“Bob Irving, an extraordinary docent who introduced Chicago’s iconic architecture to thousands of people over the course of fifty years, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the age of 93. A native of New York City, Bob had called Chicago home since 1967, when he came to the city to teach at IIT. Within a few years, he was pursuing his passion for historic architecture, volunteering as a docent with the newly formed Chicago School of Architecture Foundation to lead tours of Glessner House and downtown. Over the years, he also gave of his time and talents with the Clarke House, the Charnley-Persky House, and with Friends of Historic Second Church.
“On behalf of his Chicago family – his chosen family – it is my privilege to share some stories of Bob’s life, interspersed with his own witty commentary. He will be greatly missed, but all of those whose lives he touched are richer for the opportunity to have known him and to see Chicago through his eyes.
“Shortly after arriving at IIT, Bob met George Danforth, who had taken over as chair of the College of Architecture from Mies van der Rohe. Danforth was one of the nineteen individuals who signed a resolution creating the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation in April 1966, for the purpose of purchasing Glessner House. Learning of Bob’s interest in old houses, Danforth suggested Bob visit the house, which was close to the campus.
“The class graduated on Saturday, June 12, 1971, with the ceremony taking place on the north steps of the Chicago Public Library (now the Cultural Center). That afternoon, Bob led his first official tour of downtown, impressing the participants with both his encyclopedic knowledge and his ability to weave the names and dates into an engaging story.
“He participated fully in the work of the Foundation, being appointed to the first Docent Council and serving as the council representative on the CSAF board, which soon elected him secretary. Bob was one of six individuals who created an exhibit at the Chicago Public Library entitled “The Glessner House Story, from Prairie Avenue Days to the Present” which was seen by thousands of people. When the Glessner descendants returned dozens of boxes of original books to the house, Bob set to work cataloging and shelving the treasured tomes back in their original location in the library. He helped set up a temporary kitchen in the former butler’s pantry, assisted with the installation of another exhibition, this one focusing on the Arts & Crafts movement, and provided commentary for the early morning CBS program, ‘It’s Worth Knowing About Us.’
“Bob quickly became recognized as an authority on Chicago’s architecture and participated in the unsuccessful fight to save Louis Sullivan’s Stock Exchange building. The newly formed Landmarks Commission, which had designated Glessner House one of the first two landmarks in the city in October 1970 (along with Clarke House), called on Bob to recommend buildings for landmark designation, and to testify at the hearings. This was more than a decade before the Chicago Historic Resources Survey got underway to standardize the process for identifying buildings of architectural and historical merit.
“Bob was awarded Docent of the Year in 1984 and continued serving on the Board until 1985. But his most valuable contribution occurred just prior to that time. In the early 1980s, he developed a new walking tour called the “Riverwalk” that extended from Michigan Avenue west to the Sears Tower, crossing back and forth across the bridges over the Chicago River. In 1983, during NeoCon, the Foundation was approached by a furniture manufacturer to provide a tour guide for a cruise on a boat along the lake. They agreed but noted there was much to see along the river. Bob provided the tour, and the immensely popular river tour was born.
“Bob later recalled the logic in creating the tour. ‘What could be nicer? You sit on your bottoms and the buildings go by! We have to do this!’ In 2020, PBS host Geoffrey Baer confessed, ‘I stole your river reversal punchline ‘a taste of Chicago’ years ago. It gets a big laugh every time. I learned from the best!’
“In 2016, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 45 years of service, during the Glessner House gala held at the Chicago Club. Pauline Saliga, executive director of the Society of Architectural Historians, and a Glessner House board member, presented Bob with his award.
“In 2021, Glessner House held a celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the docent program. Bob was the last member of his class to still be giving tours at the house. Friends far and wide contributed to a fund to honor Bob for his 50 years of service and to commemorate his 90th birthday that same month. On June 12, 2021, the 50th anniversary of the first docent class graduation, docents gathered in the courtyard, many seeing each other for the first time since the start of the pandemic. During the program, Bob learned that the generosity of his friends had funded the recreation of the tall oak standing screen in the dining room with its embroidered Morris fabric. It was delivered to the house a few weeks later, and long-time friend and fellow docent Allan Vagner brought Bob to the house, so he could be the first one to see the screen in place.
“The photograph captured Bob’s last moments in a house that had been an incredibly important part of his life for 54 years. Bob died peacefully on the morning of April 7, 2025, but his memory will live on, carried by those who were privileged to work beside him, and all those who benefitted from his knowledge. His wish was that he would be remembered for playing an important role in making Chicago the “Architecture City.” The city could not have asked for a better ambassador in sharing its architectural heritage with the world.”