In Memoriam: Shelly Kappe (1928–2025)

SCI-Arc honors the remarkable life and legacy of Shelly Kappe—Professor Emeritus, architectural historian, and founding faculty member—who passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 96.

Born Rochelle Hope Diamond on December 30, 1928, in Philadelphia, Shelly became a vital force in architectural education and a champion of forward-thinking design. In 1972, alongside her husband, architect Ray Kappe, and a group of radical educators, she helped establish SCI-Arc as a bold new model for architectural education—one grounded in experimentation, dialogue, and a refusal to follow convention.

Over the decades, Shelly helped shape the cultural and intellectual life of SCI-Arc. She coordinated the influential Design Forum Public Lecture Series for over 15 years, led the Evening Program classes, and curated the SCI-Arc Gallery, bringing in conversations that reflected both the avant-garde and the historically grounded. She also played an essential role in establishing SCI-Arc’s original library, which began with her personal collection and has since grown into the Kappe Library—a vital resource for students and scholars alike.

Shelly’s influence extended well beyond SCI-Arc. A respected architectural historian, she published widely, advocated for the documentation and preservation of modern architecture, and remained active in numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Architectural Historians and the Association of Women in Architecture. Her efforts in public relations, fundraising, and academic programming were key to SCI-Arc’s growth and enduring impact.

Shelly’s legacy is woven into the very foundation of SCI-Arc and the field of architecture at large. She will be remembered not only for her scholarship, mentorship, and fierce intellect—but for her belief in architecture as a cultural force and her deep commitment to the students and community she helped build.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who continue to carry forward her spirit of inquiry, generosity, and vision.

If you would like to contribute to Shelly's legacy, donations can be made to The Kappe Library - Honor with Books - SCI-Arc, in accordance with her wishes.