Edward “Ted” Hopkins Healey

Edward “Ted” Hopkins Healey

Cedar Rapids

Edward “Ted” Hopkins Healey, 98, passed on Jan. 25, 2023. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, the family moved to Cedar Rapids, where he graduated from McKinley High School. Ted enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for three years in World War II, primarily as an aircraft mechanic, after which he attended the University of Illinois and received a B.A. degree in architecture. He also studied at the Ecoles des Beaux-Arts in Fontainebleau, France, where he studied painting and architecture.

In 1950, Ted began his architecture career working for the University of Iowa Architect. During this time he met the love of his life, Letitia “Tish” Dawson, and married Sept. 11, 1954. They settled in Cedar Rapids and raised three daughters: Susan Toussaint (John), Carolyn Olson (David, deceased) and Ellen Healey. They enjoyed 61 wonderful years of marriage before Tish passed in 2016.

In Cedar Rapids, Ted was asked to join the respected architect, W.J. Brown, as a partner in what became Brown and Healey Architects. The firm later became Brown Healey and Bock, and then Brown Healey Stone & Sauer Architecture Planning and Interior Design. Under his tenure, the firm designed hundreds of buildings including the Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport Terminal, Cedar Rapids Public Library (before the 2008 flood); many buildings on the Coe, Kirkwood and Cornell college campuses and 14 other Midwest college campuses; buildings on all three state university campuses; the State Historical Building in Des Moines; and over 50 library projects in Illinois, Wisconsin Minnesota and Iowa.

Ted was heavily involved with advancing the profession of architecture in Iowa and the nation.

He was an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and served as president of the AIA Iowa. He was honored and elevated as a national Fellow of the AIA in 1979. Ted served as president of the Iowa Architectural Registration Board, and as a Director on the Nation Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) where he chaired the Professional Conduct Committee which wrote the Code of Conduct for licensed architects, and served as the basis for the national AIA Code of Professional Conduct (Ethics).

In later years, Ted was appointed by the Iowa Governor to serve on the State Library Commission which he chaired for two years, and was elected to represent Iowa at the White House Conference on Library and Informational Services for two years. In 1996 Ted was recognized for his distinguished achievements in architecture when awarded the Medal of Honor by Iowa AIA.

Within the Cedar Rapids community, Ted was instrumental in establishing and serving as a founding Trustee for the Linn County Historical Museum. He served as a Charter Trustee of Brucemore, chair of Cedar Rapids Trust for Historic Preservation, vice president of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, president for the Cedar Rapids Art Association (now the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art), president of the Cerebral Palsy Center, several terms as Clerk of the Session of First Presbyterian Church and president and secretary of the Cedar Rapids Literary Club.

In addition to his professional and community service accomplishments, Ted had an incredible love for his family and friends. He designed their long-time family home in Cedar Rapids and their summer cottage at Lake MacBride where the family spent every weekend and summer. Ted loved to sail and entertain at The Cottage with Tish. One of their best-loved groups was their couples “Book & Bottle” book club, which they enjoyed for over 50 years.

Like his father, George, Ted was always social, and truly enjoyed people and talking with everyone he met. He was always sincere, positive and joyful. His zest for life, kind and fun-loving attitude was contagious. Always the dapper dresser and giver of huge hugs, Ted was the best dad, father-in-law, papa and papa-papa ever.

Ted was preceded in death by his wife, Letitia “Tish” Healey; parents, George and Marian; brother, Bill; sister, “Cracker” Ten Hagen; son-in-law, David Olson; and grandson, Nicklas Olson (Carolyn).

He is survived by his three daughters, Susan, Marco Island, Fla., Carolyn ,Minneapolis, Minn., and Ellen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son-in-law, John Toussaint; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Toussaint (Joe Koss), Ted Toussaint (Hillary) and Erik Olson (Brittany); and five great-grandchildren, Pawel, Cora, August, David and Alexander.

Memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Reception following at the church. For a livestream link of the service, go to FPCCR.org. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Brucemore, Re-Leaf Cedar Rapids or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.