J. Douglas Macy, a prominent landscape architect who influenced some of Oregon’s most beloved public spaces, died Nov. 10. He was 72.

In a decades-long career after co-founding Walker Macy with Larry Walker, Macy advocated for and influenced the design of Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial and Portland’s Willamette riverfront, among many other projects.

Macy was one of the most important landscape architects in shaping the Pacific Northwest, said Tim Eddy, principal at Hennebery Eddy Architects. Macy was also widely liked.

“He was a fantastic guy,” Eddy said.

Macy had a significant role on the design team for Pioneer Courthouse Square, which often is considered Portland’s “living room.”

“Several aspects of (the square) were things he championed in the design collaboration,” said Paul Dickow, marketing director and associate at Walker Macy.

Macy also supported the founding of the square, which had been a parking lot.

“He championed for it when it was open to political debate,” Dickow said.

Macy was an active civic participant, serving on the boards of the Portland Japanese Garden, the Pacific Northwest College of Art and Northern Arizona University, among others.

He often advocated for state parks and other open and public spaces.

“Doug was a real force for the profession and for the community in his career,” Dickow said, “and he constantly sought to explore what sorts of problems landscape architecture in Portland could tackle.”

Macy was born in Caldwell, Idaho, in 1945 and grew up near Madras. He graduated from Madras Union High School, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon.

Macy is survived by three siblings and their families.

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