"I just heard of Bill's passing yesterday. It made me deeply sad. Sad for the loss of a great leader. Sad for the loss of a gentleman architect and a true professional. But most of all, sad for the loss of a friend that I only got to know for the short time I spent at Flad working and traveling with him. With eternal respect and admiration. Michael "
In loving memory of
William J. Bula
June 5, 1954 - May 10, 2018
William J. Bula, age 63 of Madison, WI, died of glioblastoma on Thursday, May 10, 2018. Bill was born on June 5, 1954 in Palmer, AK and moved to West Lafayette, IN at age two. He met the love of his life, Elizabeth J. Neary at Notre Dame in the architecture library. Their early courtship included a full year of letter writing while he studied in Rome and Beth remained on campus. Bill received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. Bill and Beth were married on August 19, 1978 in Bayonne, NJ. They celebrated with their immediate families at the newly opened Windows on the World at the World Trade Center and that celebration never ended as they enjoyed 40 incredible years of marriage and friendship.
Bill found his passion in architecture early in life and deeply enjoyed the challenges and creativity that were part of his daily work. He worked at architecture firms in Indiana and Princeton, New Jersey before joining Flad Architects as a part-time employee in 1982. Bill worked at Flad for nearly 36 years and played a role in growing Flad into a nationally recognized firm with 9 offices around the country. Bill was named President and CEO in 2005 and served in that capacity for the last thirteen years. Humble and kind, he supported colleagues and found special joy in mentoring young architects. He designed research labs for Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Novartis, Pacific Northwest Laboratories and corporate facilities for ACT and Pepsi. He was especially proud of the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science at University of Alberta, first of its kind in Canada. Locally, he worked on American Family Insurance and Engineering Centers at UW Madison. As a very young architect, he designed the penguin exhibit at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison. Projects and accomplishments were important to Bill, but his greatest joy was the people he worked with, colleagues and clients, who often became friends. He would often say - "it's about the people."
While meaningful work was always important, the absolute joy of Bill's life was his family, especially his love, Beth. They were best friends and each other's best compliment. He was a selfless, tender, patient father who loved his daughters with all his heart. When Christine was 5 months and Claire was 3, Bill stayed home with the girls, working part time so that Beth could advance her education. He coached basketball and soccer teams, went on Girl Scout trips, and made his children laugh uncontrollably. The greatest gift he gave to his daughters was the way he loved their mother. His three granddaughters adored their "silly Papa." Bill would spend countless hours playing in the park, building sandcastles on the beach, and holding them in his lap while reading to them.
Always hospitable, Bill loved cooking and teaching others to cook... saying "to cook is to show your love." He had only kind words to say about everyone, was always willing to listen, and calm and steady in any situation. Humor was one of his greatest gifts and he used it to make others feel comfortable, welcomed, and loved.
In honor of Bill, don't wait to open the good wine, invite your friends over spontaneously, take that trip you've dreamed of, and tell your family you love them - every day.
He is survived by his best friend, soulmate, and the love of his life, Elizabeth J. Neary, M.D.; daughters Claire Bula, Esq. (Kevin Keenan) and Christine (Brian) Williams; granddaughters Julia, Anna, and Samantha Williams; mother and father Raymond and Mary Bula; and siblings Greg, Michael (Anne Marie), Joseph, Margaret (Jim) Zimmerman, Julie (Michael) Davies, Cathy (Michael) Acton, Carol (Daniel) Geenen, siblings-in-law Brian (Lisa) Neary and Bernadette (Bill) Macko, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would especially like to thank Dr. Robert Dempsey for his extraordinary care and friendship; the doctors, nurses and staff at Agrace Hospice, The University of Wisconsin Hospital, and UW Home Health; and our remarkable neighbors who cared for our entire family with food, errands, and friendship. In the midst of this terrible disease, we were consistently surrounded by love. Bill would say often over the last six months, we are blessed to be so loved.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH, 2121 Rowley Ave, Madison, on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. with burial at Resurrection Cemetery to follow. A visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and at church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass.
To honor Bill and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to University of Wisconsin Neurological Surgery Tumor Research and Education Fund.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434
Tributes
"As leader of the ONPA architectural team in Edmonton AB Canada I had the privilege of working in collaboration with Bill on the CCIS project at UA in Edmonton. Working with Bill was an absolute pleasure. He had the ability to lead and bring the best out in everyone and make the project better. He also became a friend to all of the Canadian architectural and engineering teams working on the project. His dedication and loyalty to that team was incredible. We are all devastated at the loss of this ?prince of a guy?. Bill, we will not forget you. Laura O?Neill "
"I'm so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. We had a great time growing up in West Lafayette.
Kip Jones
West Lafayette, Indiana"
"Our deepest sympathy to the Bula family from Lynn and Lorran Celley. Ray and Mary, I think of you often and wonder how you are. I can't imagine the sadness that you feel with Bill's death. It was always a pleasure to hear Ray's news about where the kids were and what new adventures they were pursuing. I remember when Bill had the opportunity to work on the zoo project. Such a beautiful family. Love to all."
"Bill Bula was, as my father would say, one of the all time greats. Whether he was welcoming the ND crew team to his and Beth?s home, mentoring a design colleague, or coaching a new mom on the sweet, simple joys of parenthood, he was a true inspiration and an amazing human full of integrity and grace. I?m so grateful to Beth, Christine and Claire for sharing him with us. Whenever I fly my ND flag, I will think of your beautiful, strong clan. Much love and sympathy to you all. Go Irish! Ann Leahy "
"Dear Beth, Claire and Christine, We were very privileged for the gift of knowing Bill. We started our family in Madison, far from our homes in Chile, and having the opportunity of becoming friends with you those years made us feel welcome. Talking after church in Blessed Sacrament, having Christmas day lunch, throwing a ball in a park and many other little things of daily life gave us the chance of valuing Bill and your family. We will accompany you from Santiago this Wednesday Gabriela and Ricardo "
"Praise God for Bill Bula. His warm smile, gentle spirit, humble generosity (the homeless shelter was one beneficiary), and ways he lived out the Gospel were inspirations to us. Beth, Christine and Claire, we are so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Bill with us."
"Will always be in are hearts and soul for ever great man father husband and cousin love by all and miss by more"
"To Beth and Bill's wonderful family, My deepest sympathies to you all. May you find peace and strength in your love, family, and faith. I had the pleasure of working with Bill on many projects over my 17 years at Flad & ACS. My fondest project memories with Bill are working on the St. Maria Goretti Parish expansion projects and the new Worship space lighting project. Bill brought a special deep thoughtfulness to all his projects, and especially working with Fr. Mike at St. Maria Goretti. The reverence and design simplicity Bill poured into these special places always added to the sacred space and caring fellowship created for our Parish. Bill and I continued working together on the many projects Vogel Bros. has had the honor of designing and building with Flad Architects. As a friend and mentor Bill has always been a special positive guiding force. Creating beauty in design, and calm during chaos, are some of his many amazing talents. We will miss him greatly. Pete Szotkowski Vogel Bros. Building Co. "
"My sincerest condolences go out to the Bula Family. We here at Flad, part of Bill?s extended family, feel the loss of a truly great man, husband, father, grandfather and leader. It has been my honor & privilege to have known him personally. He will missed by all. Jamil Edwards Flad Architects"
"Beth, Claire, and Christine ? The ND Arkie class of '77 and Roma '74 will always remember Bill fondly. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Rest in peace Herb. - Paolo"
"This text is beautifully written and captures Bill's essence so well. I worked with him on a daily basis on the renovation of the New Jersey State House in the early 1980's. We developed a friendship and strong collegial relationship that served us throughout our entire careers. From time to time, we led our firms to pursue work together in Wisconsin and Princeton, NJ. Although we were unsuccessful in making a new project happen, I always had the highest respect for Bill and the firm he helped build into a national power. I often sought his counsel. Bill had a great sense of humor and always delighted in the work he was doing. But his love for his family, his dear wife Beth and daughters, really defined him. They were consistently his highest priority. While he always seemed to be flying somewhere to tend to an important client or project, he kept his family foremost in his mind and heart. I regret that I hadn't consulted with him in about a year, and had no idea that he was ill. Even if he knew, our last conversation was as uplifting and positive as ever. He always made me feel special and appreciated, and I believe he understood that I felt the same way about him. It's wonderful to read how many others share those feelings. I loved him and I will miss him. Michael J. Mills, FAIA"
"Dear Beth, what a beautiful obituary. My heart is with you and the family. Sending much love and continued prayers. "
"A beautiful obituary written for an amazing man who will always be remembered. We are grateful we got to know him and are praying for you and your family."
"What a truly special man, friend, colleague, mentor and moral compass. I worked with Bill for 25 years and had the honor and privilege to share many memorable Flad adventures with him. I will treasure them always. Bill resonated with honor, integrity, intellect and humor. All who worked with him were guided by his example of deep regard and respect for those on his team, whether work mates or clients. He had a gift for always finding the effective and gentle way to discuss a difficult subject; to find a creative solution to a design challenge. He had such a soft and sincere spirit that people gravitated to his orbit and wanted to be a part of whatever he was doing. He will be so greatly missed by all of us. My heart is grieving for all of those who loved Bill--his family, his friends, his colleagues. We can all thank our lucky stars for having known him. I know I do. "
"I regularly walk through Bill's 1998 Building 7 on the Genentech South San Francisco, CA campus - it is one of my favorite shortcuts - with its timeless design that set a standard and endures to today. When in the San Francisco office, regardless his hectic schedule, Bill always made sure to speak with each person, shake their hand, and ask, sincerely, if everything was OK.... Christopher Stewart"
"Bill was a uniquely talented architect, able to express his team's architectural concept in poetic language that complemented the graphic images. As a Flad team member on a number of major projects, I witnessed how compelling Bill could be to clients. This was done in a sincere, honest manner, not as a "sales job". Fred Teitgen "
"I have been watching and waiting....and praying for you all. The obituary shows love all around, within and throughout and it's love that will carry you now as well. Please know you are in my prayers as you journey on your 'grief walks'. Speak often about memories you have so those darling granddaughters will know their papa throughout their life. My deepest sympathy to everyone, Ann"