John C. Haro MArch ’55 has passed away at the age of 91. John was elected FAIA and the former Senior Vice President and Director of Design and Planning for Albert Kahn Associates. Before his time at the Harvard GSD, he studied under Walter Saunders at the University of Michigan.

The Albert Kahn Associates firm shared the following announcement:

John Calvin Haro, FAIA, a Detroit architect who designed multiple buildings for the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor as well as many corporate headquarters projects, died April 9 in Phoenix, Arizona, at age 91.

Mr. Haro spent most of his career with Albert Kahn Associates in Detroit, where he was a Senior Vice President, Corporate Director, Stockholder, and Director of Design and Planning.

Among his many projects, he oversaw while with the Kahn firm were several for the University of Michigan, including UM’s Physics and Astronomy Building, the Modern Languages Building, the Adult General Hospital, the Graduate Library addition, and the Duderstadt Center North Campus Information Technology Center and Library.

Mr. Haro also oversaw the creation of the National Bank of Detroit headquarters in downtown Detroit, the Avon corporate headquarters, Eli Lilly’s Engineering Technology Center, and the Washington Post headquarters.

“John was a valued and willing mentor to many architects around the country, and in his own firm.  He led an incredible list of Kahn projects for a diverse collection of appreciative clients,” said Alan H. Cobb, FAIA, President & CEO of the Kahn firm.

Born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in the Baraga, Michigan area, the son of John H. and Lydia Haro, he was a longtime resident of Birmingham and Houghton, Michigan and Scottsdale, Arizona. John was a graduate of L’Anse High School, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Michigan. After serving in the U.S. Navy as an Ensign on the U.S Tawasa AFT92 during the Korean War, he went on to earn a Master of Architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Mr. Haro began work as an architect in the Detroit area with Yamasaki & Associates and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls before moving to Albert Kahn Associates. He was awarded a Wheelwright Traveling Fellowship by Harvard University and was a Fellow with the American Institute of Architects. He also received the Gold Medal from the Detroit Chapter of the AIA and Michigan Society of Architects for design and urban planning.

Mr. Haro was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Elizabeth, (Betty Smith), Haro. He is survived by his children; John S., Alex, and Alison; and five grandchildren.

After his retirement, John designed private homes, churches, and additions to schools in the Houghton and Hancock area of Michigan. In later years John and Betty lived in Houghton, Michigan, and Scottsdale, Arizona, where John continued his architectural work but also producing many original paintings and drawings. He also was fluent in the Finnish language, having learned it as a child, and enjoyed researching his heritage and visiting with relatives in Finland.