Roy Rydell, an artist, preservationist and landscape architect, helped raise millions of dollars to build the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. Sentinel file photo by Shmuel Thaler

BONNY DOON — The artist, preservationist and landscape architect who helped raise millions of dollars to build the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History died Thursday.

Roy Rydell died at his home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 84.

While the Museum of Art and History is his most visible legacy, Rydell’s friends say his decades-long contributions to the area’s cultural community are immeasurable.

"Roy was active in so many things," said friend Wayne Palmer. "If everybody could commit the kind of energy Roy committed to the community, we would live in a much better place."

When Rydell would stroll down the former Pacific Garden Mall — which he designed — people often stopped to hug him, shake his hand, or say hello.

He is credited with spearheading the $3.5 million fundraising campaign to build the Museum of Art and History, which opened in 1992. He also helped save the Octagon Building, formerly the county’s Hall of Records and now part of the museum

"He worked diligently on (the museum) effort since the mid-1980s," said Executive Director Chuck Hilger. "He didn’t just serve on a board, he worked on a board."

Cancer treatments that began a year and a half ago didn’t stop his work. Just three weeks ago, Rydell had wrapped up another fundraising drive to put the finishing touches on the museum’s sculpture garden.

Rydell designed the garden’s furnishings, which will be named in his honor, Hilger said.

"Roy has always been center stage with the art museum," said Hilger.

Rydell was born in Minnesota in 1915. He studied painting at the University of Southern California and studied in Europe.

After attending graduate school at UC Berkeley, Rydell became an aircraft engineer and instructor during World War II.

Rydell and his late wife Frances moved to Bonny Doon 50 years ago and lived in the original Bonny Doon Elementary School, which they restored.

"He was one of the very first people to really speak out in the ‘60s for the preservation of historical buildings," said longtime friend Burt Kessenick.

He sketched and painted, and gathered a huge collection of other artists’ works.

In 1975, he retired from his practice as a landscape architect.

Rydell served on countless boards and committees, and had a reputation for being a tenacious fund-raiser.

"He’s nervy and tireless and stubborn," said Palmer. "And when it’s all pointed in the direction, you get great stuff."

Rydell also opened the door for the local cultural community to glimpse artist’s studios in other cities.

"Roy was heavily connected and instrumental in getting us into fabulous places," said Palmer, president of a local arts group Rydell created. "We have been to amazing spots."

After the death of his wife in 1998, Rydell, who had no children, lived alone in the restored schoolhouse, where friends had been visiting him with food and checking on his health.

"Roy’s death is a huge loss to this town," Palmer said. "People listened to Roy."

Kessenick said Rydell had requested that no service be held.

"But I think that there will be some gathering of friends," said Kessenick. "He was just too big a figure to let it go unobserved."

Contact Marina Malikoff at mmalikoff@santa-cruz.com.