John Drayton Dalgliesh Jr., a world-acclaimed architect and a dear friend to many, died peacefully at his Earlysville, Va., home on Thursday, July 5, 2012.
Jay Dalgliesh designs are known across the country, stretching as far as the Caribbean, the Grenadines, and Nova Scotia. Ducking formal recognition, he took quiet pleasure in his life's work and reveled in the joy of his clients on the many occasions that he was a guest in their homes. In love with life and living it with gusto, Jay finds a permanent place in the hearts of countless devoted friends due to his unfailing kindness, generosity, humor and empathy.
He was born in Columbia, S.C., in 1944, and was raised in Wilmington, Del., where he attended Wilmington Friends School. Jay often said that the core traits of honesty and a willingness to listen were instilled during his thirteen years at this Quaker school.
Jay graduated from The University of Virginia School of Architecture where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He also studied at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He was a talented rugby player for Virginia Rugby Football Club for some twenty years - a phenomenal run - before retiring his cleats. As the club toured Ireland, England, Mexico and the Bahamas, Jay gathered with fellow rugby mates who remained lifelong friends.
Knowing at age nine that he wanted to become an architect, Jay's lifelong passion for his vocation would become evident in the beauty of his creations. After a brief stint working for the firm of Paul Rudolph in New York, he decided he preferred the rural beauty of Virginia to city life.
He joined the Charlottesville firm of Grigg, Wood and Browne in 1969 where he happily plied his trade for his entire career, eventually heading the firm Dalgliesh, Gilpin, and Paxton. His specialties included historic renovation along with family homes and retreats uniquely tailored for each client and location. Inspired by the organic pueblo architecture of the southwest, in 1981 he and his wife Betsy built a solar adobe home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betsy Caldwell Dalgliesh of Earlysville; his sister, Andy Everett and Mac; niece, Candy Everett Bing and Darren and their children, Helen and Amelia; nephew, and namesake, Jay Everett and Morgan and their children, Luke and Mac; Betsy's family, Big Bob Caldwell of Lookout Mountain, Tn., Gina Rulon-Miller Caldwell , widow of Bobby and his son, William Caldwell; Chris Zimmerman and Michael and their children Caldwell, Elizabeth, and Russell; Sherry West and Dudley and their children, Betsy and Mary; and his other namesakes, Jay Drake and Jay Lynch. Jay was proud to be one of the "outlaws" in the Caldwell family.
A celebration of Jay's life will be held at Pippin Hill Farm
www.pippinhillfarm.com in North Garden, Va., 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. Casual attire is requested. There will also be in interment service at the Harriet Caldwell Memorial Garden in Lookout Mountain, Tn., and a gathering of friends in Santa Fe, New Mex. at later dates.
Contributions may be made to Dr. Craig Slingluff's research: University of Virginia Health Foundation/ Melanoma Research, P.O. Box 800773, Charlottesville, Va., 22908.