Robert Burns Tower, II

ROBERT B. TOWER, AIAE, NCARB - June 26, 1935 - August 28, 2024

 Robert Burns Tower II passed away peacefully at Friendship Village and joined his wife in Heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

He was born prematurely in Whitefish, Montana in a log cabin. He was the son of Hellen Doris (Lauman) Tower and Walter Burns Tower. He was named after his grandfather, Robert Burns Tower as well as the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. His family moved to Michigan, and he attended secondary schools in Midland, Michigan. Tower attended the University of Michigan, and earned his Architecture degree in 1960. He served his country in the US Army and National Guards of Michigan. 

 He was a registered Architect, with licenses in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. He received a national Architecture Registration (NCARB). Tower was also certified as a Peer Reviewer for the American Institute of Architects. He traveled to many parts of the US and Canada to consult with other Architectural or Engineering firms offering his expertise in management transition. 

 With over forty years of experience in the field of Architecture, Tower was the retired Chairman Emeritus of Tower Pinkster Titus Associates, Inc (TowerPinkster). During his years with the firm, Tower practiced Architecture and served as the leader of its staff. The firm had offices in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Detroit and Grand Rapids during his leadership. His expertise in Healthcare Facility design and Healthcare Construction Codes made the firm greatly sought after for his reputation for design skills in highly technical buildings. 

 Tower’s involvement in community activities throughout the state gave him the opportunity to gain insights in many aspects of public, non-profit and private enterprise. He served on the Boards of Directors of many organizations and was highly respected for his leadership and energetic support of the organizations he served. During many years of community service Tower was involved in countless fundraising efforts, developed public policy, provided leadership in the reorganization of a number of non-profit organizations, and attained a wealth of knowledge in organizational planning. Tower was a highly organized taskmaster who was respected by his peers for his ability to lead groups of people with diplomacy, thoughtful mentorship, and a respect for other people's abilities and ideas. His expertise as a fundraiser was the hallmark of his community service, and he was greatly sought after to participate in such activities because of his success at attaining the goals of any campaign he was involved with. His noteworthy campaigns were the successful efforts for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Binder Park Zoo, DRUGS DON’T WORK, the Kal-Haven Trail and the Rotary Stage in Bronson Park. 

 Tower designed many buildings during the length of his career with his firm as well as many architectural commissions he completed in his own private practice during retirement. He was the Architect of Record for Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo for over twenty years, and was the designer for many of the additions to the health facility as it expanded during the later years of the twentieth century. He was also the Architect for many other healthcare facilities throughout the state of Michigan and Illinois. Tower’s personal delight was the many beautiful custom homes he designed for clients that sought his expertise. Most of his residential projects are in Southwest Michigan. Tower also designed many fine homes in his hometown of Midland, Michigan. 

 Robert Tower’s wife, Marjorie Ellen (Delbridge) Tower passed away July 4, 2015. He is survived by his daughter, Lori M. (Noel) Beard; his son, Christopher B. (Liesel) Tower; and grandchildren, Piper and Ivan Simons. 

 The family will receive friends at a visitation at First Presbyterian Church in Richland, Michigan from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, September 5, 2024 in the Grand Prairie room which Tower designed. A memorial service will be held the following day, September 6, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church at 5pm. Gifts in lieu of flowers can be directed to the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Binder Park Zoo, or Gilmore Keyboard Festival.