HANOVER, NH — Roy W. Banwell, AIA, 90, died August 21 at the Kendal Retirement Facility. Born in Philadelphia in 1929, Roy graduated from the Cranbrook School in Birmingham, MI, and went on to major in architecture at Yale University, graduating in 1951. In 1954, after three years in the U.S Navy, Roy married Nina Kelly of Philadelphia, PA. Together they traveled to London, England where Roy attended the Architectural Association before earning his MA in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1957, he and Nina left Philadelphia and settled in Hanover, where Roy worked for the firm of EH and MK Hunter, the first to bring modern architecture to Hanover. In 1966, Roy started his own firm, Banwell Architects. His early partners were Stuart White and Treat Arnold. The firm, recognized for their outstanding school design and ski lodges throughout N.H. and VT, celebrated its 50th year in business in 2016.
Roy was an active traveler, especially to Europe, where he and Nina were frequently joined by their children and grandchildren. He was also an avid cross-country skier and he and Nina, together with a group of close friends known as “7 at 7,” skied all over the United States. In Hanover, Roy was often seen on the golf course and tennis courts. He was well-known in the community, serving as a Selectman, Board Member of the Hanover Improvement Society, and in several other capacities.
He is survived by Nina, his wife of 66 years, their three children, Sarah Deadrick (Spencer Deadrick) of Chatham, MA, Kelly Murray (Mitch Whiteford) of Denver, CO and Peter Banwell (Suzanna Stout Banwell) of Silver Spring, MD and their eight grandchildren.