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John Knowles Copelin

John Knowles Copelin (Sept. 14, 1935 – Sept. 25, 2024) passed away in Philadelphia after a brief illness. He was 89. He grew up in New York City. He attended The Collegiate School, graduating in 1953, and went on to Yale College and Yale Architecture School, completing his master’s degree in 1957. He worked in Paris, France, and Cambridge, England, and met his wife, Jennifer Hosking, in London, where they were married in January 1964.

As an architect, John designed institutional buildings and recreational facilities, as well as led several historical restoration projects. While a partner in William A. Hall Partnership, he had projects at Hollins College, Bard College, Washington and Lee University, Collegiate Church, Christ Church Riverside, Marble Collegiate Church, and St. Paul’s School, among others.

From 1964 to 1982, they lived in New York, New York, and moved with their daughter to Westport, where they lived until 1996. John and Jennifer returned to New York in 1996, where they lived until retiring full-time to Madison in 2001, where John and his parents had been spending time for decades.

In his retirement, John took great pleasure in traveling the world with Jennifer, swimming in the Long Island Sound, taking care of his beautiful gardens and his dog, Rufus, and spending time with wonderful neighborhood friends. He became an accomplished watercolorist, participating in exhibitions at the Madison Arts Society, the Guilford Art League, the Old Lyme Art Society, and the Connecticut Watercolor Society. Throughout his life, he was a member of The Yale Club, The Century Association, The Madison Winter Club, The Madison Beach Club, and the Clinton Arts Society. He valued his family and friends above all else but also appreciated great art, music, and literature.

He spent the last three years living at Atria Center City, Philadelphia, close to his daughter and her family. He was predeceased by his parents, John Gregory and Jeanette Knowles Copelin, and his wife, Jennifer Hosking Copelin. He is survived by his daughter Stephanie, son-in-law Mark, and granddaughter Dahlia.