People and Happenings
Mount Auburn presented “ The Birds of Spring at Mount Auburn ,” a bird identification workshop led by Jim Barton , a former Brookline Bird Club and Massachusetts Audubon field trip leader , on Wednesdays , from April 16 to May 7 . During the multi-session class attendees learned methods for identifying warblers , thrushes , vireos , and other spring migrants by eye and ear . Following the classrooms sessions , two morning bird walks were held for participants .
People and Happenings
Cultural historian Marilyn Yalom of Stanford University and Reid Yalom , her son , discussed their book , The American Resting Place , Four Hundred Years of History through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds ( Houghton Mifflin , 2008 ) during a lecture and slideshow at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square on May 15 . The evening was cosponsored by Mount Auburn , the Boston Athenaeum , Historic New England , the Massachusetts Historical Society , and the New England Historic Genealogical Society .
Top : Baltimore Oriole by George McLean Bottom : Common Yellow Throat by John Harrison
The New England Conservatory ’ s Parker String Quartet — made up of graduate students pursuing degrees in performance and chamber music — played in a concert at Story Chapel on November 17 , 2007 . The event was made possible by the generosity of Harry and Frances Pratt . Harry is a member of NEC ’ s Board of Trustees , and Frances is a longtime volunteer at Mount Auburn ( see profile on page16 ).
The Mount Auburn Cemetery staff extends our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of George L . Doherty , owner of the Doherty Funeral Home in Somerville ; Marion Bedrosian , mother of Paul Bedrosian , owner of the Bedrosian Funeral Home in Watertown ; and Andrew ( Andy ) Valkanas , our neighbor , across the street , at Mt . Auburn Memorials in Cambridge , who recently passed away .
Natalie Wampler was appointed Preservation & Facilities Planner in April 2008 . She had worked at Mount Auburn part-time , as an intern , supporting the Preservation Initiative , while finishing her M . A . in Preservation Studies at Boston University . In her new position , she will identify and assist in prioritizing care for the Cemetery ’ s vast collection of structures and monuments . Natalie holds a B . F . A . in Interior Design from Maryville University in St . Louis , and has also worked at Harvard ’ s Peabody Museum . Says Vice President of Preservation & Facilities Bill Barry , “ Natalie ’ s hiring is one of the critical first steps of a carefully planned evolution of our department , directly resulting from the Preservation Initiative . Her planning skills are essential to our work , and she participates in hands-on conservation when necessary .”
Security Supervisor Willie Torres won the President ’ s Award for outstanding service at the staff holiday party in December . Willie has been at Mount Auburn since 1989 and worked on the grass crew , as a mason , and as a security guard . Both his father and grandfather also worked at Mount Auburn . Willie lives in Boston ’ s South End , with his wife Maria ; they have four children , Wilmarie , Ileana , William , Jr ., and Luis .
Mount Auburn Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration / Chief Financial Officer Mike Albano won a special President ’ s Award for superior service this past year . Mike became a Mount Auburn employee nine years ago and has numerous major accomplishments to his credit . Mike lives in Watertown , MA , with his wife Diane and their teenaged sons , Eric and Adam .
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