Heather Lynn Roberge
Obituary

Heather L. Roberge, Beloved Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend and Educator Who Inspired Students and Championed Others, Dies at 55

April 2, 1971 – September 20, 2026

Heather L. Roberge, a beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, and an acclaimed architect and UCLA professor, died on September 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. She was 55.

Born in Covington, Kentucky, on April 2, 1971, Heather grew up in Westerville, Ohio. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Architecture, summa cum laude, and her Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University.

Heather built a distinguished career at the intersection of architecture, design, research, and education. She was the founder and principal of Murmur, the Los Angeles architecture and design practice she established in 2008, and a professor in UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Urban Design, where she taught for more than two decades. She served as chair of the department from 2017 to 2020 and previously directed its undergraduate program.

Her architectural work explored the possibilities of new materials, digital technologies, and innovative fabrication methods. Through Murmur, she developed projects that challenged conventional approaches to architectural form and construction, bringing together technical experimentation and an exacting design sensibility.

Her work received numerous honors, including awards from the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles for projects such as En Pointe and Succulent House. In 2016, she received the Architectural League of New York’s Emerging Voices recognition, which honors architects and designers whose work has the potential to influence the future of their disciplines.

Heather was also the author of Fabricating Plasticity in Aluminum, an exploration of material experimentation and architectural innovation. Her work was exhibited and published internationally, appearing in publications including Architectural Record, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

For all of her accomplishments as an architect, Heather found her greatest professional fulfillment in teaching.

She believed in the potential of her students, often before they recognized it themselves. Her greatest joy as an educator was helping them accomplish things they had not thought possible and, in doing so, develop confidence that would serve them throughout their lives. Over more than two decades, she influenced hundreds of students, many of whom went on to become architects, designers, and educators themselves.

Her contributions to architectural education were widely recognized. She received the 2017 ACADIA Teaching Award of Excellence and was named a Distinguished Alumna in Academic Achievement by The Ohio State University in 2018.

In 2026, Heather was named Educator of the Year by AIA Los Angeles, recognizing her exceptional leadership and dedication to architectural education. The award, scheduled to be presented in October, was a fitting tribute to the work that meant so much to her: helping students discover abilities they never knew they possessed.

For all her professional achievements, those who knew Heather best understood that her awards and accomplishments told only part of her story.

Heather described herself as an introvert. She was naturally quiet, but her passions, curiosity and love of learning regularly drew her beyond her comfort zone. And while she was rarely the loudest person in a room, she could be among the most determined.

She possessed a fierce sense of principle and an unwavering commitment to standing up for others, particularly those she believed were not being heard or protected. She was willing to engage in difficult battles on their behalf, even when doing so came at a personal cost.

Her friendships reflected that same depth of character. Heather cared profoundly about the people in her life and was extraordinarily loyal to them. She gave generously of herself, without keeping score or expecting anything in return. Her closest friendships spanned decades, from childhood friends to more recent relationships that quickly took on the intimacy and trust of lifelong bonds.

She had impeccable taste and an extraordinary eye for design, art, and the spaces in which people live. Her standards were exacting, particularly when it came to her own home, where a design decision might take years to resolve. Yet she was much quicker to help a friend or client find exactly the right solution.

She was thoughtful, curious, quietly funny, and never reluctant to express an opinion when she had one.

Above all, Heather’s greatest devotion was to her family.

She met her husband, David Gale, on a blind date in 2008. David immediately sensed there was something extraordinary about her and, before their first date had even ended, was already asking her for the next one. They recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.

David described Heather as his best friend and “stalwart champion,” the person whose arrival took his life in an unexpected and wonderful direction.

Heather’s greatest joy and greatest source of pride was her son, Finnian James Payne (Finn), who inherited her talents, taste and beautiful eyes. She encouraged him to pursue what he loved rather than simply what he was good at. Nothing brought her greater pride than the exceptional young man he became.

Heather lived with melanoma for the final three and a half years of her life.

Heather is survived by her husband, David Gale; her son, Finnian James Payne; her mother, Patricia Ann Roberge (née Sears); her sister, Melanie Roberge Ortlieb, and her husband, Mike Ortlieb; her sisters-in-law Robin Lorber and her husband, Izzy Lorber, Susan Gale, and Lauren Napach and her husband, Joel Napach; and her nieces and nephews, Will Ortlieb, Jake Lorber, Amanda Lorber, Ian Napach, Lily Napach and Ava Napach.

She was predeceased by her father, Jerome George Roberge Jr.

Heather’s life was far too short, and there was much more she hoped to accomplish. But she left an extraordinary mark on the world—in the architecture she created, the students she inspired, the people she stood up for, and the family and friends she loved so deeply.

Those who loved her feel cheated by the years they will not have with her, and profoundly grateful for the years they did.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Heather L. Roberge Endowed Scholarship in Architecture Fund, established to support future generations of architecture students.