Robert Sturgis, 86, Dies

BOSTON-AREA ARCHITECT Robert Sturgis, a loyal champion of livable places, died on Aug. 1. He was 86. Sturgis’ commitment to innovative urban development and community planning drove the establishment of the American Institute of Architect’s Regional and Urban Design Assistance Team in 1967. A longstanding member and onetime president of the Boston Society of Architects, Sturgis founded the group’s Urban Design Committee. His vision allowed for growth, but not at the expense of the city’s history. Sturgis, whose built work included Cotting House at Harvard Business School, was also a devoted educator, volunteering for Boston Architectural College for more than 50 years and serving on its board of directors in the early 1980s. Last April, the school recognized him with a Selfless Labor Award.