Bloomfield Hills, Mich., November 30, 2012 — S. Glen Paulsen, one of the three original founding members of TMP Architecture, Inc., passed away on Sunday, November 25th. He was 95 years old.
Paulsen was born in 1917 in Wisconsin. World War II interrupted his education at the University of Illinois, and he completed his degree after the war at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He was also educated at the Royal Academy of Arts, Stockholm, through an American Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship.
Paulsen joined the office of Eero Saarinen in 1949 and worked as an associate and senior designer until 1957, when he established his own firm. He began teaching at the University of Michigan that same year, and ultimately served as President of Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1966 – 1970. Paulsen was a member of the Michigan Society of Architects and an AIA Fellow.
Glen’s firm was responsible for design of a variety of residential, religious and institutional projects, particularly at the college/university level. Paulsen’s firm merged with Tarapata MacMahon Associates in 1969, forming Tarapata MacMahon Paulsen (TMP) Associates. The Tarapata MacMahon firm was known for their focus on K-12 educational projects and with the addition of Glen’s firm and expertise in the college/university market, the firm’s total educational focus was established. Paulsen continued with TMP until his retirement in 1977.
Gifted with the ability to form lasting relationships with his students and colleagues, Glen was a natural mentor. It was gratifying to him that many of the men and women he taught and mentored kept in touch with him throughout their careers. Their letters, calls, and visits gave him a great deal of pleasure.
Paulsen died at his home in Chelsea, Michigan. He was preceded in death in 2011 by his wife of 67 years, Virginia H.Paulsen – Jennie, and his granddaughter, Joy Lynn Marshall. Glen’s sister Helen MacInnis and her husband Don also are deceased. Still living are children Thomas Paulsen and his wife Rita of Derby, Connecticut, and Nancy Marshall, husband John (deceased), of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Glen and Jennie’s remaining grandchildren are Jordan Marshall and his wife Victoria, Anthony Marshall and his wife Kristy, and Tristan Paulsen; great grandchildren are Cassandra Paulsen, Aaron and Malek Rickett (Marshall), and Bella Joy Marshall.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St., Chelsea, Michigan, on December 8, 2012, at 2 pm. A reception will follow the service.