President’ s Corner
Editor’ s Corner
sweet auburn | 2025 volume I
President’ s Corner
I t’ s hard to believe summer is already upon us! It
feels like just yesterday when we welcomed almost
20,000 attendees to our SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light event in December and celebrated a new year at Mount Auburn.
Since then— after the first triumphant rising of Snowdrops in the newly-thawed soil— we’ ve seen bursts of pink from Magnolias and Flowering Dogwoods, purple from Scilla, yellow and red from Narcissus and Japanese Maple, green of grasses, shrubs, and our filled-out tree canopy, and blue of the open sky between days that brought much-needed rain.
Though I am almost four years into my role as President & CEO, this blooming revelation of a landscape hasn’ t gotten old, and I don’ t expect it will. There’ s something undoubtedly healing about immersing yourself at Mount Auburn: the serenity away from the urban chaos, the engaging colors of our horticultural collection, the feeling of calm that comes with seeing a bird perch atop a monument— a sense that life goes on despite the uncertainties of the world.
Many thanks to Carol D’ Aloisio of the other Mount Auburn( Hospital) for capturing this essence in our lead article, A Place to Ponder( p. 2), a true celebration of the Cemetery’ s many natural wonders. No matter what you may be going through, Mount Auburn is here and open for you to slow down and explore, 365 days a year.
Though this landscape was chosen by our founders for its many engaging, winding features, the gardens that we know and love don’ t just acquiesce spontaneously. I am especially
Editor’ s Corner
H ello, dear readers of Sweet Auburn! I realized that I never introduced myself to you after taking over the reins of the magazine from the incomparably delightful Jennifer Johnston. So, here I am— pleased to meet you all, and thank you for reading.
After graduating from the University of Vermont in 2015 with a degree in anthropology and art history, I moved to the area— Watertown, specifically— to pursue work in the museum world. As a regular of the 73 bus at the time, I would often pass by an enormous cemetery with an incredible Egyptian gate that was beckoning to me. The first time I decided to stop in on a drizzly spring afternoon, I remember how awestruck I was at the beautiful marriage of the landscape and the monuments. I knew I had to work here.
My plan came to fruition when I was hired as the Advancement Assistant in 2021, processing gifts and acknowledgment letters for our amazing donors. Since then, I have been pleased to take on more writing work for the Cemetery, being promoted to Grants and Communications grateful to Rie Macchiarolo and their team’ s work( Staff Spotlight, p. 14) for imbuing the landscape with greater beauty for all to enjoy. Lucky for us, beauty begets beauty, inspiring the art we will see in the next year from our upcoming Artist-in-Residence cohort( p. 16) as well as a touchingly
Thinking back fondly to last year ' s inaugural Dinner Under the Oaks nature-filled poem from member Jennifer Markell( p. 15).
Mount Auburn’ s special sense of place and tranquility is thoughtfully guided by our Board of Trustees. Four members of the Board leave us this year, each leaving their own remarkable legacy. We are so thankful for their tireless and unending dedication to and passion for our mission, and I continue to be humbled that they have so generously shared their expertise and guidance with us( p. 12).
There is much in the works here at the Cemetery, including additional entrances being added to our Grove Street perimeter and other capital improvements that we look forward to unveiling soon. Until then, I hope you walk away after reading this issue with the knowledge that Mount Auburn has always been and will always be a landscape of reflection, inspiration, and community.
Matthew Stephens President & CEO
Manager in 2023 and Associate Director of Grants & Communications in 2024.
This is now my third issue, and I understand why Jen said it was her favorite part of working for Mount Auburn. Being able to work closely with staff throughout the Cemetery’ s various departments— in addition to members and community partners who equally champion our landscape— is an honor. Not to mention working alongside Liz Bonadies, our brilliant magazine designer, who always makes the issues into works of art— thank you, Liz!
For this issue, I had the pleasure of authoring a Staff Spotlight on our Director of Gardens & Landscapes, Rie Macchiarolo. I came away from that experience deeply inspired by how Mount Auburn touches each one of us in different ways. I look forward to continuing these features so you can learn more about our wonderful staff, with whom I am lucky enough to work every day.
I hope you enjoy the first 2025 volume of Sweet Auburn!
Andrew Gambardella Associate Director of Grants & Communication