June 13, 2025

I am sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. But I am forever grateful for all that he did for me.
I met Ed in 1976. I was a Senior at East Senior High School in West Chester, PA. I was interested in Architecture as I greatly enjoyed my Drafting Class in HS. One of the requirements for graduating was either to take final exams for all of your classes or intern the last four weeks of school with a company in a profession that you were interested in. I was much more interested in the latter than taking exams. During my Senior year, there just happened to be an addition being built on to our High School. My smart mother arranged for me to meet the Architect – Ed Kirkbride. Upon meeting him in the Principal’s Office, his first question to me was, why do you want to be an Architect? After fumbling through my words, Ed took me on as an intern in his office in Philadelphia. The name of his Company at that time was DiGiorgio Kirkbride Architects. Tom DiGiorgio was his partner and Ed’s wife, Carol, was their bookkeeper. It was a small office with +/- 8 people.  It was a big step for me, traveling by train every day from West Chester to center city, Philadelphia, and then walking to Ed’s Office near Rittenhouse Square.
When I arrived at his office, he handed me a Sketch Book and told me to spend each morning drawing trees in Rittenhouse Square. At first, I wasn’t too happy about it. But later, I grew to appreciate what he was trying to teach me – to draw accurately what I visually saw and to better understand structure. I completed my four-week internship with him and went on to work for him that summer. During that summer, one of the projects that he asked me to draw was an addition to his Log Cabin House in Downingtown, PA. I completed the Drawings and was surprised to learn that he actually built what I had drawn.
I went on to college to study Architecture. We kept in touch as I would often talk with him about the things I was learning in school. After 3 years, completing an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Technology, and getting married, my wife and I moved to West Chester, PA and I went back to work for Ed. He had moved his office from Philadelphia to West Chester. While working for him, he kept mentoring me and encouraging me to get a Professional Degree (Bachelor Degree) in Architecture and to become a Licensed Architect. I worked for him for a year and then moved on to South Carolina to further my Architectural College Education at Clemson University.
After completing my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Clemson and working for various Architectural Firms in South Carolina and New York, our family moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1988. While working for an Architectural Firm in Kennett Square, PA, our country went through a huge recession in 1990, and I was laid off from employment. Desperate, I called Ed to see if there was any opportunity for me to come and work for him. I hadn’t talked to him in a while. He was super glad to hear from me and immediately hired me. He had since sold his company to L. Robert Kimball & Associates but was still working in West Chester. I worked for him for a couple of years while at L. Robert Kimball.
About 2 years ago, David Schrader, A4LE Fellow, FAIA, and Managing Principal of SCHRADERGROUP and I had lunch with Ed in Exton, PA. It was wonderful to see him again and to catch up with him. He was chipper and happy about his new relationship with Dee. Both David and I had worked for him while at L. Robert Kimball.
During all of the years that I worked for Ed and knew him, He was constantly teaching me and mentoring me. He would always ask me what I was learning and would give great advice on how to be a great Architect and how to make great architecture. I am forever grateful for all that Ed did for me – his patience and kindness to me and my family.
 
Mark G. Hitchcock, AIA

June 11, 2025

May his memory be a blessing

June 09, 2025

On behalf of of the Northeast Region of A4LE (formerly CEFPI) please accept our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Know that as a region and also the entire association, Ed had a tremendous impact on our members and all those students and staff members of the facilities that he touched. It is with great respect that our region continues to bestow our top award in his name and will contiune to do so.
Larry Levato
Norheast Director to the Global Board

June 08, 2025

My heart is full of sadness and deep love for “Mr. Ed” and sending so much love and comfort to his family and everyone who experienced Mr. Ed’s deep love for children and families impacted by poverty and trauma.
 
Mr. Ed your legacy will live on with love.
Jan Michener

June 07, 2025

Ed was my dearest friend and colleague and I’ll miss him very much.
John Sole