Stephan Green - April 10, 1948 – May 13, 2023

Stephan Green who founded and led our firm passed away on May 13th after living with Parkinson’s Disease for a number of years. He was surrounded by his family whom he cherished.  All of us at Clark Green and Bek are heartbroken at the loss of our visionary founder and leader and close friend.

Stephan had taken a step back from the day-to-day management of the firm last Fall.  The team led by Jacob Bek, our Principal, is continuing to build on Stephan’s vision of transformative enduring design; we are honored to carry the lessons and passion that Stephan brought to the office forward.

Below is the obituary that was published in the the Berkshire Edge.

Stephan Green
April 10, 1948 – May 13, 2023
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WEST STOCKBRIDGE — Stephan Green of West Stockbridge, age 75, passed away on May 13, 2023, after living with Parkinson’s Disease for a number of years. He was surrounded by his family whom he cherished.

Stephan was born on April 10, 1948. He was the youngest of four children born to Jeanette and Charles Green. Stephan grew up in Woodmere, New York in the middle of the postwar baby boom. His neighborhood, full of potential playmates, was perfect for the energetic, creative, rambunctious child he was. He attended Lawrence High School and SUNY at Buffalo (BA in English Literature,1970). After graduating, he traveled the U.S. and Europe, seeing the world and working as an itinerant carpenter, bartender, short order cook, among assorted occupations. He lived in Israel for several years and it was there that it became clear to him that he needed to pursue architecture.

Returning to the States in 1976, he attended and graduated from Brooklyn, New York’s Pratt Institute (BARCH, 1979). He reconnected with a college crush, Beth Sack, who he married in 1981. They had two sons and lived in New York City until moving to the house they built in the Berkshires in 1988. There, along with Alan Clark, he founded the architectural firm of Clark & Green, Inc in 1989 in Great Barrington. Over the years, the company grew into a center for design in the Berkshires.

Along with their many residential projects, they were responsible for major landmarks including Berkshire South Regional Community Center, CATA, the Great Barrington fire house, the Beacon Cinema in Pittsfield, the Elaine Bernstein Theater at Shakespeare & Company and many others. Stephan took pride in them all, loved working hard on each and made long-lasting friendships among his clients and co-workers. Architecture remained his passion throughout, up to and continuing beyond his retirement in October 2022. He made an indelible impact on the community he loved so deeply.

He leaves behind his beloved wife and partner of 45 years, Beth Sack. His pride and joy were his sons Zachary (Jessica Hahn) and Ethan (Paola Di Tolla) and his grandchildren Benjamin, Ezra and Silvana. In addition, he leaves others who meant so much to him: his sister, Marsha, and brother Michael (Marylou), and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. He also leaves behind his constant canine companions Lily and Homer, who gave him enormous pleasure every day