The College of Design honors the life and legacy of Professor Emeritus David G. Pitt, who passed away on January 21, 2025, at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth Curry; daughter, Katy Khurana (Rajeev); granddaughters, Sloane and Indira Khurana; brother, Robert Pitt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dave was a lifelong scholar and educator who found immense joy in teaching, mentoring, and sharing his passion for landscape architecture. Beyond academia, he cherished time with his family, sailing, gardening, and singing with the Apollo Men’s Club.
Dave was a Professor of Landscape Architecture from the early 1990s until his retirement in 2017. He served in various roles during his tenure, including department head, and a long-term appointment as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Landscape Architecture department. During his distinguished career, Dave collaborated with The Metropolitan Council, the McKnight Foundation, and the U of M Center for Urban & Regional Affairs to develop a landscape assessment process that helped local governments implement environmentally responsible growth strategies.
With several UMN colleagues, he pioneered a systematic approach to GeoDesign, integrating spatiotemporal modeling with collaborative decision-making to enhance landscape performance. A USDA-Conservation Innovation Grant enabled him to apply this research to multifunctional landscapes in the Minnesota River Valley. Through internal UMN funding, the GeoDesign Decision Lab explored how information presentation, group dynamics, and learning processes influence landscape planning and design outcomes.
Beyond his primary role, Dr. Pitt held adjunct appointments in Urban and Regional Planning and Forest Resources. For seven years, he served as co-editor of Landscape Journal, an international publication advancing scholarship in landscape design, planning, and management. His contributions to the field extended beyond academia, shaping generations of designers and practitioners.
David Pitt’s dedication, mentorship, and visionary work leave a lasting impact on his students, colleagues, and the landscapes he cared so deeply about.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis (900 Mt Curve Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Apollo Men’s Club and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
