Past President Richard “Dick” W. Quinn, FAIA, of Middletown, Rhode Island, passed away in April 2022. Quinn served as NCARB president in 1996, guiding the organization as it prepared to transition from a paper-and-pencil exam to a computer-based exam.

Quinn was appointed to the Connecticut Architectural Licensing Board in 1985, and began serving as the secretary of NCARB’s Region 1 (New England Conference) in 1988. He was first elected to the NCARB Board of Directors at the 1989 Annual Business Meeting as the director of Region 1, going on to serve in several officer positions before becoming the organization’s president in 1996.

During his time with NCARB, Quinn was deeply involved in the ongoing evolution of the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), volunteering as the chair of NCARB’s Examination Committee. As president, he oversaw preparation for the launch of the computerized ARE, including the selection of a vendor for exam delivery and operational testing of the exam. He also focused on improving communications to NCARB’s Member Boards, architects, and licensure candidates. NCARB’s first website was launched during his presidency, as was Building Community: A New Future for Architecture Education and Practice (more often referred to as the Boyer Report), which shaped NCARB’s education policy for several decades.

In addition to his service to NCARB, Quinn served as president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Connecticut chapter in 1984. For his exceptional contributions to the profession and the public, Quinn was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 1995.

Quinn graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1961. During his career, he was involved in a wide range of architecture work, including university and college, healthcare, corrections, and housing projects.