Vale Donald Gazzard 4 August 1929 — 15 May 2017

I met Don in 1977, when I went to work with him on the recommendation of Colin Griffiths from Harry Seidler’s office. Don had worked for Seidler as apprentice and undergraduate from 1950 to 1953. Through Seidler’s mentorship, Don became an unashamed modernist, Bauhaus disciple and pragmatic designer, city planner and conservationist. He was greatly respected by his friends and peers, not only for his contribution to architecture and the city over a sixty-seven-year career, but as an educator, mentor and writer.

In 2006, Don published his memoir Sydneysider: an optimistic life in architecture. In it, he acknowledged those special consultants, peers and friends whom he respected and collaborated with to achieve his great work. It would be remiss if I did not