Obituary: Byron L. West
Byron “By” West, Maine resident and prominent Toledo architect, dies at 93
SCARBOROUGH — Byron “By” West, a celebrated modernist architect, longtime community leader, and Scarborough resident for over a decade, died on Oct. 4, 2026. He was 93, passing just three weeks before his 94th birthday.
West’s life was defined as much by the sounds of music and the rhythm of the sea as it was by the steel beams and blueprints he helped bring to life in his professional career. Though he spent the majority of his working life in Toledo, Ohio, his later years were split between Michigan and Maine, where he and his wife enjoyed retirement with family.
West’s earliest display of musical talent came before he was even old enough to operate a motor vehicle. He began performing at band jobs in dance halls, clubs, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts throughout his hometown. His musical prowess carried him into collegiate athletics, where, as a freshman at the University of Michigan, he played in the marching band during the team’s famous 1950 victory over Ohio State in Columbus, known as the “Snow Bowl.” A subsequent cross-country train journey took the band to Pasadena for the 1951 Rose Bowl win against California. West also spent a season touring with a band that accompanied entertainer Bob Hope.
It was during his freshman year at Michigan in 1950 that West met Laura Wales Hoffman. The couple remained together for 76 years, married for 70 of them. In a twist of timing often noted by the family, Laura earned two degrees in social work while it took By six years to complete his architecture degree after he switched his major from physics during his sophomore year. They wed in January 1956.
Following their marriage, West moved his graduate studies to Chicago, attending the Illinois Institute of Technology under the tutelage of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pioneer of the Bauhaus movement and a titan of modern architecture.
Upon returning to Toledo, West launched a 47-year career in architecture with Samborn Steketee Otis & Evans, formerly known as SSOE. Rising quickly through the firm, he was named chairman and chief executive officer in 1981. His portfolio included some of the most recognizable structures in the city, and his leadership oversaw significant diversification of the company’s business. Notably, in 1982, the firm designed Honda’s first manufacturing plant in the United States, located in Marysville, Ohio.
West’s influence extended well beyond the private sector. In Toledo, he chaired the board of Child and Family Services and served as a trustee for WGTE public television. His civic service included trusteeships with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, the Toledo Modern Art Group, and the Boy Scouts. He also lent his expertise as a member of the advisory boards for the architecture schools at both the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.
His passions outside of work included sailing and extensive travel. He began on Lake Erie before expanding to the upper Great Lakes, where he skippered the Shanghai Rooster through several Port Huron to Mackinac races and leisure cruises with Laura and friends across Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was through this love of racing that the couple discovered Harbor Springs, Michigan. There, they purchased a lakefront cottage that became a favored gathering spot for their family across multiple generations, anchoring their summers and their retirement identity.
The couple’s travels took them to Russia, South America, Western Europe, Costa Rica, and Sanibel Island, Florida. West remained musically engaged well into his 80s, attending Island Jazz outdoor Sunday afternoon concerts in Florida. A knowledgeable wine enthusiast and a member of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, he frequently traveled with Laura and friends to the Château du Clos de Vougeot in France.
In 2015, West and Laura began dividing their time between Harbor Springs and Maine to be closer to their descendants. The family has expressed gratitude for the support provided to them during their later years at Piper Shores in Scarborough.
West is survived by his children, Brent West and his wife Tina of Yarmouth, and Lisa West Alpert and her husband Mark of New York City. He leaves behind four grandchildren, Tommy Alpert, Sarah Alpert, Jacob Merrill, and Molly West Dearing and her husband Danny, as well as one great-granddaughter, Blake Danielle Dearing.
He was predeceased by his wife, Laura, whose death in July came after 76 years of partnership.
West’s children have asked that those wishing to offer condolences or share memories send them to [email protected]. A memorial service is scheduled for the summer of 2027 in Harbor Springs, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be directed to the Little Traverse Conservancy, the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, or the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
