Kenneth A. Underwood ’50 *53

Ken died June 16, 2020. He was a lifelong resident of Glen Ridge, N.J. 

Coming from Glen Ridge High School, he participated in Theatre Intime and belonged to Whig-Clio. He graduated with high honors in architecture and won the department’s coveted D’Amato Prize. He continued his architectural studies, earning an MFA from Princeton in 1953. 

Following Navy Officers Candidate School, he served as an aviation ground officer on four aircraft carriers. He returned to civilian life in 1956 to begin a career in architecture. His early portfolio was varied, including education-related projects. He then began specializing in the planning and design of justice-related projects. In 1996, Vitetta, a major architectural firm based in Philadelphia, recruited him to assume the position of director of justice-facility design, focusing on courthouses and correction facilities. 

Throughout his life Ken took leadership positions in both professional and civic organizations. He was honored in 1993 by elevation to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. 

In 2006, he and wife Barbara, whom he married in 1959, moved from their Glen Ridge residence to Parkway House, a nearby community co-op. Recognizing his reputation as a well-known architect and public official, the Parkway Board immediately asked him to serve as a director.  

Ken is survived by his son and two grandchildren.