Edward Tufts

November 9, 1923 - December 7, 2021

Ed died at home in his independent living apartment in Austin, Texas. He had just celebrated his 98th birthday. In the words of his bonus granddaughter, he was a most faithful, positive, kind, and upstanding man.

Ed was born in Los Angeles, the son of Anna Mitchell and William Tufts. He lived in South Pasadena until 1942, was co-captain of his high school football team and received a football scholarship to Santa Clara University in the Bay Area. Ed entered the US Army Air corps in June 1943, and piloted B-25, B-26, and A-26 twin engine fighter-bombers in training until World War II was over.

Ed married Margaret McCutchen of Shreveport, Louisiana in January 1946. They returned to California and UC Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in Architecture becoming a licensed architect in California, Texas, and nationally. In 1955 they moved to Houston, Texas to raise their family. Ed started work for MacKie & Kamrath Architects as a specifications writer on such buildings as M.D Anderson, U.T Medical School Houston, Alkek Baylor College of Medicine, Humble (Exxon) Building, Regency Hyatt Hotel downtown, and many other buildings in Houston and throughout the US and Saudi Arabia. He was active in the AIA and was president of the Houston chapter of the Construction Specification Institute. He also worked with Wyatt Hedrick, Goldman and Rolfe, Welton Becket, and 3D International Architects for over 50 years on projects in the US and Saudi Arabia, such as the extensive remodel and expansion of the Texas State Capital, the Saudi King and Queen's palaces, conference centers, and municipal buildings in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.

Ed was active in and an enthusiastic and loyal choir member of Holy Ghost Catholic Parish in Houston for 60 years and more recently St Louis King of France Parish in Austin. He was a man of many stories who loved gathering together with family and friends. He loved traveling, never complained, and everything amazed and delighted him. He was a Southern California beach boy through and through who loved nothing better than spending time at the beach fishing and swimming.

Ed was preceded in death by his sister Martha Tufts Hubner (SPHS '30) and his brother William Tufts (SPHS '34); his son Mark Tufts and by his wife Margaret Tufts. He is survived by his daughter Margaret (Donald) Tenney, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many friends across the country.

Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, December 10, 2021