WHS Exec Director Susan Gold Leaving

Westport, CT - Susan Gold is leaving Westport after 10 years as Executive Director of the Westport Historical Society.  She will be moving to a home she has in Naples, FL sometime this winter.  In 2004, Susan Gold joined Westport Historical Society as Education Director and became Executive Director in 2007.  Her legacy is an organization that has become a vibrant cultural center -- and is filled with her friends and admirers.

Bob Mitchell, current President of the Board says, “Susan has given her all for WHS. She’ll be missed by us and the community. We will do our best to live up to her legacy.”

Prior to coming to WHS, Gold was the Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator at the Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk from 2000-2002. Prior to that, she worked free-lance in public relations as well as a free-lance administrator for the Westport Arts Center, WSHU Radio, John Franklin Public Relations and Hank Weisinger, local author and national speaker on emotional intelligence.

History and non-profits are just 2 of Gold's passions. The Ithaca College grad (with masters from Cornell University) is an avid swimmer, hiker and kayaker.  Gold has run 15 marathons as an elite runner -- including a personal best of 3:09 in the prestigious New York Marathon. She was also a competitive triathlete; and competed in the Timberman Half Ironman in 2007. Sue has been teaching Yoga since 2008 at the New Canaan YMCA. She is also currently teaching at The Mission in Southport for cancer survivors.  She has offered a free thirty-minute Qi (Chi) Gong community class at lunchtime on the WHS lawn and Veterans Green for the past five years (donations go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as Susan is a cancer survivor herself).  WHS board member Leigh Gage calls Gold "a bundle of energy.”

Susan has always considered herself as a ‘producer” at WHS. She feels the success of WHS is because of the talented people who live in this community.  Former president Ed Gerber adds, "Very effectively, Susan told me of the work of the WHS, and how she thought I could help based on my enthusiasm for history and historic preservation. She reeled me in, and I thank her for it!"

She executed a popular program of tours called “Destination Westport” started by Allen and Barbara Raymond in 2007. These tours include mostly walking tours but also many kayak tours. She started the popular Coffeehouse at the Wheelers with Suzanne Sheridan, a singer songwriter.  Since her first job here in Education; she invited many local celebrities in the performing arts, visual arts and literary arts to share their craft with the kids and adults at WHS.

Past president Joni Andrews calls Gold "dedicated, resourceful, and a tireless promoter  of all things related to WHS -- especially children's programs, fundraising events and exhibits. She has served us as our gracious and smiling face to the community, and will be sorely missed by us all."

 
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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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