Dennet was deeply devoted to his family. He was constantly improving and remodeling his house and he took great pride in landscaping and gardening his yard.
. Dennet continued to run 10ks and marathons and was a member of the IDC Hood-to-Coast relay teams. Later, he took up cycling andand, for 15 years, commuted 20 miles by bike to his office downtown. He was also a dedicated coach to his youthful daughters and a fan of the PAC-12. Dennet loved being active outdoors.
He will be remembered for his humility, kindness, and toughness. Cancer did not define Dennet, but it did reveal his courage and resolve. He fought leukemia and lymphoma, alongside his wife and family, for more than two decades.
Dennet is survived by his wife of 48 years, Claire (Kamm) Latham, daughters, Michelle Arline and Nicole Isabelle Bogrand (Andrew), and grandson Luke Alexander Bogrand; his brother, James Latham (Sue) and sister Janice Ward (Larry); brothers-in-law Michael Mixson (Patti), John Kamm (Irene), Arthur Kamm (Mary) and many wonderful cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arline (Downs) Latham and Raymond Waldron Latham.
The family requests that memorial donations be sent to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in his name https://www.lls.org/