Architecture professor, family man

Arthur E. Hacker, a resident of Claremont since 1978, has died after a long illness.

Art grew up in Glenview, Illinois. He graduated from Yale University with both a bachelor’s degree and a master of architecture degree. In 1970, he served as National Student Chairman for the first American Institute of Architects program dedicated to environmental issues. Mr. Hacker later served as editor of the Journal of Architectural Education.

From 1970 until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2010, Mr. Hacker taught architectural design, history and theory, first at the University of Houston College of Architecture and then during a 32-year professorship at Cal Poly Pomona in the College of Environmental Design. At Cal Poly, Mr. Hacker served three years as Associate Dean and was director of the graduate program in architecture on three separate occasions.

Mr. Hacker was a member of Claremont’s Architectural Commission from 1980 to 1988, and was also active with Claremont Heritage. Mr. Hacker coached his son’s baseball teams for years, and served on the board of Claremont Little League.

He traveled extensively throughout the US by car and train. In 1971, Mr. Hacker studied environmental planning in Manchester, England. In 1980, he and his wife Kathy spent eight weeks traveling throughout Europe.

Other memorable trips included an excursion to China with his then-10-year-old son Andrew, a cruise through the Panama Canal, and a trip to Italy, where he led a series of student educational tours in the mid-1990s. Art and his wife celebrated his retirement with a trip to England and an Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2.

Mr. Hacker is survived by his wife Kathy of Claremont; his sons Andrew (Lauren) of Phoenix and James of Sacramento; his sister Charlotte Lillquist of Clarendon Hills, Illinois; and numerous cousins and friends.

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral services will be held. Donations in Mr. Hacker’s memory may be made to Claremont Heritage by visiting claremontheritage.org or by mail to Claremont Heritage, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711 or the Sierra Club at sierraclub.org,