William "Bill" Prescott Lecky's Obituary
William “Bill” Prescott Lecky, FAIA, age 92, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Born on January 21st, 1934 in New York, NY, Bill lived an incredible life, touching millions as a world-renowned Washington, D.C. based architect. After his father passed away when he was very young, Bill was sent to boarding school at the Cooperstown Academy in Cooperstown, NY. It was there, during his formative years, that he developed a love of woodworking and design. Later, while enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Bill was on leave in Mexico when he visited a contemporary designed church and discovered his life’s calling.
Upon completing his service in the military, Bill attended the University of Virginia where he got his B.A. in Architecture in 1960. Shortly after, he formed a partnership with W. Kent Copper, and Cooper-Lecky Architects became a stalwart of the Washington D.C. architectural community for nearly 40 years. Known for developing and training hundreds of young architects who passed through their doors, Cooper-Lecky holds fond memories for many of today’s leading D.C. area architects. During his career, Bill worked on numerous projects ranging from schools, churches and libraries to custom offices and unique private homes, including several government landmarks including the Blair House, White House Press Room, and projects at the National Zoo. Over the course of his career, Bill’s design aesthetic was inspired by Bauhaus, Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modern approaches to architecture.
One of his proudest achievements involved working on renovations at numerous public and private buildings immediately after congress passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring buildings to be retrofitted for accessibility for the disabled. Through this work, Cooper-Lecky Architects led the way on what became the first wave of accessibility standards for building design in the United States.
Above all, Bill was known for his prominent roles in designing and constructing the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial on the National Mall, in Washington, DC. Conceived by Yale Architecture Student Maya Lin, the Vietnam Memorial concept was selected in a national design competition. Given that Lin had not yet graduated from college, an Architect of Record was required to finalize the design and engineering and to oversee construction. Bill’s prominent role in this project led to Cooper-Lecky Architects being selected as the design team for the Korean War Veterans Memorial which was dedicated in 1995.
It was a combination of projects that led to numerous professional awards including the AIA’s 25-year design award for the Vietnam Memorial and Bill’s induction into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in 2008.
Outside of architecture, Bill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He relished time with his family at their weekend home in Bethany Beach, DE, and he loved to travel, with Tuscany and Sante Fe being two of his favorite destinations. Following his retirement, Bill returned to his roots in woodworking and artisanship, creating sculpture and making jewelry as a way to continue his creative passions. His self-published book, Designing for Remembrance: An Architectural Memoir (2012), remains one of the most interesting and detailed accounts of the trials and tribulations of building memorials on the National Mall. Bill remained a loyal UVA alumnus and Cavaliers sports fan, as well as a die-hard Redskins/Commanders fan until his passing.
Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Paula, his children Brooke (Matt Supple), Eric, and his grandchildren Stirling, Campbell, Ava and Grant.
For those wishing to commemorate or remember Bill, we invite you to leave comments on his “Lecky Design Studio” Facebook Page.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Architects Foundation (https://architectsfoundation.org/donation/), the philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Architects investing in scholarships and educational programs to help the next generation of young architects succeed in their careers. The family will gather for a private ceremony in Richmond, VA.
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?