Richard Henry Behr: Architect, Educator, Visionary: April 23, 1942 – May 14, 2025

Richard Henry Behr, longtime Scarsdale resident and esteemed architect, educator, and design visionary, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of May 14th. Known to colleagues, students, and friends as Rick, he leaves behind a legacy of transformative architectural work, academic dedication, and a life deeply committed to shaping the built environment with purpose and integrity.

Prior to his retirement, Rick enjoyed more than four decades in architectural practice, culminating in the founding of his firm, Richard Henry Behr Architect, P.C., in 1984. His distinguished career included roles as Chief Architect of the New York State Urban Development Corporation, architect with the renowned firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill International, and consultant in applied physics at MIT with Bolt, Beranek, and Newman.

Rick’s design vision spanned continents and cultures. His portfolio includes such landmark projects as Jim Henson’s Muppets Studios in New York City, the Jeddah Jetport in Saudi Arabia—at the time the largest architectural project in the world—the University in Mecca, and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also designed numerous custom residential, commercial, and educational buildings throughout New York, Connecticut, Florida, and beyond.

Rick held a Master of Business Administration from New York University (1978) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Minnesota (1965), with additional studies at MIT, Columbia, Cornell, the University of Illinois, and Illinois Institute of Technology. As an educator, he served as Adjunct Professor of Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse at the Yale Graduate School of Architecture (1971–1989) and at the Pratt School of Architecture (1971–1976). He co-authored Economics of Community Revitalization and Design for the Elderly, exploring architecture’s role in community and social wellbeing.
Rick was predeceased by his beloved wife, Suzanne Behr. He is survived by his children: Heather Panessa and her husband Joseph; Mark Behr and his wife Jennifer Borgen Behr; and Spencer Behr and his wife Karen Behr. He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Ashley Panessa, Paige Panessa, Ethan Behr, Madeline Behr, and Jackson Behr.

Those who knew Rick will remember his formidable intellect, creative vision, and heartfelt generosity, as well as his love of sailing, fly fishing, and golden retrievers. His contributions live on in the built environment, in the students he mentored, in the many communities touched by his work, and in his family—especially the five grandchildren he adored.