William Mingenbach

William (Bill) Mingenbach of Taos died July 24 of complications due to melanoma. Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on June 3rd, 1928, he was the only child of Louise Jacobs and Leo A. Mingenbach. He is survived by his wife Jane and children: Leah Slator (Jonathon Slator); Louise Mingenbach(Chris Caris);Erich Mingenbach; Emily Mingenbach-Henry (Charles Henry), and Jacob Mingenbach. And by grandchildren: Isabel and Chloe Slator: Borne and Millicent Mingenbach: Poppy and Theo Caris: and Leo and Jane Henry. An Architect, Inventor, and Pioneer of Solar Design, he received his BA in Art History and Physics from Williams College, MA, and his Masters in Architecture at University of Minnesota. From 1952-1956 Mingenbach served as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve, piloting F-89s. He and his young bride Jane came to Taos on their honeymoon in 1961 and never left. With partners Gene Sanchez, and Ben Benson he started the first Architectural Firm in Taos in 1964 and among their designs are the Coronado Hall, The second County Court House, Taos Junior High School, and the Mary Medina Building, which is the first solar heated office building in New Mexico. One of his initial independent community projects was the writing of the first Planning and Zoning Code for the Town of Taos in 1970-72 with Sally Howell. His interest in geodesic domes and solar engineering led to his close friendship with Steve Baer, founder of Zomeworks Corporation, with whom he worked on the primary Zome structure for Lama Foundation in 1970. Upon retiring from commercial architecture, Mingenbach devoted the last 25 years of his life to the exploration of experimental building techniques and various structural detail concerns, for which he received several patents. He will be much missed by many like-minded Taosenos as well as by his large and grateful family. Memorial services are pending, call Leah at (575) 613-5334.