Winifred Savery (1922-2015)
During World War II, Winnie Savery worked at Boeing, overseeing electrical systems for warplanes. When the war ended, she decided to pursue her lifelong passion: architecture. When she met with the dean of the UW School of Architecture, he was openly discouraging of women in the field. She promptly ignored his remarks and crisply declared, “I’ll be there.”
In 1949, Savery graduated from what is now the College of Built Environments and embarked on a career as one of Seattle’s first woman architects. She worked as project architect for both Seattle and the state of Washington, but she especially loved designing homes. She was also an avid watercolorist.
In 1954, she married James Savery, ’41, son of one of the University’s legendary professors, William Savery, who founded and served as head of the Department of Philosophy from 1902 until his death in 1945. Savery Hall was named in his honor in 1947.
“[Winnie’s] commitment to independent thinking, activism and creativity was lifelong,” recall daughter Alicia, ’82, ’87, and son Vincent, currently enrolled.
Winnie Savery will always be remembered as a spirited and determined person who helped shape a more just world through her unwillingness to bow before people who tried to limit her dreams. Savery died April 17, 2015 in Edmonds at age 92.