Born in New York City, Rebori was the son of an engineer who had immigrated to the U.S. from Italy.[1] Rebori was friends during his childhood with future presidential nomineeAl Smith. At age 15, Rebori began working in the office of New York architect Charles Alling Gifford making blueprints, and he also worked for architect Herbert D. Hale. Rebori finished evening high school at age 18. Later in Rebori's teen years, he studied under New York architectHenry Hornbostel.[1][2]
In 1909, Rebori moved to Chicago as a professor of architecture at the Armour Institute. The following year, he met famed architectLouis Sullivan, who became a mentor to Rebori.[1] Rebori worked in the office of architectJarvis Hunt from 1914 until 1922, after which point he founded his own firm, Rebori, Wentworth, Dewey and McCormick.[4] Rebori's firm eventually dissolved in 1932, and he worked in private practice by himself until 1940. He performed various wartime projects from 1941 until 1944, and then worked as a consulting architect for DeLeuw, Cather & Co. from 1944 until 1955. Rebori also worked in private practice from 1952 until 1961, when he retired.[2]
Rebori had little use for most modern style buildings, which he once referred to as "steel and glassupside-down cakes."[1] However, Rebori at the same time was known for his own pre-World War II modernist style, which was best seen in hisFisher Studio Houses development which he developed with designer/artistEdgar Miller. And, he was well known for being willing to tailor his work to a client's request, making him more of an eclectic architect than anything else.[5] "The architect is no longer an individualist, he is a follower," Rebori told theChicago Tribune . "Today's architects just want to please their patrons." (December 22, 1963)[6]
Rebori had two children. His son, Andrew P. Rebori (1916-1952), an army aviator during World War II, died of polio on September 15, 1952.[7] Rebori's daughter, Naneen (sometimes shown as being spelled Nanneen) Rebori Donaldson (1914-1996), died on June 15, 1996. Rebori's wife, Nannie, died on May 16, 1917, in Chicago and after her funeral inWinfield, Illinois.[8] near their summer home, she was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Illinois.
Rebori died at his home at 6 E. Scott Street in Chicago on May 31, 1966. He is buried inGraceland Cemetery in Chicago.[1]
