Rolf Duschenes

Rolf Duschenes C.M, B.Arch, FRAIC

Rolf Duschenes died peacefully in Saint John, N.B., on June 23, 2014, at the age of 96. He was an architect, and very active in community issues and the arts. Born in Hamburg of Austrian and German parents, Rolf left Germany in 1937 and spent two years living in Prague, Switzerland and England.  He was interned as a refugee in England in 1939 before being accepted by Canada as a refugee and "enemy alien" and interned from 1940 to 1942.  At the request of Eric Koch and as part of the Quaker effort to help refugees, Rolf was sponsored to leave internment camp, to continue university studies, by Elizabeth Grey, of Toronto.  Rolf completed his architectural studies at McGill University and joined Ross & MacDonald Architects in Montreal (which later became DFS), becoming a partner in 1959. He opened the firm's Saint John office in 1948. Many of his architectural projects were designed in partnership with David Fish.  He was the President of the Architectural Association of New Brunswick; a member of the architectural associations of Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario; and was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC). Rolf was a founding member of the Saint John Symphony; President of the Symphony and of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra; and was a friend and patron of many local artists.  Rolf was a founder of the Unitarian Fellowship of Saint John in the 1960s; a volunteer fireman in Westfield and the designer of the village's school building. He also helped to consolidate Westfield as a municipality in order to create its first town plan.  For many years, Rolf was also a Board Member of the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum.  Rolf received the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick. With great pride, he presided over a citizenship ceremony for new Canadians a few years ago.  Rolf was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Ermon Fay, and by his brothers, Herbert (Sao Paulo), Lutz (Geneva) and Mario (Montreal). He is survived by his daughters, Ellis Lynn, Jennifer (Scott MacKay), Julie (Ann Bakker), Claudia Kochava (Bruce MacAdam), and Wendy (Denis Redmond), six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  

Arrangements are under the direction of the Fundy Funeral Home 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424). Visitation will take place on Wednesday June 25th from 6-8 p.m. Celebration of Life will be held at the Fundy Funeral Home Chapel  on Thursday June 26th at 2:00 p.m followed by a reception.
For those who wish, donations to arts organisations would be appreciated

 Service Information