Robert Nathan Nizel

Robert Nathan Nizel, 87, passed away peacefully on Monday July 14, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. His family, friends, and coworkers always knew him as Bob. Bob was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 6, 1938. Bob is survived and terribly missed by the true love of his life, Linda (Barbara Linda Vine Nizel). They were married for the past 26 years.

Bob was predeceased by his parents Manuel Nizel, Ethel Buchwald Nizel, and by his sister Ruth Nizel Cantor. Bob grew up with his family in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.

Bob is survived by his niece Leslie Cantor Gladstone, her husband Carl Gladstone, their daughter Molly Gladstone, and by Bob’s nephew Todd Cantor, his wife Mary Claire Curran Cantor, and their daughters Ella and Abigail. Bob is also survived by his cousin David Nizel and his wife Lesley Nizel.

An accomplished architect and inventor, Bob’s professional career began after his graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1962 with a degree in Architecture. In the early 1960’s, Bob worked alongside a group of dedicated professionals at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. By 1969, Robert and his colleagues formed their own firm, Architectural Resources Cambridge/ARC.

Starting without clients or projects, ARC began with house renovations and new residential designs. Bob, ever the entrepreneur, always envisioned the firm having a business component beyond pure architecture. He partnered with a builder to design and construct "spec houses" for sale in the Boston suburbs. Ultimately, the focus of the firm’s business shifted from residential to commercial projects.

Bob 's true design and building expertise shone in the laboratory sector. He was instrumental in securing MetPath Laboratories as a major client. ARC designed and built for MetPath the largest blood testing laboratories in the country, in both New Jersey and Chicago. These facilities processed samples flown in from across the nation, performed intricate testing, and delivered results overnight to hospitals. Bob also managed ARC's projects for Digital Equipment along the I-495 corridor in Massachusetts.

Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for invention led to the creation of the “Labmarc Bench System”, a flexible laboratory workbench system that he co-designed and patented. This innovative system featured changeable components and lab benches that efficiently carried water, gas, and power. ARC incorporated Labmarc into buildings they designed, and they successfully sold components to other clients. ARC also completed significant work for other major clients such as Abbott Labs, Bayer, and Bristol Myers. Bob was also a key ARC team member for many of the firm's Genzyme projects in Cambridge, located near Harvard Business School, and in Framingham.

Beyond his professional work, Bob retained a keen interest in residential design. He remodeled his own Deck House in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Later he designed homes for himself in Massachusetts and Florida. As his desire for Florida living grew, Bob quietly retired from ARC at the end of July 2004, and permanently moved to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Following his retirement, Bob’s passions in life included international travel, especially to Bali, long distance bicycling, and driving his luxury German automobiles.

Although Bob’s physical presence is no longer with us, his spirit and the legacy of his many accomplishments will continue to inspire all of us who knew him. May his memory be a blessing.