By Michele Lamont

Special to The Post

William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.

Coburn was born on May 10, 1944, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Frank and Rachel Coburn. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts in 1966, and a master’s in architecture from Harvard School of Design in 1971.

In 1978, Coburn opened his own firm in Berkeley and eventually moved to West Oakland. He was passionate about the City of Oakland and found his calling in preserving Oakland’s architectural heritage. He spent many years as a professor of Architecture and Design at UC Berkeley as well as instructing at international universities in India and Hong Kong. Bill mentored many young architects from India, helping them to jump-start careers in the US.

Coburn’s process and design became a rare craft in the industry as he drafted entire home designs by hand without using any digital software. Many of his clients felt the drawings were more a work of art than just a blueprint. Many of his drawings are recorded in the UC Berkeley Architectural Archives.

Bill’s love for his community seeps through every crack in the sidewalk, where he planted flowers to beautify the land. It spans generations, where he worked as an architect to keep the historic beauty of Oakland and Berkeley alive through his dedication to restoration projects.

Bill was an integral member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance as a subject matter expert on the history of many significant historical buildings and sites.

He was an instrumental contributor to the City of Berkeley by selecting buildings to be moved and placed in the Delaware Street Historic District in West Berkeley.

Recognized by the City of Oakland for his work in the reconstruction of West Oakland after the massive, tragic destruction caused by the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bill volunteered countless hours of his time and skills as an architect to residents needing to rebuild their homes and their lives. He was a visionary designer contributing to the modern-day Mandela Parkway development, which is now a verdant artery of the community.

Bill’s dedication to community improvement is evident in nearly every Oakland neighborhood. Driving through the city, you will see trees he planted, houses and buildings he designed with his hands, and a community which is a little better than when he found it.

After becoming a newly graduated architect, Bill loaded his VW Minivan with his dog and a sleeping bag setting out on a journey to the West Coast. Little did he know he would find his calling in the City of Oakland where he saw the potential to build a better world.

The love he had for all of the people in his community was omnipresent, sharing all that he had to those who needed it. Bill and his wife, Subhashini (Sue), have led the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland’s Food Ministry program for over 20 years, guiding a team of 50 volunteers to deliver 15,000 meals a year to encampments, host special holiday events for the unhoused, and provide those in need with hot meals at the church each week.

He was a gracious father, husband and a very humble soft-spoken man. William Pierce Coburn passed away at 7:55 P.M. July 26 after a four-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Subhashini, and sons Rahul, Rajiv, and granddaughter Arjuna Rose.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.

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By Godfrey Lee

Come be a part of “United in Jubilation” Community Choir (UIJCC) to sing in a concert to benefit the Hope Housing Community Land Trust. The concert will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 501 Drake Ave., Marin City, CA 94965.

The UIJCC Choir, directed by Kevan Peabody, will be performing Negro Spirituals. Two selections will be sung in November for FMBC host church members. Local leaders have also expressed interest in having the choir sing two selections for the MLK 2025 celebration, and possibly during Black History Month. The Choir may also be invited to perform in other venues throughout Marin County.

Please attend a meeting at the FMBC, on Monday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. to meet each other, sing, and get rehearsal dates. Rehearsals will be held at FMBC on Mondays at 7 p.m.

No audition or dues will be required.

For information, call (415) 949-4908 or email: hopehousingofmarin.com

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By Lisa Petrie    

The 45^th World Arts West Dance Festival performance at Presidio Tunnel Tops opens with a joyous and colorful procession on Sept. 8.

Kiazi Malonga from the Oakland-based group Fua Dia Kongo will lead over 100 cultural performers to the stage with Congolese dance and drum rhythms, setting the mood for an afternoon trip around the world through music and dance.

Now, in its third year with support from the Presidio as a partner, the 2024 theme Dance as Activism underscores the power of cultural dance to challenge societal norms, preserve heritage, and inspire social change. The broad range of performances will reflect both traditional and contemporary styles – reflecting the rich and diverse aesthetics of the Bay Area’s cultural dance community.

From Chinyakare Ensemble’s presentation of traditional dance from Zimbabwe and Southern Africa to Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company’s original modern show combining hip hop, theater and rap, dance as an art form can keep cultural narratives or see them evolve through a new generation. Thirteen groups will present performances from South Asia, the Middle East, Mexico, the Caribbean, China and the Philippines, with music from Eastern Europe and Eurasia by the women’s vocal ensemble Kitka.

Festival director Dr. Anne Huang is committed to giving these artists a platform to express their identities. She says: “Each performance is a coded blueprint for survival, resilience, and evolution. The festival is a testament to the power of social change through dance — more persuasive than shackles and guns, fear and violence.”

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The World Arts West Dance Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, 1pm – 4pm at The Presidio Tunnel Tops. Admission; FREE. Visit this page for more information and see the complete artist lineup. Watch a performance video here.

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