sweet auburn | 2022 volume i
President ’ s Corner
t is hard to believe that it has been one year since I accepted the position as the 14 th President & CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery .
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Over this last year I have been humbled beyond belief at what impact Mount Auburn has on our community , families and guests . Mount Auburn is a well-respected cultural institution and delivers an unparalleled landscape that fosters inspiration , discovery , and wonder . This is possible thanks to daily staff , volunteer , and trustee efforts , and those that have come before us for nearly two centuries . Summer has arrived , and the landscape continues to swell with people , horticulture , and wildlife – which is fantastic !
Earlier this year our Board of Trustees approved an ambitious and transformational step for Mount Auburn . Over the coming months we will be working to assess and invest in : connecting Mount Auburn with our communities , capacity building , organizational opportunities , generating revenue , and continuing to elevate Mount Auburn ’ s standard of service . As we approach our 200th anniversary in 2031 , we have many opportunities to build upon our long history of connecting people with this special landscape , inperson or digitally .
Cemetery visitor Isabelle Anderson wrote and left a letter in the fall of 2021 at the grave of U . S . Senator Charles Sumner ( 1811 – 1874 , Lot 2447 Arethusa Path ). Her letter was written to Sumner and detailed how his work and life had inspired her path in life . As Docent Robin Ray mentions in her essay on pages 2-9 : “ Mount Auburn gives us a garden in which we can continue our conversations with those who have gone before us … it functioned in that way for Judge Joseph Story ( 1779-1845 , Lot 313 Narcissus Path ), the first President of Mount Auburn Cemetery ( 1831-1845 ), who brought the remains of five of his children to Mount Auburn … and for Charles Sumner , remembering his teacher and friend Judge Story .” Isabelle Anderson ’ s thoughtful celebration of Sumner ’ s legacy is one of thousands of powerful interactions so many of our guests have that are inspired by our landscape , permanent residents , monuments , or stories .
On pages 12-14 you can read about our robust Artist-in-Residence program and what some of our talented former artists are up to now . I am thrilled to report that two new donors to Mount Auburn have made a generous $ 250,000 pledge to help grow our Artist-in-Residence and Winter Solstice programs . This gift is one of the largest to ever occur in Mount Auburn ’ s history , and we are thankful for their generosity to help Mount Auburn thrive !
Without question it has been a busy year since I joined Mount Auburn . We are working hard to build on your appreciation of this treasured green space , to create a new standard of horticultural excellence , to foster new partnerships , and to inspire a new generation of friends and supporters .
EXPLORING NEW , GREENER BURIAL APPROACHES
Mount Auburn is a sustainability leader , having already cut our carbon footprint by 20 % and with a plan to reach neutrality by 2050 . Many in our community are looking to leave lighter footprints and some are considering burial alternatives closer to carbon neutral . As I recently wrote in CommonWealth Magazine , it ’ s time for a conversation about how to update our laws to accommodate these new , “ greener ” methods . For more information visit mountauburn . org / in-the-news .
Matthew Stephens President & CEO
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