MUSEUM NEWS
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has im-
woman to
be appointed executive
During the Zoom tribute, acco-
vice president of Mystic Seaport
lades and reflections from far and
the Museum family at milestones in
her retirement. Funk’s devotion to
tributions as a leader, her trusted
social-distancing
Such
the Museum. One of the milestones
and friend, and her dedication to
recent drive-by parade on the Mu-
construction of the schooner Amis-
Chairman
tribute, attended by hundreds of
development of the accompanying
seum “share the same DNA.”
who gathered to honor the distin-
played a central role in planning
nisced about unauthorized climbs
ecutive vice president and chief op-
technology” at the Museum, plant-
W. Morgan under cover of darkness
after 40 years of dedicated service
become the Mystic Seaport for Ed-
Funk’s association with the Mu-
ing virtual museum. She devoted
pacted every aspect of our lives, in-
wide
characterized
Funk’s
con-
cluding how we honor members of
Museum, a position she held until
their lives during this time of strict
experiential learning grew along with
presence as a colleague, mentor,
was the case with the Museum’s
of her career was the Museum’s
the Museum’s core values. Board
seum grounds and a virtual farewell
tad in the Preservation Shipyard and
that Funk and Mystic Seaport Mu-
Museum staff, friends, and family,
website
low
guished career of Susan Funk, ex-
the earliest iterations of “education
to the crow’s nest of the Charles
erating officer, who retired in June
ing the seeds for what would later
and former staff recalled long-ago
ucators website and the still-evolv-
Fisher’s Island, fortified by beer.
herself to three strategic planning
rector of the Williams-Mystic Mar-
1977. In fact, she was the very first
ing the north end of the Museum
ed how Susan Stucke, a junior and
grounds due to her father’s urging
vision with the Thompson Exhibi-
College, learned about a new study-
protocols.
to the Museum.
seum began with the inaugural class
Exploring
Amistad.
of the Williams-Mystic Program in
processes,
member of the class to arrive on the
grounds and the fulfillment of that
that she be punctual. This was the
tion Building and the Collins Gallery.
first of many “firsts” for Funk. She was the first Williams-Mystic alum to join the program’s staff, the first
to become a full-time staff member at the Museum, the first president of
the Williams-Mystic Alumni Council, and the first recipient of the Susan
Stucke Funk Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1997. Funk was an
early and tireless advocate behind
the Campaign for Williams-Mystic, which culminated in the construc-
tion of the James T. Carlton Marine Science Center and renovation of the student houses.
Funk held a record 12 different
job titles during her years at the Museum. In these various capacities, she came to know the Muse-
um as both student and teacher, leader and guide, captain and mate. She interpreted exhibits, split fish, hoisted sails as a “squaddie,” tried her hand at boatbuilding, chaperoned teens onboard the schoo-
ner Brilliant, went to sea with Williams-Mystic, and participated in the Munson Institute. In perhaps her final “first,” Funk was the first
including
Funk
re-envision-
But of all the projects that bear her mark, the 38th Voyage of the Museum’s whaleship Charles W. Morgan and the suite of public programming that accompanied this epic voyage exemplifies the tenets of her 40-year career. The program was honored with a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman’s Award.
Michael
Hudner
Williams-Mystic
whaleboat
rowing
alums
mused Fel-
remi-
escapades
to
Dr. James T. Carlton, former di-
itime
Studies
Program,
recount-
American History major at Bates
away semester called the Williams
College-Mystic Seaport Program in
American Maritime Studies. Carlton recently located her application, dated January 7, 1977, in the program’s archival admissions files
and read from it during the Zoom tribute. In her application, the 20year old Susan Stucke wrote, “I am interested in pursuing museum
work as a career.” Carlton added, “Clearly, any dictionary definition of ‘focus’ should have Susan’s picture
next to it. While Susan’s friends and colleagues know her as a true poly-
math, few may know that she first planned to major in biology at Bates.
What marine biology lost, Mystic Seaport Museum and Williams-Mystic gained for more than four decades.”
At the close of Funk’s tribute,
Museum President Steve White un-
veiled a photo of the façade of the newly renamed Susan Stucke Funk
Children’s Museum, adorned with a hand-carved wooden sign proudly bearing the building’s new name, in
honor of her extraordinary contributions to this Museum. Claire Calabretta is associate director in the Advancement Department. FALL / WINTER 2020
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