Over 350 people attended the Friends’ Maybeck Legacy Celebration on June 30, 2013 at the Church. It was one of several programs marking the June 28 West Coast premiere of the full-length documentary “Pursuit of Beauty: The Architecture of Bernard Maybeck” at the Berkeley City Club.

Paul Bockhorst, the producer of the documentary, was given a First Friends Award, by Fred Porta, Friends Executive Director. Paul was also the producer of the beautiful mini-documentary on the Church – “An American Masterpiece” – now posted on YouTube.

Paul Bockhorst receives “First Friends Award”

Other speakers gave short talks – including Adriana “Cherry” Maybeck Nittler (one of Maybeck’s twin granddaughters), and John Guenther, FAIA, campus architect for Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. Principia College is a small liberal arts college for Christian Scientists. The college was Maybeck’s largest commission.

Cherry described some of the wonderful times she and her twin sister Sheila Maybeck Bathurst, had with Ben and “Little Grannie.” She described Ben as “a quiet, gentle and cultured genius.”

“Cherry” Maybeck Nittler speaks of her grandfather

John Guenther described Maybeck’s design for Principia College. It evoked that of an English village. Maybeck designed 13 buildings for the college including the Chapel and six dormitories.

Visitors were then invited to go up to the Sunday School to view displays and visit with Maybeck family members, John Guenther, and several other guests from Principia College.

Maybeck Dormitory at Principia College