Passed away September 14th, 2021.
Craig Kuhner was born in Westport Connecticut to Russell and Betty Kuhner on August 19, 1941. He was an identical twin – he and his brother Scott Kuhner were Russell and Betty’s first children. During his childhood in Westport, he and his brother Scott spent time hiking in the woods near their home, building forts, out of sticks in the summer and snow in the winter. Craig and Scott were both avid sailors and as teenagers spent summers racing sailboats on Long Island Sound. Russell and Betty were successful photographers and ran with a Bohemian crowd of artists and art directors. Craig inherited his parent’s creative impulses and their love of photography.
Craig attended junior high at Long Lots in Wesport, CT. He and his brother were declared in their school yearbook to be “Long Lots Lions with the ladies.” For High School, Craig and Scott attended South Kent boarding school in South Kent, CT. Craig thoroughly enjoyed his years at South Kent, and took to heart the school’s motto of “Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, Self-Reliance.” Craig rowed crew at South Kent, and spent his Saturday afternoons hiking in the woods near the school.
After beginning his education at William and Mary, Craig followed his brother Scott to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Masters of Architecture. Craig continued his studies at the University of Vienna. While studying abroad, in 1968, he met his wife Sasha. His classmate Jano Krizik invited him to visit his home in Bratislava, just over the border in Czeckoslovakia. Sasha answered the door and Craig was smitten. Being a Long Lots Lion with the ladies, Craig proceeded to woo Sasha, and within a few short weeks they were engaged to be married. Craig would unhesitatingly acknowledge that marrying Sasha was the best thing that ever happened to him. Sasha is a drop dead gorgeous knockout, in addition to being a woman of intelligence, refinement and sophistication. During their life together, Craig cherished her and considered her his own better half.
Craig and Sasha were married in October 1968, in a small church in rural Connecticut, and began their lives together in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, where Craig was finishing his graduate studies. During their time in Philadelphia, their first child, son Christopher was born, in September 1969. In 1970, Craig began his Academic career as a professor of architecture at Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. Their daughter Kimberly came along in 1971. During the 1970’s, the young family enjoyed an idyllic small town midwestern life, spending time with the other faculty members and their families.
In 1978, Craig took a position as a professor of architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. The family moved to Texas in time to experience the roaring 80’s in Dallas. The development boom of the 1980’s in Dallas, Texas gave Craig an opportunity to develop his architectural photograph business, photographing new buildings for architects and models of proposed developments for investors. Craig became among the most sought after architectural photographer in the Dallas metroplex. However, Craig’s joy was photographing the work of his academic colleagues. Craig had very demanding standards for architectural design, which he taught his students, and it brought him great pleasure to have close colleagues whose work and design ethics he respected. He brought his skills and attention to bear documenting the work of his colleagues and friends. Craig also became the foremost documentarian of the work of Addison Mizner, the south Florida architect who built lavish Mediterranean style villas in Palm Beach during the 1920’s and 30’s. Through his parent’s social network in Palm Beach, Craig was able to gain access to most of Mizner’s important works of residential architecture.
Craig’s primary passion was as a father and family man. Craig was devoted to his children and lavished them with his time and devotion. With his son Christopher, Craig shared his love of the outdoors, hiking and camping, and sailing. Craig began teaching Christopher how to sail when he was 5. With his daughter Kimberly, Craig shared his passion for photography. Craig taught his many skills in the art of photography and image processing to Kimberly, and to his younger sister Kate. Kimberly and Kate both went on to become skilled portrait and family photographers. Craig was always available to his children and always let them know that he was proud of them and that they were loved.
For a nearly a decade around the turn of the century, Craig began teaching architecture during the summer at the University of Innsbruck in Tirol, Austria. Craig hosted a summer study abroad program for his American architecture students, but the classes he taught in Innsbruck were in German, to Austrian students. Craig was a fluent German speaker. During his summers in Innsbruck, Craig rekindled his love of the outdoors, hiking in the Tirolian Alps. When his family visited him in Innsbruck during the summers, they were treated to long hikes in the mountains with breathtaking views.
As his children started families of their own, Craig delighted in his role as a grandfather. His five grandchildren were treated regularly to healthy doses of his love, happiness and inextinguishable optimism. Craig traveled often to Connecticut to visit his family and spend time with Kim and her husband Jurgen and three children. Weeks before his passing, Craig traveled to Connecticut to celebrate his and his twin brother Scott’s 80th birthday, and his daughter’s 50th birthday. Craig remained close with his twin brother throughout his life. He celebrated his final birthday with his brother, their wives, his children, nephews and five grandchildren.
Craig passed away on September 14, 2021 at Arlington Memorial Hospital, in Arlington, Texas from respiratory complications related to Covid. Craig contracted an uncommon breakthrough infection of Covid despite being double-vaccinated. Craig passed away at noon in the company of his wife Sasha and son Christopher, who were allowed to be present notwithstanding stringent Covid precautions in place at the hospital. Craig was lucid at the time of his passing and requested that life saving measures be discontinued. Craig accepted his death with bravery and resolve, grateful to be in the presence of his loved ones. Craig is survived by his wife Alexandra (“Sasha”) Kuhner, his siblings Scott Kuhner and Kate Kuhner, his children Kimberly and Christopher Kuhner and five grandchildren Ronan Tolido, Flynn Tolido, Willa Kuhner, Harper Kuhner and Keeley Tolido.