Anthony J. DePace (1892–1977) was an American architect who designed numerous

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

churches throughout the Northeastern United States area during the mid to late 20th century.

Early life and education

DePace was born on July 13, 1892, in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. Shortly thereafter he emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and moved to the Bronx in New York where he lived for the rest of his life. He was educated at

Morris High School (Bronx, New York) Morris High School, in New York City, was a high school in the Melrose section of the Bronx borough's South Bronx area. The direct predecessor of Morris was built in 1897 and established as the Mixed High School, situated in a small brick building ...

and studied evenings at the Engineering and Architecture School of New York University, earning a degree there in architectural engineering.

Early career

Upon graduation, he entered the firm of Alfred C. Bossom where he rose to the position of chief draftsman from 1917 to 1920, or alternatively recorded as 1916 to 1921. He then moved to the firm of

Cass Gilbert Cass Gilbert (November 24, 1859 – May 17, 1934) was an American architect. An early proponent of skyscrapers, his works include the Woolworth Building, the United States Supreme Court building, the state capitols of Minnesota, Arkansas and We ...

from 1920 to 1923 and served as project manager for the construction of the

New York Life Building The New York Life Building is the headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company at 51 Madison Avenue in New York City. The building, designed by Cass Gilbert, abuts Madison Square Park in the Rose Hill and NoMad neighborhoods of Manha ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, on the hallowed site of

Richard M. Upjohn Richard Michell Upjohn, FAIA, (March 7, 1828 – March 3, 1903) was an American architect, co-founder and president of the American Institute of Architects. Early life and career Upjohn was born on March 7, 1828 in Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire, E ...

Madison Square Presbyterian Church, New York City (1854) Madison Square Presbyterian Church was a Presbyterian church in Manhattan, New York City, located on Madison Square Park at the southeast corner of East 24th Street and Madison Avenue. Construction on the church began in 1853 and was completed i ...

and later

Stanford White Stanford White (November 9, 1853 – June 25, 1906) was an American architect. He was also a partner in the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, one of the most significant Beaux-Arts firms. He designed many houses for the rich, in additio ...

Madison Square Presbyterian Church, New York City (1906) Madison Square Presbyterian Church (demolished 1919) was a Presbyterian church in Manhattan, New York City, located on Madison Square Park at the northeast corner of East 24th Street and Madison Avenue. It was designed by Stanford White in a H ...

. The NY Life Insurance Tower was erected late in Cass Gilbert's career when the architect had withdrawn from most aspects of design and client relations, even for important projects. While Gilbert was the lead designer of the NY Life, it has been widely reported in his biographies that he appeared very uninterested in the project when meeting with clients and left most of the work to his staff. This might suggest a greater role for DePace.

DePace and Juster (1923-1947)

In 1923, DePace left Cass Gilbert and formed

DePace and Juster DePace & Juster was an architectural firm established in 1923 by architects Anthony DePace and Samuel Juster, who met while working at the firm of Alfred C. Bossom in the late 1910s."Samuel Juster" ''American Architects Directory'', First Edition ...

, in partnership with

Samuel Juster Samuel Juster, AIA, (12 February 1896 – 2 May 1982) was an American architect who practiced during the mid-20th century in New York City and New Jersey. Career Early life and education Juster was born in Bucharest, Romania. He earned a dipl ...

. The firm continued in practice until 1947 when the partnership was dissolved.

Anthony J. DePace, AIA (1947-1977)

DePace established his own firm under his own name in 1947 and continued this practice until his death. His office was located at 151 West 46th Street, New York City. However, the firm of Anthony J. DePace, AIA was not listed in the third edition of the ''

American Architects Directory The ''American Architects Directory'' is a directory of American architects registered with the American Institute of Architects. It was published by R. R. Bowker LLC. The first edition was published in 1956, second edition in 1962, and third editi ...

'', published 1970.''

'', Third Edition (

R.R. Bowker LLC R. R. Bowker LLC (trading as Bowker) is an American limited liability company domiciled under Delaware Limited Liability Company Law and based in Chatham, New Jersey. Among other things, Bowker provides bibliographic information on publishe ...

, 1970) DePace was a registered architect in

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. He considered his principle works to be St. James's Hospital (Newark, New Jersey) (1960), Cathedral High School (Hartford, Connecticut) (1960), Norwalk Cathedral High School (Norwalk, Connecticut) (1960), Pelham Bay General Hospital (Bronx, New York) (1960),

Immaculate Heart Academy (Bergen County, New Jersey) Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA) is an all-girls college preparatory private Roman Catholic high school located in Washington Township, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The school colors are blue and white, and the school's athletes ...

(1961).

Legacy

Over his long career, DePace is remembered as a prolific designer of Roman Catholic churches, schools, rectories and convents. Throughout his career he worked closely with several Roman Catholic Diocese including the

Archdiocese of New York The Archdiocese of New York ( la, Archidiœcesis Neo-Eboracensis) is an ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church ( particularly the Roman Catholic or Latin Church) located in the State of New York. It encompasses the boroug ...

(Southern New York),

Archdiocese of Newark The Archdiocese of Newark is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northeastern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and Catholic school, schools ...

(Northern New Jersey),

Archdiocese of Hartford The Archdiocese of Hartford is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 470,000 Catholics, more ...

(Connecticut),

Diocese of Brooklyn The Diocese of Brooklyn is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the U.S. state of New York. It is headquartered in Brooklyn and its territory encompasses the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. T ...

(Brooklyn and Queens, New York City),

Diocese of Bridgeport The Diocese of Bridgeport is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church located in the southwestern part of the state of Connecticut, and its boundaries are the same as that of Fairfield County, Connecticut. Ther ...

(Connecticut), and Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts. Although his work was prolific, he never achieved critical recognition.

Honors, awards, and publication

*1929: Gold Medal for 5th Ave, 640 Madison Ave *1950: Honorable Mention for Holy Year (Rome, Italy) for St. Peter Church (Bridgeport, Connecticut). *An illustration of his work was published in Illustration of Modern Church Design (1932).

Works include

''Archdiocese of New York:'' *1925: St. Dominic Church,

Bronx, New York The Bronx () is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state, state of New York (state), New York. It is south of Westchester County, New York, Westchester County; north and east of the ...

*1929-1931: St. Clare of Assisi Church,

*1930, 1970: St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Church,

(both the first church (1930) and its replacement (1970s)) *1931: St. Roch's Church,

(as DePace & Juster) *1939: St. Vincent De Paul Church,

New York, New York New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Uni ...

(façade (1939), church by

Henry Engelbert Henry Engelbert (1826–1901) was a German-American architect. He was best known for buildings in the French Second Empire style, which emphasized elaborate mansard roofs with dormers. New York's Grand Hotel on Broadway is the most noteworthy ext ...

(1857) *1949: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School,

* St. Valentine Church,

(now St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church) * St. Vito Church,

Mamaroneck, New York Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of Ma ...

* Sacred Heart Church,

Newburgh, New York Newburgh is a city in the U.S. state of New York, within Orange County. With a population of 28,856 as of the 2020 census, it is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown metropolitan area. Located north of New York City, a ...

* Nazareth High School,

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

''Diocese of Brooklyn:'' *

Basilica of Regina Pacis The Basilica of Regina Pacis (Latin for Queen of Peace) is a Catholic parish church located in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York, under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The church was built as a votive shrine, within the then- Pa ...

* Our Lady of Grace Church,

* St. Adalbert Church,

Queens, New York Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long I ...

* Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church,

Ozone Park, New York Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, a popular spot for Thoroughbred racing and home to the Resorts W ...

''Archdiocese of Newark:'' Catherine RCC Cedar Grove front jeh

* St. Aloysius Church,

Caldwell, New Jersey Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City and north-west of Newark, the state's most populous city. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population ...

* Holy Family Church,

Nutley, New Jersey Nutley is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 30,143. What is now Nutley was originally incorporated as Franklin Township by an act of the New Jersey Legisla ...

* St. Thomas the Apostle Church,

Bloomfield, New Jersey Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township's population was 53,105. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District. History The initial patent for the land that w ...

* St. Rose of Lima Church,

East Hanover, New Jersey East Hanover Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 11,157, reflecting a decline of 236 (−2.1%) from the 11,393 counted in the 2000 Census, whic ...

* St. Ann Church

Fair Lawn, New Jersey Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, and a bedroom suburb located northwest of New York City. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough’s population was 34,940, which constituted a 7.7% increase from 32, ...

* Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,

Montclair, New Jersey Montclair () is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains, Montclair is a wealthy and diverse commuter town and suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. As ...

* St. Catherine of Sienna Church,

Cedar Grove, New Jersey Cedar Grove is a township in north central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 12,411, reflecting an increase of 111 (+0.9%) from the 12,300 counted in the 2000 Census, w ...

* Our Lady of Sorrows Church,

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Irvington, New Jersey Irvington is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 61,176. The township had the ninth-highest property tax rate ...

* Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,

Orange, New Jersey The City of Orange is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 30,134, reflecting a decline of 2,734 (−8.3%) from the 32,868 counted in 2000. Orange was original ...

* Most Holy Name Church,

Garfield, New Jersey Garfield is a city (New Jersey), city in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 30,487, * Holy Cross Church,

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135. Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wit ...

* St. Ann Church,

* Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,

Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut on the Naugatuck River, southwest of Hartford and northeast of New York City. Waterbury is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut. According to the 2020 US Census, in 20 ...

* St. Ann Church,

Hamden, Connecticut Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". The population was 61,169 at the 2020 census. History The peaceful tribe of Quinnipiacs were the first residents of the ...

''Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut:'' * St. Ambrose Church,

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

* Holy Rosary Church,

* St. Peter Church,

* St. Emery Church,

Fairfield, Connecticut Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. Located within the New York metropolitan area ...

* St. Anthony Church,

''Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts:'' * Sacred Heart Church

Milford, Massachusetts Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 30,379 according to the 2020 census. First settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1780, Milford became a booming industrial and quarrying community in the 19th c ...

''Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts:'' * Christ the King Church,

Ludlow, Massachusetts Ludlow is a New England town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,002 as of the 2020 2020 United States Census, census, and it is considered part of the Springfield Springfield me ...

* St. Anthony Church,

North Adams, Massachusetts North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its population was 12,961 as of the 2020 census. Best known as the ...

* St. Thomas Church,

Palmer, Massachusetts Palmer is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,448 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Palmer adopted a home rule charter in 2004 with a counci ...

''elsewhere:'' * Christ the King Church,

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

* Liberal Arts Building and Rotunda at Marywood College,

Scranton, Pennsylvania Scranton is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U ...

(with Professor Gonippo Raggi, artist) *1937: convent at

St. Gabriel's Catholic Parish Complex St. Gabriel's Catholic Parish Complex is a historic Roman Catholic church complex located at 122-142 S. Wyoming Street in Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania within the Diocese of Scranton. Description The St. Gabriel's complex consists of t ...

Hazleton, Pennsylvania Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 29,963 at the 2020 census. Hazleton is the second largest city in Luzerne County. It was incorporated as a borough on January 5, 1857, and as a city on Decembe ...

. ''Note:'' This includes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Depace, Anthony J. 1892 births 1977 deaths 20th-century American architects American people of Italian descent American ecclesiastical architects Architects of Roman Catholic churches People from the Bronx