sweet auburn | 2020 volume ii
Thank you
Several of our long-time Trustees retired this year . We are grateful for their service .
Ann Roosevelt , Mount Auburn Board of Trustees 1988 – 2020 In her amazing 32 years on the board , Ann is proud of “ expanding upon the reforms of President Emeritus Bill Clendaniel — taking an inventory of buildings and structures , making a commitment to capital improvements , and instituting a Master plan — turning the Cemetery into the wellrun place it is today and most especially of facilitating the hiring of Dave Barnett as President when Bill retired . Dave has continued the initiatives that Bill started and expanded them with a strategic plan , a clarifying of mission , and a vision for the future .”
David A . Straus , Mount Auburn Board of Trustees 2004 – 2020 “ Serving on this board and being able to offer my facilitative and process consulting skills to board and staff has been one of the most satisfying interventions I have experienced . It has been wonderful to participate on a regular basis with an institution whose mission and people I care deeply about , to see the system change , people learn , and great progress be made , to witness , up close and personal , collaboration and strategic planning working in this organization .”
FAREWELL RICH SNOW
R ich Snow joined Mount Auburn in 2002 as the Cemetery ’ s first Director of Information Technology . In addition to being responsible for the selection and implementation of all technology services at the Cemetery , Rich also led meditation sessions and hosted our annual community electronics recycling event .
At the announcement of Rich ’ s retirement , Cemetery consultant Candace Currie tried to imagine what Mount Auburn founder Jacob Bigelow ( 1787-1879 ) might have thought about Information Technology . Bigelow published numerous books , including Elements of Technology in 1829 .
If he were here today , perhaps Bigelow might even ask , “ the Application of the Sciences to the Useful Arts , has a Director ?”
Below is Currie ’ s poetic answer to this imagined inquiry : Information Technology that powers Mount Auburn Provides the data on all things modern — Endowment , investments and plant inventories Interments , cremations and smoke categories ; Dr . Bigelow , now we have non-compliance — There are rules for the elements of computer science ; Mr . Snow built upon your foundation , for our time On the arts of hardware , software and network design …
Rich has been an extraordinary addition to the Mount Auburn team improving upon the 1831 technology ( if not quite all the way to 2031 ). Thank you , Rich !
Mary Lee “ Widgie ” Aldrich , Mount Auburn Board of Trustees 2005 – 2020 “ In my fifteen years on the Board , one constant was that board members got to know each other through frequent meetings . I hope future board members will maintain close relationships — so valuable for achieving consensus in decision-making . I ’ m delighted that Mount Auburn has increasingly offered a wider range of learning opportunities for a more diverse audience : students learning about the plant collections and programs airing the stories of people who are buried here . Add to that wine-tastings , concerts , death cafes , and tours , and we have more ways to engage appreciative visitors who may develop a profound connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery .”
Paul Zofnass , Mount Auburn Board of Trustees 2012-2020 “ It has been a great honor for me to serve on the Board for these past 8 years , and I very much look forward to continuing to serve on the Horticulture and Landscape Committee . I have enjoyed many years of visiting this unique place . I am told by my father that my first visit was on April 18 , 1947 , the day I was born across the street at Mount Auburn Hospital , and many followed thereafter with my parents and family and friends . It is where I learned to appreciate the beauty of trees and shrubs , wildlife and landscape , historical significance and the distinctive people and families for whom this is their final resting place . It is that appreciation that has helped fulfill my life and my work . My greatest respect goes to all those employees and volunteers who for almost two centuries have helped create , build , maintain , oversee , and protect this exquisite masterpiece and National Historic Landmark .”
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