Memorials › Alberta Raffl Pfeiffer
Alberta Raffl Pfeiffer
1899 – 5 Aug 1994
| Birth | 1899 |
| Death | 5 Aug 1994 |
| Cemetery | Eight Mile River Cemetery Lyme , New London County , Connecticut , USA |
| Added by | Nancy Keller on 15 May 2017 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147817532 |
Bio
Eldest daughter of cigar manufacturer Albert L. and Johanna (Rau) Raffl, Alberta Raffl graduated in 1923 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. First in her class, she was one of four women receiving B.S. degrees in architecture from the engineering school of that University. She was also awarded the medal for academic excellence from the American Institute of Architects for her scholastic record--the first woman to ever receive the prize. Alberta initially worked as a draftsman for the firm of Tallmadge & Watson in Chicago, then returned to the University of Illinois as an instructor for a time, also earning her M.A. there in 1925. After earning her master's degree, she moved to New York and worked for Harrie T. Lindberg. One of the nation’s leading residential architects, Lindberg specialized in high-dollar estates which afforded Alberta the opportunity to work with clients such as the Astors and Vanderbilts. In 1930 she married fellow architect and artist, Homer Fay Pfeiffer. In 1931, the couple moved to Hadlyme, Connecticut where they both practiced architecture. By the time she retired, Alberta had worked on nearly 200 projects. She and Homer divorced in the spring of 1946. In early May of that year, he married again and eventually moved to California but, after a second divorce, returned to Hadlyme. On 17 Jun 1961, Alberta and Homer were married again. Active in her community, Alberta was a member of Lyme’s school board, planning and zoning board, and the town committee. She created a telephone hotline for Lyme’s senior citizens and, from 1969 to 1971, served as a Justice of the Peace. A member of the Connecticut Society of Craftsmen, she served as a director of the organization and as editor of its magazine. She died at Chesterfields Convalescent Home in Chester. Her obituary appeared on page D-09 of the 10 Aug 1994 edition of the Hartford Courant newspaper. Alberta was featured in the 2008 book, The First American Women Architects , published by her alma mater, the University of Illinois Press.
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