“ I think what pulls us all together is the recognition of the value of what we do , and the importance of Mount Auburn as a place of beauty and comfort .”
— Dave Barnett , 2021
William Clendaniel
William Clendaniel
Dave Barnett
( 1945 – ) President 1988 – 2008 / Trustee 1988 – 2008
William Clendaniel earned a B . A . in history from Williams College , an M . A . in philosophy , politics , and economics from Oxford University , and a J . D . from Harvard Law School . He worked as deputy director of The Trustees of the Reservations in Massachusetts . He has also served as trustee , treasurer , and board chair of the Massachusetts Historical Society ; a trustee of Historic New England ; and vice-chair and treasurer of the Friends of the Public Garden .
At Mount Auburn , Clendaniel initiated an extensive Master Plan that placed an emphasis on Mount Auburn as a historic landscape , cultural site , and active cemetery . He oversaw renovations of the Administration Building , Story Chapel , Bigelow Chapel , and Operations Center and the construction of a new Preservation Services Building . He also created a preservation program for monuments , built structures , and archival records ; developed a fundraising program ; and established programs for educational outreach . In 2003 , the Department of the Interior designated Mount Auburn Cemetery as a National Historic Landmark .
Dave Barnett
( 1956 – ) President 2008 – 2021
Dave Barnett received an M . S . in environmental horticulture and Ph . D . in ecology from the University of California at Davis . He was assistant director at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay , New York before becoming Mount Auburn ’ s first Director of Horticulture in 1993 and working his way up to Executive Vice-President in 2007 .
As president of Mount Auburn , Barnett oversaw the building of new greenhouses , renovation of Harvard Hill , preservation of the Egyptian Revival Gateway , revitalization of Asa Gray Garden , renovation and revitalization of Bigelow Chapel including an updated crematory , renovation of Story Chapel , creation of Hazel Path burial garden , and restoration of Indian Ridge habitat . He also instituted the citizen science and climate action sustainability programs . Throughout his twenty-eight years at Mount Auburn , Barnett formed many meaningful relationships with trustees and staff . In honor of his dedication to the Cemetery , Barnett was named President & CEO Emeritus of Mount Auburn upon his retirement in September 2021 .
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