Cribben, Austin J. a former president of Hoyle, Doran & Berry and longtime resident of Weston and West Falmouth, passed away Wednesday March 30, 2016. He was 97. Austin was the devoted husband of Virginia Hamlin Cribben to whom he had been married for 75 years. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts October 11, 1918, Mr. Cribben worked after school during the Great Depression in his father’s grocery store. He graduated from Brockton High School, and also attended Berkley Prep, Boston Museum School, and Boston Architectural Center, and was a recipient of an Associate in Arts Degree from Harvard University. After Pearl Harbor he initially worked as a ship fitter at Hingham, and then during World War II served in Europe with the 90th Chemical Warfare Battalion. In January 1946, one month after army discharge, he entered the Boston office of Hoyle, Doran & Berry, one of the oldest architectural firms in the country (formerly Cram [Goodhue] & Ferguson). He became a partner in 1965 and served for many years as president until his retirement in 1990. Within the span of his 44 year career his office administered a great number of architectural projects, especially in New England, including Boston’s 26 story John Hancock Building, Hynes Municipal Auditorium, the John McCormack Building, home office additions for New England Life, State Mutual in Worcester, Mass Mutual in Springfield, Berkshire Life in Pittsfield, National Life of Vermont Insurance Company in Montpelier, Vermont, and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. His firm also performed as the associate architects for the 52 story Prudential Tower, the Saltonstall Building, and the Union Building and Mugar Library at Boston University. During his tenure as chief partner his office periodically prepared working drawings and advanced construction projects in accord with the Ralph Adams Cram design for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Mr. Cribben was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston and Bowerman’s Beach Club in West Falmouth. He was an emeritus member of the Boston Society of Architects, American Institute of Architects, and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Purchasing land in the town Weston, Massachusetts shortly after WWII, and always handy with tools, he subsequently built a home and moved his family to the town in 1952, where his children graduated from school and he became a lifelong resident, improving his property, which he much enjoyed, well into his mid-90s. For many years Mr. Cribben and his wife traveled to Bermuda in the spring, Cape Cod in the summer; and the Caribbean in the fall and winter - typically supplemented with annual two-week architectural enlightenment trips to Europe. Mr. Cribben is predeceased by his wife Virginia (Hamlin), his son Stephen H. Cribben (Joan Cribben) of Sherborn, Massachusetts and daughter Carol Cribben Merrill (Richard Merrill) of West Brooksville Maine. He is survived by his son Dennis A. Cribben (Lucy Cribben) of Brooklyn, NY. He also leaves behind 5 grandchildren, Kelley, Trevor, Catherine, Sorcha, and Hillary; and, and 2 great grandchildren, Austin “Dagwood” and Maribel.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St (Rt.16), Wellesley, MA. A Funeral Mass will be held St Julia's Catholic Church, 374 Boston Post Road Weston, MA on Thursday April 7, at 11 am. Interment at Linwood Cemetery, Weston. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Austin’s memory to the Weston Town Council on Aging, 20 Alphabet Lane Weston, MA 02493.