THANK YOU STEVE! A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Our energetic and always cheerful President, Steve White, is
taking his hard-earned and well-deserved retirement in mid-December. Steve’s 12-year tenure has been remarkable and covered some extremely challenging times for Mystic Seaport Muse-
um. These difficulties were generated by externalities, two major
Black Swan events: the onset of the Great Recession following the
collapse of Lehman Bros. in 2008 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this past winter. Steve helmed the Museum through these challenging periods with vision and creativity with the help
of the talented, passionate, and hardworking team he shaped and led so effectively.
The accomplishments of his tenure, in addition to getting
through the two big storms, are impressive: completion of the Charles W. Morgan restoration and the subsequent 38th Voyage,
the construction of the Thompson Exhibition Building and creation
of the McGraw Gallery Quadrangle, and the curatorial triumph of the J.M.W. Turner exhibition just ahead of the COVID-19 shutdown.
The bookends of Steve’s tenure were heavy-weather seamanship, but most of the voyage was from high to high.
The response to COVID-19 is still underway, but a major oper-
ational restructuring was implemented to accommodate restric-
tive state regulations regarding travel and group gatherings. Innovation and change followed, leveraging more technology and a reduced workforce, the latter a change regretfully but com-
passionately put into place. Steve will be passing the baton with
our institutional assets stronger than ever. All in all, it is an outstanding set of accomplishments and exceptional stewardship of
the Museum. A heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Steve from
the Board and the entire Mystic family! Best wishes for your next stage in life!
Michael S. Hudner Chairman, Board of Trustees
