In Appreciation: Jay Epstein

Those at Perkins Eastman who worked with Jay Epstein during his 22 years with the firm are mourning his passing on April 21 after a four-year battle with ALS. Jay was so beloved at PE that his coworkers have sent an outpouring of praise and affection.

“Jay truly epitomized the best of PE,” Jennifer Romeo says.  “He was warm, caring, funny, humble, and always strove for – and delivered – design excellence. Devoted to his craft, working with Jay was an honor, as he was an incredible collaborator and mentor to colleagues and clients alike. Even after his ALS diagnosis, who he was as a curious, growth-minded person transcended the confines of his illness and, through this, Jay continued to teach us, in this case, that setbacks are never limiters. Thank you, friend.”

Ceyda Metghalchi worked closely with him in the Science + Technology practice at New York’s Studio 12 for about eight years, and she remembers Jay with deep fondness. “There are people who come into our lives and quietly, profoundly change us. Jay was that person for me,” she shares. “More than a colleague, he was a mentor, a father figure, and a steady presence I came to rely on. His attention to detail, the way he engaged with researchers, and his deep, genuine passion for architecture and design left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege to work with him. He believed in people and brought out the best in everyone around him. I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from him, laughed with him, and shared time with someone so rare. He will be missed beyond words.”

Jay retired in 2022 following his diagnosis the previous year. “I miss you all,” he said in a firmwide email after stepping down, “and will forever value the experiences we have shared and take pride in what we have accomplished together over the last two decades.”

But that wasn’t the last many of his colleagues would see of him. Jay and his wife, Corinne, formed Team Jay that year to raise money for Walk ALS Long Island, which became an annual event for them, their friends, and their family. Team Jay raised nearly $26,000 in its first year in 2022, where several PEople joined in the effort—and continued to do so each year after that.

The PE contingent of Team Jay after their first Walk ALS on Sep. 24, 2022.

Team Jay, following the 2024 Walk ALS last September.

Jay started an Instagram account on the day of his first Walk ALS, on Sep. 24, 2022. From then on, he regularly posted—often comically—about living with the challenges of ALS, using video and emojis and sometimes-salty language, along with the hashtag #alssucks.

“Life threw a curveball at him, and he made the most rocking Instagram account out of it. He was a pure creative until the last breath and I will forever remember him as such,” says Amit Arya. “I have always believed that the most intelligent amongst us are usually those who possess a superlative sense of humor – an ability to see everything in life with full clarity and possess the skill to use satire and humor to reflect upon it.”

Jay invoked the same humor in his daily work life, Amit remembers. “His punch lines would get us all laughing endlessly – the one I always cherish is his daily phone calls to his consultants, which would always begin with “Hey Joe – how is my favorite mechanical consultant doing? – Hey listen.. listen – what you sent to me makes no sense! It doesn’t work!…..” and on it went.”

Earlier this year, when the team working on the Kuwait University medical campus master plan held an exhibition of their work in the New York studio, Ceyda sent Jay a picture from the event, writing, “Jay, we missed you!” He promptly retouched the image, adding himself and his constant companion, Baxter, and sent it back with his own note:

Lina Wang worked closely with Jay on the Kuwait University project, she says, “where he patiently guided me and generously shared his deep expertise in lab planning. He was not only an outstanding mentor but also one of the kindest people I’ve had the honor of working with.”

The Kuwait University team visited Jay at his home in April 2024. Left to right behind Jay: Amit Arya, Bryce De Reynier, Siu Tam, and Lina Wang.

When the KU team visited Jay last year, Wang adds, “We remembered him as joyful and full of warmth, just as he had always been. His spirit left a lasting impact, and he will be deeply missed.”

Bryce De Reynier, who was also on the visit, marveled at Jay’s resiliency. “Jay was a wonderful colleague with a deep emotional intelligence and care for others that never left him as he battled ALS,” he says. “He battled to the end to communicate and connect with his friends, to assure us that he was doing as well as possible and make us laugh. This was his priority, what kept his mind going, even as his motor skills left him.

“He was a model of how to live in the world and how to push on and keep connecting despite unimaginable challenges. A selfless guy, a total sweetheart, a real mensch.”

Adds Jamie Butterfield, another close collaborator: “He was a friend who made every day in the office a better one. He has been, and will remain, deeply missed to so many of those who had the pleasure of working with and learning from him.”

Steve Gifford, who leads the Science + Technology practice, is putting together a slide show with Jay’s friends and colleagues over the next month to celebrate his life and career. He was in contact with Jay’s son, Brandon, during the last week before his died. Steve shared some sentiments in a letter he wrote to Brandon:

“Jay has been one of my very best colleagues and friends. I respect your Dad as much as anyone I have ever worked with,” Steve wrote. “I cherish the wonderful things we accomplished together, and he will always be in my mind. He will also always be the most consummate professional architect I’ve had the honor to work with and an amazing friend.”

When Jay sent his firmwide email following his retirement in 2022, he wrote, “While my physical condition has worsened over the last few months, it’s with the love and support of family, friends, and an incredible ALS support community that I’m in a much better space mentally, learning how to live with this disease rather than to let it rule me!”

Jay and Corinne had already set up a 2025 fundraising page for what would have been his fourth Walk ALS Long Island on Sep. 20.