Building a House and a Legacy

Pierre "Paul" and Evelyn Childs

Shortly after graduating with a B.S.N. from The Catholic University of America in 1955, Evelyn P. Baranski met her future husband—and future Catholic University alum—Pierre "Paul" Childs, M.C.R.P. '73.

Throughout her nursing career, Evelyn worked as a general nurse, community nurse, and school nurse in Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, D.C. Paul received a B.Arch. from Renssaeler Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture and an M.C.R.P. (Master of City and Regional Planning) from the University of Toronto and The Catholic University of America. They married in 1957, and Paul concentrated his work on designing schools and public buildings.

In their leisure time, Paul and Evelyn loved traveling the world to study art and architecture. Both were very active in their community. Paul was a noted architect in the D.C. area, and Evelyn was a member of the Solidarity Group of Blessed Sacrament Church and a volunteer docent at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The Urban Treehouse designed by Paul Childs

Paul and Evelyn enjoyed 36 years of marriage, the majority of which was lived in the home they designed and built in the early 1970s in Washington, D.C. Their corner lot was nestled in the last undeveloped part of a residential neighborhood. It was important for them to retain its woodsy quality, so the actual house area was limited to a total of 1,500 square feet. The innovative design, which featured cylindrical shapes to accentuate the curve of the corner site, culminated in an overhanging balcony that provided an ideal place for viewing spectacular sunsets. Dubbed the Urban Tree House, the exclusive home was featured in Architectural Digest and Home Life Magazine of the Washington Star.

After Paul died unexpectedly in 1993, and Evelyn had to make some wise financial decisions in order to allow her to continue to live in the home she loved. She was also committed to supporting the things that were most meaningful to her and Paul. She began by inviting family and friends to help create the Pierre Paul Childs Award in Urban Design and Architecture. A few years later, Evelyn established the Pierre Paul Childs Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to a graduate student concentrating in the program of urban design in the School of Architecture and Planning.

Throughout the next decade, Evelyn enjoyed meeting and learning more about the students who benefited from Paul's scholarship. She decided to significantly supplement the scholarship by designating the University as the beneficiary of her IRA, estimated at more than $200,000. Upon her death, her executor shared that he had discussed modifying the name of the scholarship with Evelyn. As a result, the University honors the memory of Paul and Evelyn through the Pierre Paul Childs, M.C.R.P. '73 and Evelyn Baranski Childs, B.S.N. '55 Endowed Scholarship Fund for generations of students to come.

Like Paul and Evelyn, you can leave a lasting legacy at Catholic University through a planned gift. Start planning your gift by contacting Isabel de la Puente at delapuente@cua.edu or 202-319-6914 today.