It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Bette Jane Cohen, director, producer, and editor of The Spirit in Architecture: John Lautner, which jumpstarted increased interest in Lautner’s work in 1990 that continues to this day. She died peacefully yesterday, October 19, 2016.
Bette was an editor on many films and has won many awards. At the time of her death she had been attending screenings around the world of the 25th-anniversary edition of The Spirit in Architecture, to wide acclaim.
In 2001, Bette wrote about the making of the film. The Foundation edited and printed it. You can read her fascinating story.
In addition to being a superb filmmaker, Bette was a genuine friend to us all on the Foundation Board of Directors and served on the Foundation Advisory Board since its inception. She was always ready with a smile and gave her precious time to us when we needed it.
Bette’s death is a great loss to the Foundation, to the architecture world, and to the world of her many friends. Services will be held Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary at 6001 Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, 90045.
Peace and comfort to Bette’s family. She was an incredibly talented and kind person.
Loved her, and she will be so missed by so many.
I only knew Bette a little bit, but she was generous to me in her sharing of The Spirit in Architecture. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
I met once Bette in france in june 2015. I had steve jacob and her for dinner un rennes at my place. It was a nice meeting and a nice evening i will all my life remember. They enjoyed the food and we were happy to share a moment with simplicity around jacob. My deep thoughts goes to him. A nice personn. Unbielevly mature. Shining. Smart. Nikita and elsa and me send you lots of love from rennes where you spent great months and where you have still friends. Corinne elsa nikita