John D. Henderson 1933 - 2023
Architect John Henderson, FAIA of Delawie Macy, Henderson and Cole, later Macey Henderson and Cole sadly passed away last Month of cancer. John was an essential part of our community, an AIA Fellow, and served as AIA San Diego President in 1972.
After obtaining his degree in architecture from the University of Illinois, John joined the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps in 1956 - arriving in San Diego the next year to work at Miramar Naval Air Station. Following his government service, he designed as John D. Henderson, AIA (ca. 1964-68), Delawie, Macy & Henderson, AIA (ca. 1968-76) and Macy, Henderson & Cole, AIA (between 1977-85).
Long before John D. Henderson earned his FAIA, he was just a young Illinois kid playing with blocks and erector sets given to him by relatives, as well as pens, pencils and paper from his architect-father’s office. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he would spend the bulk of his youth growing up in Springfield, Illinois before obtaining his degree in architecture from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
John joined the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps in 1956. His tour included the Public Works Center, Guam, Marianas Islands before arriving in San Diego (in 1957) to work for the ROICC at NAS Miramar Naval Air Station. The task at hand was to turn NAS Miramar into a Master Jet Station. “We built everything in the two years that I was out there -- extended runways, built hangers, BEQ's, BOQs, Neutra's Chapel, and a mess of other stuff while getting to know many of the local architects and contractors,” John recently recalled. While in the U.S. Navy Reserves (between 1959-64) John served in the Mobile Construction Battalion MCB-17 here in San Diego.
Following his government service, he opened up his own firm - John D. Henderson, AIA (ca. 1964-68), then he joined Homer Delawie and Al Macy to run Delawie, Macy & Henderson, AIA (ca. 1968-76). Following his work with Delawie, John and Al left the Old Town office to form Macy, Henderson & Cole, AIA (between 1977-85). The latter years of a fantastic career would see him return to John D. Henderson, FAIA (1986 – 2009). In 1980 John Henderson was elected to the AIA’s College of Fellows.
As a community we mourn the loss of this incredible figure in our community, but we will always remember John for his significant impact on the San Diego landscape.
Bio Sourced from Modern San Diego.
