Harry Morse Payne, Jr., known as Morse Payne , of Bedford, MA, formerly of Lincoln, MA and Lexington, MA, died Jan 9, 2019 at the age of 96. He was born Nov 3, 1922. Morse is survived by his children; Harry M. Payne III (Mary S. Payne) of Antrim, NH; Thomas B. Payne (Karen A. Payne) of Chepachet, RI; Amelia M. Affhauser (Karl Affhauser) of Greenfield, MA.: and three grand children. He is also survived by his sister Clara P. Gower of Melbourne, FL.   His wife Helen M. Payne passed away in 2005.

Morse Payne was an architect, FAIA. He was an accomplished professional, mentor, and an inspirational leader. Morse's talents became evident early in life. In high school Morse won first prize in a town planning competition in Norwood, MA. With WWII underway, he enlisted into the US Navy where he served three years as Quartermaster on the USS Boston in the Pacific Fleet.

Morse enrolled in the Boston Architectural Center (today known as the Boston Architectural College), and soon secured a prize as the first recipient of the Boston Society of Architects Traveling Scholarship. He won the opportunity to spend a semester of travel and studies at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. He also earned a scholarship to continue his architecture studies at MIT.

Morse joined The Architects Collaborative in Harvard Square as a principal in 1952 and worked at TAC for thirty four years, serving two years as President, '75-'77. While at TAC, he maintained an Assistant Professor position at the Harvard Graduate School of Design for nine years, '54-'63.

While at TAC Morse returned to the Boston Architectural Center as an instructor and gave his talent and time as a member of the BAC Board of Directors, also serving two terms as the BAC President, '63-'65 and '71-'73.

Noted architectural works include: The US Embassy in Athens, Greece; The University of Bagdad in Iraq; Temple Israel in Boston; Quincy School in Boston; Nauset Regional High School in North Eastham on the Cape; TAC's own office in Cambridge on Brattle St.; he designed and contracted the construction of his family home in Lexington's Five Fields.

Morse was a genealogist, a lifelong passion that started in high school. As a result, he developed a love for history. He was a member of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society and the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists. He served as a Director of the Lexington Historical Society.

In his retirement years he focused on the Payne/Paine family history and on colonial era design issues in regard to land management. In 1993 Morse delivered the inaugural 'Dean Cascieri Lectureship in the Humanities' presentation at the BAC titled "Urban Design in 17th Century New England." Morse did publish through the Cape Cod Genealogical Society a thesis titled "The Ordering of Towns on Cape Cod."

Morse was also a competitive swimmer. In his 80's he entered the annual Massachusetts Senior Games in Springfield, MA. For several years in a row, he won gold in both the 100 meter and 200 meter back stroke. In 2011, at the age of 88, Morse entered the summer National Senior Games in Houston, TX and proudly came home with a bronze medal.

A memorial gathering will be held in the spring on April 20 ^th from 2-4pm at the Lexington Historical Society, 13 Depot Square, Lexington MA.