UB architecture graduates establish student assistant fund in honor of classmate

Published March 5, 2019 This content is archived.

Christopher Bovenzi built his own architecture firm - CAB Architects - and was a dedicated lieutenant in the Albany Fire Department.

Christopher Bovenzi built his own architecture firm - CAB Architects - and was a dedicated lieutenant in the Albany Fire Department.

A new student assistance fund has been made in the memory of a UB School of Architecture and Planning alumnus, Christopher Bovenzi (BPS ’84).

In honor of their classmate’s memory, UB graduates Mari Cecil (MArch ’86, BPS ’84) and Brian J. Kelly (BAED ‘83) created the Christopher Bovenzi Student Fund to help students with out-of-pocket expenses, such as the purchase of materials, school-related travel, and necessary technology.

After graduating from UB in 1984, Christopher Bovenzi went on to build his own architecture firm—CAB Architects—and serve as a lieutenant in the Albany Fire Department, before passing away following an eight-year battle with cancer on July 14, 2015.

Cecil describes Christopher as a hard-working, good-natured friend who found his passion for architecture at UB. Among friends and family, she says there are numerous stories about Christopher which show his kind heart.

 “He never turned down an opportunity to help someone on developing their project, whether it be helping with supplies, cutting materials or evening looking at your project from a different perspective.  When working with him, you experienced his passion for architecture. Through all of our charettes he provided us with his humor and wisdom and fully embodied the sense that ‘we are in this together’. The Christopher Bovenzi Student Assistance Fund is important to me in continuing Chris’ legacy of ‘we are in this together’.”