Bob's Story

Impact | Bob as...

• Our professional relationship was based on our mutual love of old buildings and our dedication to the social mission of creating homes for people of all income levels. Bob had an unwavering belief in the potential of architecture but most importantly he believed in human potential. I was touched by his warmth, humor and love of life and am privileged to have been able to call Bob my friend.

  Lawrence H. Curtis

  President + Managing Partner

  WinnDevelopment

  Friend

  

• Bob led TAT with a robust set of skills, but his superpower was his sense of humor. His joy and laughter were contagious and key to the creative and collaborative office culture that he built. He knew our best ideas often came when we were laughing and goofing around. We regularly have the pressure and stress that comes with turning out great work under tight deadlines, but Bob reminded us to keep things in perspective and enjoy the ride.

  Edward R. Bradford, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

  Principal

  The Architectural Team

  ARCHITECT

• Bob was a good friend, who gave testimony to the power of moral character. His courage and decency were unassailable, his loyalty unimpeachable, his generosity enormous. Your status in life meant little to Bob, whether you were a millionaire developer, or a waitress. If you were self-important, Bob was happy to take you down a notch; if you were insecure, he’d be the first to let you know how special you were. Bob had an unwavering moral compass. He was honest, compassionate, and kind. He was authentic, brave and the most selfless person I know. He taught me a lot about design, but much more about life, love, and joy.

  Lisa Alberghini

  Executive Vice President

  Housing Partnership Network

  FRIEND

• I am convinced that when the time comes, he will be arguing at the gates for one more time around. The best gift he ever gave me, besides our Lita, Maria, and Carlos, is that he allowed me to be me. He has always encouraged me to be independent, and to follow my own dreams.

  Carmen R. Verrier

  HUSBAND

  

• I’m always aware of the smile on my face and the happiness in my heart after seeing Bob.

  Jim Dunn

  Executive Vice President

  Boston Architectural College

  COLLEAGUE

  

• I have seen Bob in action many times over the years. If he saw a bad situation, he volunteered a way to help make it better—one that creatively stretched things a bit, took some risks, but resulted in making something good happen. It seems to me that Bob lives for moments like this. When he can get involved and make a positive difference in someone’s life. He seeks no gain, eschews any credit, he simply seems to delight in being able to help others.

  Bruce White, AIA

  MENTOR

• Bob, as folks put it today, was my “bestie” in the 1950’s and early 60’s. As I became his partner in crime, so to speak, we had many experiences that really helped me deal with much of what life would bring my way. Bob, even as a teenager, was always looking for a new adventure, which is probably no surprise to those of you who were close to him, as he became a wonderful family man and a very skillful architect. The older Bob really wasn’t too different from the younger model. Having the nerve to risk failure and to do things his way have always been Bob’s hallmarks. His failures have been few and doing things his way has been amazingly successful. “Life Is Worth Living” is the motto of Bob Verrier’s life.

  Bob Houde

  FRIEND

• 
  

• Bob as a mentor was key for not only my professional growth as an employee getting things done the right way but also was a great example of how to lead. Even when dealing with the stickiest of situations, where many would immediately jump into “what went wrong” or “how did we get ourselves in this position” Bob was always quick to start a conversation with something like “How is your son doing?” or “Is your family doing well?”. Then the rest of the conversation was had with a background of compassion and empathy. I try to remember this when leading teams and individuals.

  Andrew N. Stebbins, LEED AP

  Associate

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob as a father was supportive and nurturing, he also emphasized hard work and taking responsibility for your actions. He was always present, and exposed all of us to art, culture, travel, different ways of life and the infinite possibilities of our futures.

  Lita M. Verrier

  FATHER

  

• When I first met Bob Verrier, I didn’t know the first thing about architecture. Over the years I had the pleasure of knowing him, he shared his passion for his work with me, one story at a time. That passion was infectious. He opened my eyes to the remarkable world of historic adaptive reuse and the built environment. He taught me to understand the importance of a sense of place and the responsibility of designers to respect and enhance the communities in which they work. Bob gave me a priceless gift—a love for architecture.

  Kelly Margeson

  Director of Marketing

  The Architectural Team

  COLLEAGUE

• There are so many things we love about Bob. One is his generous nature. If you need it, Bob will give you the shirt off his back. He’ll also give you his pants, Carmen’s shoes, and the garments of anyone unfortunate enough to be standing nearby.

  Ron + Myrna Bocage

  FRIEND

  

• I often think about how important Bob was to my life and what a wonderful, enjoyable person he was. Being with him was always a pleasure and very stimulating. His zest for life, people, and ideas was infectious. He was one of the most generous people that walked the earth.

  John K. Freeman

  President

  Chesapeake Management Group

  ARCHITECT

  

• My best memories of you are when we are on the beach flying kites when I was young and trying to get them flying when there was no wind at all! You are the best Tito anyone could ask for, thank you.

  Tobin Hart

  GRANDFATHER

  

• Bob as a mentor made me love old buildings! I had a passion for all architecture, but I didn’t know my specific professional purpose until he catapulted me into the world of adaptive reuse and a newfound love for restoring our old, forgotten buildings. He instilled in me the important connections these buildings have to the past, how they once were the anchors of their communities, and how they should be preserved and celebrated rather than torn down for new construction without roots. My hope is that I can help usher the next generation architects as he did with me and continue his legacy at TAT.

  Scott E. Maenpaa

  Project Manager

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob, our family friend as well as my mentor, was extremely thoughtful, understanding, and very caring. He always encouraged me to look ahead and take the next step forward, both, in life and in work—such a positive influence and a guiding light! His warm and friendly nature led him to connect with my family instantly, while making us a part of his family too. He will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

  Rimona Prabhu

  Founder + Principal

  CadAid

  FRIEND

• Bob is an icon in the community and certainly to me and my family. He is a fierce competitor, an amazing friend and simply tenacious. I went into business during a very difficult time in the real estate market and Bob was among a very few loud voices that resonated with confidence, friendship, and support. His gesture of friendship bound me to him in ways that I never imagined.

  Mark S. Schuster

  Chief Executive Officer

  Wingate Companies

  ARCHITECT

  

• Tito is short for “abuelito” which means grandfather in Spanish. He has gray hair, with some bangs that hang down in front like Elvis! I love my grandfather because he tells great stories. I also like going into the abandoned buildings with him, with a hard hat on.

  Kira Moran

  GRANDFATHER

  

• I first met Bob over 30 years ago in New Bedford, in an old, dilapidated trolley station called the Car Barn, which the city was considering condemning. A number of well-established architects had looked at the condition of the building and wanted no part of the project. Bob was the only architect that had the creativity, imagination, and guts to take on such a challenging property transformation—his design and rehab earned national awards for historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His personal style is a unique blend of hard work, integrity, ingenuity, and best of all, and tremendous sense of humor.

  Patrick Carney

  Chairman + CEO

  Claremont Companies

  ARCHITECT

• 
  

• One thing I’ve learned about Bob is that you will never walk out of his house with an empty stomach, empty hands, or an empty heart.

  Karina Fassett

  FRIEND

  

• My favorite memories of working with Bob were when we had to inspect buildings scheduled for renovation prior to design commencing. Bob never hesitated to walk through run-down occupied housing, or dilapidated mill buildings that seemed ready to collapse. He was prepared to travel for a client anytime, anywhere. His humble reserved genius is not what I think of when I speak of Bob. It is his straightforward, uncensored, well-meaning viewpoint that I have come to expect and which I admire most.

  Mark DiNapoli

  ARCHITECT

• When I think of Tito Bob, I think of his love for his 6 grandchildren. I think of his generosity towards everyone. I think of his sense of adventure.

  Alicia Moran

  GRANDFATHER

  

• I love to travel. And the adventure that goes along with it. I was in East Berlin when the wall was being built. I barely got out at the Brandenburg Gate. What was I doing in East Berlin? Trading Deutschmarks on the black market.

  Bob Verrier

  BOB

  

• Claremont completed many innovative rehab projects with Bob during a very interesting time in the early eighties. Tax credits and efforts to revive blighted neighborhoods gave us unusual opportunities to rethink older buildings and their uses. Bob seemed to be way ahead of the rest of us on this and was a wonderful teacher making the work fun and exciting.

  Mark Carney

  ARCHITECT

  

• Robert was a friend of mine. I met him at college, and we remained lifelong friends. He was smart, a good listener, always accommodating, and was just fun to be with. Through the years I enjoyed many experiences with Robert. One of my favorites was when we headed to Mexico to visit Carmen’s family. Robert bought a used car for $100 thinking it would get us to Mexico, and back to Boston. This was a good plan, but the car, I hate to say, was not up for the task. It broke down on the Mass turnpike, fifty miles out from Boston. I was heartbroken, but Robert was ready for this challenge. By hook or by crook, and perhaps a little luck, we did make it to Mexico. During the trip, Robert was always up-beat, never discouraged, never complained, and we just kept moving—being creative when necessary and enjoying each other’s company. Needless to say, we made it, and had great fun along the way. No doubt about it, Robert was a special kind of guy.

  Rod Burnett, AIA

  FRIEND

• I have had the good fortune to have known Bob for about 40 years. Over that time, we worked together developing, designing, and building some of the greatest developments in New England. Bob has been gifted with many attributes. He has both imagination and knowledge which is a quality hard to find. He doesn’t believe in telling people what to do, he believes that people will surprise you with their creativity. Bob has a great attitude, patience, and perseverance. The impressive things he has accomplished are the end result of his perception, wisdom, hard work, and the ability to respect his colleagues as much as we all respect him.

  Ed Fish

  ARCHITECT

• I still have a vision of Bob at the lake spiraling off of the dock to the amusement of the adults and to the delight of the children!

  Jon McKee

  FRIEND

  

• Bob, my mentor and ‘Boston Grandpa’ was a man with perception and foresight, who had the ability to spot my skills and creativity very early on while I was still in school. He always listened to my ideas and pushed me to further develop them, even when I thought I could not. He took the time to celebrate and share every milestone event of mine growing up. He will always be deeply missed.

  Rihan Prabhu

  3Draw

  MENTOR

  

• I will always remember Bob as my mentor, my boss, my colleague, but best of all, a loyal friend. He always wanted what was best for me. I could do no wrong in his eyes. I remember when he said to me, “Carlos, buy a house. That’s the best investment you can make. You can borrow from your 401k and pay yourself back with interest. It’s a win, win situation.” That’s exactly what I did, and today, I’m a homeowner. I liked to tell Bob a phrase my mother told me as a child,“Lo que yo digo, se puede escribir.” In English it means, “What I say, can be written down.” Bob was as good as his word; reliable, truthful, sincere with his promises—that was Bob.

  Carlos I. Colon

  Right-hand to Bob + TAT

  The Architectural Team

  FRIEND

• One of the many things that Bob has taught me is, life as in buildings may have problems, but if you keep a positive attitude and work them through, things usually end up okay.

  Donna Sullivan

  COLLEAGUE

  

• Bob served primarily as my mentor and friend, but really helped me to understand the art of the business. He knew a well-timed joke could cut the stress of the work. He excelled at reading others and the room, and knew that most client relationship problems could be solved by working with people and not against them. Bob helped me to understand the value of our client relationships, and often Bob’s word at a conference table was as good as a signed contract. There was humility and honesty in his interactions with our clients and public boards. If he believed something strongly, he didn’t shy away from making his position known, but also could do so without alienating the other people in the room. His humbleness and his devotion to our profession and firm was staggering. There was never an excuse, not to give it your all. He set a high bar for all of us, he taught me that humility, honesty, and loyalty are the cornerstones to successful client relationships, and a prosperous business.

  Anthony Vivirito, Associate AIA, LEED AP

  Associate

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob as a mentor was compassionate and inspiring. He had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. If he knew someone was going through a difficult time, he always asked what he could do to help, and delivered when he received an answer. He taught me to never take myself, or others, too seriously and to find joy and laughter in every moment. That was easy to do when he was around. I miss him.

  Danielle Eckrich, CAP OM TA

  Office Manager

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

  

• Our professional relationship was based on our mutual love of old buildings and our dedication to the social mission of creating homes for people of all income levels. Bob had an unwavering belief in the potential of architecture but most importantly he believed in human potential. I was touched by his warmth, humor and love of life and am privileged to have been able to call Bob my friend.

  Lawrence H. Curtis

  President + Managing Partner

  WinnDevelopment

  Friend

• 

• Bob led TAT with a robust set of skills, but his superpower was his sense of humor. His joy and laughter were contagious and key to the creative and collaborative office culture that he built. He knew our best ideas often came when we were laughing and goofing around. We regularly have the pressure and stress that comes with turning out great work under tight deadlines, but Bob reminded us to keep things in perspective and enjoy the ride.

  Edward R. Bradford, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

  Principal

  The Architectural Team

  ARCHITECT

• Bob was a good friend, who gave testimony to the power of moral character. His courage and decency were unassailable, his loyalty unimpeachable, his generosity enormous. Your status in life meant little to Bob, whether you were a millionaire developer, or a waitress. If you were self-important, Bob was happy to take you down a notch; if you were insecure, he’d be the first to let you know how special you were. Bob had an unwavering moral compass. He was honest, compassionate, and kind. He was authentic, brave and the most selfless person I know. He taught me a lot about design, but much more about life, love, and joy.

  Lisa Alberghini

  Executive Vice President

  Housing Partnership Network

  FRIEND

• I am convinced that when the time comes, he will be arguing at the gates for one more time around. The best gift he ever gave me, besides our Lita, Maria, and Carlos, is that he allowed me to be me. He has always encouraged me to be independent, and to follow my own dreams.

  Carmen R. Verrier

  HUSBAND

• 

• I’m always aware of the smile on my face and the happiness in my heart after seeing Bob.

  Jim Dunn

  Executive Vice President

  Boston Architectural College

  COLLEAGUE

• 

• I have seen Bob in action many times over the years. If he saw a bad situation, he volunteered a way to help make it better—one that creatively stretched things a bit, took some risks, but resulted in making something good happen. It seems to me that Bob lives for moments like this. When he can get involved and make a positive difference in someone’s life. He seeks no gain, eschews any credit, he simply seems to delight in being able to help others.

  Bruce White, AIA

  MENTOR

• Bob, as folks put it today, was my “bestie” in the 1950’s and early 60’s. As I became his partner in crime, so to speak, we had many experiences that really helped me deal with much of what life would bring my way. Bob, even as a teenager, was always looking for a new adventure, which is probably no surprise to those of you who were close to him, as he became a wonderful family man and a very skillful architect. The older Bob really wasn’t too different from the younger model. Having the nerve to risk failure and to do things his way have always been Bob’s hallmarks. His failures have been few and doing things his way has been amazingly successful. “Life Is Worth Living” is the motto of Bob Verrier’s life.

  Bob Houde

  FRIEND

• 
• 

• Bob as a mentor was key for not only my professional growth as an employee getting things done the right way but also was a great example of how to lead. Even when dealing with the stickiest of situations, where many would immediately jump into “what went wrong” or “how did we get ourselves in this position” Bob was always quick to start a conversation with something like “How is your son doing?” or “Is your family doing well?”. Then the rest of the conversation was had with a background of compassion and empathy. I try to remember this when leading teams and individuals.

  Andrew N. Stebbins, LEED AP

  Associate

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob as a father was supportive and nurturing, he also emphasized hard work and taking responsibility for your actions. He was always present, and exposed all of us to art, culture, travel, different ways of life and the infinite possibilities of our futures.

  Lita M. Verrier

  FATHER

• 

• When I first met Bob Verrier, I didn’t know the first thing about architecture. Over the years I had the pleasure of knowing him, he shared his passion for his work with me, one story at a time. That passion was infectious. He opened my eyes to the remarkable world of historic adaptive reuse and the built environment. He taught me to understand the importance of a sense of place and the responsibility of designers to respect and enhance the communities in which they work. Bob gave me a priceless gift—a love for architecture.

  Kelly Margeson

  Director of Marketing

  The Architectural Team

  COLLEAGUE

• 

• There are so many things we love about Bob. One is his generous nature. If you need it, Bob will give you the shirt off his back. He’ll also give you his pants, Carmen’s shoes, and the garments of anyone unfortunate enough to be standing nearby.

  Ron + Myrna Bocage

  FRIEND

• I often think about how important Bob was to my life and what a wonderful, enjoyable person he was. Being with him was always a pleasure and very stimulating. His zest for life, people, and ideas was infectious. He was one of the most generous people that walked the earth.

  John K. Freeman

  President

  Chesapeake Management Group

  ARCHITECT

• 

• My best memories of you are when we are on the beach flying kites when I was young and trying to get them flying when there was no wind at all! You are the best Tito anyone could ask for, thank you.

  Tobin Hart

  GRANDFATHER

• 

• Bob as a mentor made me love old buildings! I had a passion for all architecture, but I didn’t know my specific professional purpose until he catapulted me into the world of adaptive reuse and a newfound love for restoring our old, forgotten buildings. He instilled in me the important connections these buildings have to the past, how they once were the anchors of their communities, and how they should be preserved and celebrated rather than torn down for new construction without roots. My hope is that I can help usher the next generation architects as he did with me and continue his legacy at TAT.

  Scott E. Maenpaa

  Project Manager

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob, our family friend as well as my mentor, was extremely thoughtful, understanding, and very caring. He always encouraged me to look ahead and take the next step forward, both, in life and in work—such a positive influence and a guiding light! His warm and friendly nature led him to connect with my family instantly, while making us a part of his family too. He will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

  Rimona Prabhu

  Founder + Principal

  CadAid

  FRIEND

• Bob is an icon in the community and certainly to me and my family. He is a fierce competitor, an amazing friend and simply tenacious. I went into business during a very difficult time in the real estate market and Bob was among a very few loud voices that resonated with confidence, friendship, and support. His gesture of friendship bound me to him in ways that I never imagined.

  Mark S. Schuster

  Chief Executive Officer

  Wingate Companies

  ARCHITECT

• 

• Tito is short for “abuelito” which means grandfather in Spanish. He has gray hair, with some bangs that hang down in front like Elvis! I love my grandfather because he tells great stories. I also like going into the abandoned buildings with him, with a hard hat on.

  Kira Moran

  GRANDFATHER

• 

• I first met Bob over 30 years ago in New Bedford, in an old, dilapidated trolley station called the Car Barn, which the city was considering condemning. A number of well-established architects had looked at the condition of the building and wanted no part of the project. Bob was the only architect that had the creativity, imagination, and guts to take on such a challenging property transformation—his design and rehab earned national awards for historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His personal style is a unique blend of hard work, integrity, ingenuity, and best of all, and tremendous sense of humor.

  Patrick Carney

  Chairman + CEO

  Claremont Companies

  ARCHITECT

• 
• 

• One thing I’ve learned about Bob is that you will never walk out of his house with an empty stomach, empty hands, or an empty heart.

  Karina Fassett

  FRIEND

• 

• My favorite memories of working with Bob were when we had to inspect buildings scheduled for renovation prior to design commencing. Bob never hesitated to walk through run-down occupied housing, or dilapidated mill buildings that seemed ready to collapse. He was prepared to travel for a client anytime, anywhere. His humble reserved genius is not what I think of when I speak of Bob. It is his straightforward, uncensored, well-meaning viewpoint that I have come to expect and which I admire most.

  Mark DiNapoli

  ARCHITECT

• 

• When I think of Tito Bob, I think of his love for his 6 grandchildren. I think of his generosity towards everyone. I think of his sense of adventure.

  Alicia Moran

  GRANDFATHER

• I love to travel. And the adventure that goes along with it. I was in East Berlin when the wall was being built. I barely got out at the Brandenburg Gate. What was I doing in East Berlin? Trading Deutschmarks on the black market.

  Bob Verrier

  BOB

• 
• 

• Claremont completed many innovative rehab projects with Bob during a very interesting time in the early eighties. Tax credits and efforts to revive blighted neighborhoods gave us unusual opportunities to rethink older buildings and their uses. Bob seemed to be way ahead of the rest of us on this and was a wonderful teacher making the work fun and exciting.

  Mark Carney

  ARCHITECT

• Robert was a friend of mine. I met him at college, and we remained lifelong friends. He was smart, a good listener, always accommodating, and was just fun to be with. Through the years I enjoyed many experiences with Robert. One of my favorites was when we headed to Mexico to visit Carmen’s family. Robert bought a used car for $100 thinking it would get us to Mexico, and back to Boston. This was a good plan, but the car, I hate to say, was not up for the task. It broke down on the Mass turnpike, fifty miles out from Boston. I was heartbroken, but Robert was ready for this challenge. By hook or by crook, and perhaps a little luck, we did make it to Mexico. During the trip, Robert was always up-beat, never discouraged, never complained, and we just kept moving—being creative when necessary and enjoying each other’s company. Needless to say, we made it, and had great fun along the way. No doubt about it, Robert was a special kind of guy.

  Rod Burnett, AIA

  FRIEND

• I have had the good fortune to have known Bob for about 40 years. Over that time, we worked together developing, designing, and building some of the greatest developments in New England. Bob has been gifted with many attributes. He has both imagination and knowledge which is a quality hard to find. He doesn’t believe in telling people what to do, he believes that people will surprise you with their creativity. Bob has a great attitude, patience, and perseverance. The impressive things he has accomplished are the end result of his perception, wisdom, hard work, and the ability to respect his colleagues as much as we all respect him.

  Ed Fish

  ARCHITECT

• I still have a vision of Bob at the lake spiraling off of the dock to the amusement of the adults and to the delight of the children!

  Jon McKee

  FRIEND

• 

• Bob, my mentor and ‘Boston Grandpa’ was a man with perception and foresight, who had the ability to spot my skills and creativity very early on while I was still in school. He always listened to my ideas and pushed me to further develop them, even when I thought I could not. He took the time to celebrate and share every milestone event of mine growing up. He will always be deeply missed.

  Rihan Prabhu

  3Draw

  MENTOR

• 

• I will always remember Bob as my mentor, my boss, my colleague, but best of all, a loyal friend. He always wanted what was best for me. I could do no wrong in his eyes. I remember when he said to me, “Carlos, buy a house. That’s the best investment you can make. You can borrow from your 401k and pay yourself back with interest. It’s a win, win situation.” That’s exactly what I did, and today, I’m a homeowner. I liked to tell Bob a phrase my mother told me as a child,“Lo que yo digo, se puede escribir.” In English it means, “What I say, can be written down.” Bob was as good as his word; reliable, truthful, sincere with his promises—that was Bob.

  Carlos I. Colon

  Right-hand to Bob + TAT

  The Architectural Team

  FRIEND

• One of the many things that Bob has taught me is, life as in buildings may have problems, but if you keep a positive attitude and work them through, things usually end up okay.

  Donna Sullivan

  COLLEAGUE

• 

• Bob served primarily as my mentor and friend, but really helped me to understand the art of the business. He knew a well-timed joke could cut the stress of the work. He excelled at reading others and the room, and knew that most client relationship problems could be solved by working with people and not against them. Bob helped me to understand the value of our client relationships, and often Bob’s word at a conference table was as good as a signed contract. There was humility and honesty in his interactions with our clients and public boards. If he believed something strongly, he didn’t shy away from making his position known, but also could do so without alienating the other people in the room. His humbleness and his devotion to our profession and firm was staggering. There was never an excuse, not to give it your all. He set a high bar for all of us, he taught me that humility, honesty, and loyalty are the cornerstones to successful client relationships, and a prosperous business.

  Anthony Vivirito, Associate AIA, LEED AP

  Associate

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

• Bob as a mentor was compassionate and inspiring. He had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. If he knew someone was going through a difficult time, he always asked what he could do to help, and delivered when he received an answer. He taught me to never take myself, or others, too seriously and to find joy and laughter in every moment. That was easy to do when he was around. I miss him.

  Danielle Eckrich, CAP OM TA

  Office Manager

  The Architectural Team

  MENTOR

•