FAIRFIELD, CT – The Fairfield Museum’s newly elected Board met recently to plan for an exciting year ahead. Two new Board members, John Donovan and Joyce Hergenhan, were in attendance and the new Board President, John Herzog, led the meeting.
John Donovan has lived in Southport since 2003. His non-profit activities have included being on the Board of Pequot Yacht Club (2008-2010), a member of the RTM representing Southport (2013-2015), Fintech Advisory Board to the World Economic Forum (2015), Southport Conservancy (2014-Present) and now joining the Board of the Fairfield Museum and History Center. John’s professional career has been focused around the Financial Services Industry.
Joyce Hergenhan of Fairfield is the retired vice president for communications at GE, and the retired president of the GE Foundation. She is on the Board of Trustees at Southport Congregational Church and serves or has served on the boards of Syracuse University, Connecticut Audubon, Westport Country Playhouse, the Inner City Foundation for Education and Charity, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Civilian Advisory Board at USMA (West Point).
Southport resident John Herzog spent his active business career at Herzog Heine Geduld, Inc., which was founded in 1926 by his father. He joined the firm in 1959 and spearheaded its expansion into the third-largest NASDAQ market maker in the country. He retired from the firm as Chairman Emeritus when Merrill Lynch acquired the firm in 2000. This story is told in the book “A Billion to One” published by the Museum of American Finance on June 27, 2017. Mr. Herzog is formerly Chairman of R.M. Smythe & Co., Inc., one of the world’s premier auction houses, specializing in antique stocks and bonds, banknotes, coins, autographs and photographs. In 1988, Mr. Herzog founded the Museum of American Finance, donating part of his extensive collection of financial memorabilia to the Museum. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. A graduate of Cornell and New York University Stern School, he is a former member of the NYU Stern School Board of Overseers; president of the Board of the Fairfield Museum, and a member of the American Antiquarian Society, Grolier Club, Down Town Association and the Union League Club in New York. He is Honorary Chair of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, and member of the board of the Pequot Library, Southport, CT. Mr. Herzog is also a Trustee Emeritus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Lynchburg, VA, and was a member of the board of regents of Long Island College Hospital. He is a holder of the Ellis Island Medal.
“The Fairfield Museum is so fortunate to have a dedicated and skilled Board to help lead us into the next decade of service to our community,” noted Museum executive director Michael Jehle. “We have an exciting year ahead!”
PHOTO: New Fairfield Museum Board members (left to right) John Donovan and Joyce Hergenhan with new Board President John Herzog.