In this season of gratitude and giving we are thankful for our community, and we invite you to join us in making a philanthropic gift to the Museum now.
We have a large line up of lectures, concerts, family programs, and puppet performances ahead for every age visitor. All donations to the Museum help sustain these educational programs.
Meet the Museum’s Board of Directors!
John Darack has been involved with the Larz Anderson Auto Museum for many years, but he got his start like many others: he attended a lawn event with his father.
What is another way we can power our cars if we can’t use electricity or gas? In this issue, we find out!
Joe Freeman has a long tradition of supporting the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. A well-known vintage racer and racing historian, he first became involved as a consultant, lending his expertise for an exhibit on vintage racing.
Many people first become aware of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum through the Lawn Events. The same could be said of Mark Dolan,* who had visited occasionally for Lawn Events since the early 2000s
Anyone who has attended a few Lawn Events at the Museum would recognize Wes Wong. He’s one of the longest-serving Larz Anderson volunteers, and he’s been a fixture at these events for more than a decade.
Although he has considered himself an automotive enthusiast since the age of twelve, Berg did not become aware of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum while searching for a summer gig. PAGE 26
Whether it’s an enthusiast that sees the Museum as the hub of their passion, or a historian who recognizes and appreciates the Carriage House for its significance, there are so many reasons to support the Larz Anderson Auto Museum
We are deeply grateful to our community of donors, whose support keeps the Larz Anderson Auto Museum viable and vibrant. PAGE 32
MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS
Meet the staff who makes UpShift possible!
Did you know that the inspiration for the Larz Anderson Auto Museum grew out of a Sunday tradition started by Larz and Isabel Anderson? They opened the doors of their carriage house to the community and shared their amazing collection of cars with the public.
Our Museum continues the Andersons’ legacy by maintaining their historic car collection - America’s oldest - and inviting others to share in all the carriage house has to offer. Today, this includes a spectacular new exhibit of rolling Italian “masterpieces,” new educational and family programs, informative community speakers, entertaining cultural concerts, and events for car enthusiasts of all ages.
Our exhibits and programming are a testament to the support of our members, donors, volunteers, and visitors, whose enthusiasm and participation keep the Larz Anderson Auto Museum viable and vibrant.
In this season of gratitude and giving we are thankful for our community, and we invite you to join us in making a philanthropic gift to the Museum now. Your support will allow us to steward the Andersons’ beloved collection, and to embrace the spirit of the carriage house as a cultural hub of education, entertainment, and community engagement.
Thank you for being a part of our community, and for considering a gift. We hope to see you at the Museum in the new year.
With best wishes for the holiday season,
Norty R. Knox Jr. Sheldon Steele President Executive Director
As we look towards the New England winter upon us, let us fill our hours with opportunities for growth, connection, and enjoyment at the Museum. We have a large lineup of lectures, concerts, family programs, and puppet performances ahead for every age visitor. All donations to the Museum help sustain these educational programs. Each gift both large and small allows us to fulfill our commitment to provide enriching experiences through every season. Here is a look into the conception of a few of the new offerings you can partake in during this snowy season.
The Carriage House Cultural Concert Series was conceived in the desire to connect to the many diverse communities surrounding the Museum. We created a series of concerts that are responsive to the community by celebrating the rich and varied people in and around Boston. These concerts open doors to different cultures through the language of music. Join us for a transformative musical experience in the main gallery of the Museum.
Family Programs were born out of a hope to cultivate the next generation of car enthusiasts. The program offers a mini tour, a children’s story, and a STEAM project. All programs are inspired by the Museum’s collection. These mornings allow children and caregivers to connect over their mutual love of cars and the Museum. Bring your kids or grandkids and have fun.
“WINTER, A LINGERING SEASON, IS A TIME TO GATHER GOLDEN MOMENTS, EMBARK UPON A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, AND ENJOY EVERY IDLE HOUR.” -JOHN BOSWELL
AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE NEW ENGLAND WINTER UPON US, LET US FILL OUR HOURS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, CONNECTION, AND ENJOYMENT AT THE MUSEUM.
How-To Tuesday provides a deeper look into the practicality of car restoration, maintenance, management, and enjoyment. If you are hankering to learn more, ask more, and understand more make sure to attend one of the How-to Tuesdays throughout the year.
DECEMBER
Thu. Dec. 1, 2022 • 7pm Speaker Series Boost! Roger Bailey’s Extraordinary Motor Racing Career with Gordon Kirby
Sun. Dec. 4, 2022 • 1pm Concert Series Klezmer Music with Ezekiel’s Wheels
Tue. Dec. 6, 2022 • 7pm Speaker Series
The Rose Kennedy Greenway Past, Present and Future
Sat. Dec. 10, 2022 • 9am Family Program Hard Working Horse Drawn Carriages
JANUARY
Tue. Jan. 10, 2023 • 7pm Speaker Series Innovations and Inventions Born in Brookline with President of Brookline Historical Society, Ken Liss
Sat. Jan. 14, 2023 • 9am Family Program Playful Paper Airplanes
Thu., Jan. 19, 2023 • 7pm Speaker Series Real-World Options for Low-impact Cars with MIT Professor, John Heywood
Fri. Jan. 27, 2023 • 8pm Concert Series Pacific Marimba
FEBRUARY
Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 • 9am Family Program Rubber Band Racer Car! Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 • 2pm Speaker Series From High Tea to a Medley of Stories with Anthony Sammarco (Tea and Scones will be served at this lecture)
Sun. Feb. 19, 2023 • 11:30am Open House Family Day With story hour, art making and Puppet Performance with Anna Sobel’s “Race Cars”
Left & top: Eastern Woodlands Concert Middle: Ezekiel’s Wheels Concert Bottom: Family Program
CHRIS BENVIE
Chris serves as Director of Marketing for the McGovern Automotive Group, which operates 25 dealerships throughout New England. Before that, he was Director of Sales for AutoTrader.com and Kelley Blue Book, the iconic vehicle valuation and automotive research company that is recognized by both consumers and the automotive industry. Chris joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 after serving as a Corporator for five years. He co-founded the Museum’s popular “Cars and Coffee” gatherings and can be found each year coordinating “Tutto Italiano,” the Museum’s legendary lawn show of Italian cars. Chris resides in Needham and when he isn’t working, setting coast-to-coast cannonball records, or playing with cars, he enjoys spending time with his wife Narine, and their young daughter Mila.
Denis has more than 35 years of experience in institutional advancement working with healthcare, academic and cultural organizations. He got his start writing grant proposals and a capital campaign feasibility study in graduate school. Denis went on to hold positions at Boston University, the Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Mount Auburn Hospital. In addition to serving as a trustee of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Denis is an overseer of Mount Auburn Hospital and past Director of the Milton Library Foundation. Denis resides in Milton with his wife Ana. A fan of sportscars from an early age, Denis passed the “car bug” to his son Rikky. The two of them competed together in autocrosses and track events using Denis’ modified ’94 Miata.
John is an attorney who is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. He currently serves as president of the Charles River Mortgage Company, a commercial and multifamily lender and finance provider. He began his professional career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. John is a past president of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum and has served on the boards of other non-profit organizations, including the MSPCA/Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Ron Burton Training Village, Deutsches Altenheim nursing home and assisted living facility, and the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition. John resides in Needham with his wife Peggy.
At age 13, John became the youngest member of the Larz Anderson Museum. Soon after, he purchased his first car, a Model A Ford, for $125 from an ad on the Museum’s bulletin board. Over time, John joined various Museum committees, eventually serving two terms as President of the Board of Trustees. John sees the Anderson car collection and Carriage House as uniquely original and unmatched in character anywhere else in the collector car world. He takes satisfaction in the preservation and growth of the Museum’s historical and cultural activities and special assets. He is especially interested in the Museum’s programs that appeal to younger people and families. Professionally, John rose to become president of Dirigo Spice Corporation, a food ingredients manufacturer that supplies the food industry with spices, seasonings, rubs, marinades and other specialty items. Now retired, John and his wife Marilyn reside in Wayland and enjoy spending free time in Maine.
Mark brings a non-profit finance background to his role as treasurer at the Museum. His professional career spans more than thirty years in all aspects of healthcare and non-profit research institution finance. He has worked extensively with boards, federal science and audit agencies, academic leaders and faculty, industry sponsors, and major donors. He is currently Senior Consulting Associate at Attain Partners LLC and has recently managed projects for a number of major research universities in New England, New Jersey, and New York. Mark has been a lifelong sportscar and vintage motorcycle enthusiast and has supported and participated in numerous events over the past 20 years at the Museum. He is a member of the BSA Owners Clubs of New England and Southern California, the NPCA, and the Cape Cod British Car Club. He lives with his wife Janice in Quincy. His family, including two grandchildren, live in the Boston area. Mark and his family have attended many events at the Museum over the years.
Joe is an automotive historian, writer, publisher, vintage racer, and car collector. His involvement with the Museum is long and deep, serving as president for several years.. But to simply call Joe a “car guy” would not do him justice. He’s the expert who established the provenance of the Simeone Automotive Foundation’s Duesenberg, one of the three most important racecars in the United States. He’s judged prestigious Concours events all across the country, and is an avid collector who restores and maintains some of the most important race cars in the world. In 2006, he turned his passion for automotive history and racing into a vocation, founding Racemaker Press, preserving decades of automotive racing lore for future generations. Earlier, Joe served in the Peace Corps as a teacher and community developer in Micronesia. When he returned to the US, he served as a grant writer with the anti-poverty organization, Community Progress, then Boston Coordinator and associate Director with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
David has more than 25 years’ experience working for agency, technology, and consulting companies, working with clients on engagements ranging from marketing strategy to technology implementation & operations, and from business case development to organizational change management. He is currently a Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLP and leads the Healthcare practice within Deloitte Digital, where he provides meaningful solutions for healthcare clients in data management, analytics, marketing operations, content creation, digital media, and technology-based engagement platforms. David is a life-long resident of Massachusetts and in his free time enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. In addition to serving as a trustee of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, David serves on the board of the Heritage Museum and Gardens. He is an avid collector of automobiles and enjoys participating in a wide variety of local and national events.
Natalie is a writer and automotive enthusiast living in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences from Wellesley College and took a circuitous route to her current role as Senior Staff Writer at CarGurus. She also has more than 15 years of professional experience in management, customer service, and marketing, as well as volunteer work. Natalie previously served as treasurer of the Johnson String Project, a non-profit organization based in Newton, and she volunteered at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum for several years before joining the board in 2018. As a journalist, Natalie gets to drive the latest and greatest autos, but her heart is in the vintage car world. She loves attending concours, car shows, and other events that bring car people together. She recently purchased her first “collector car,” a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL500, which she is looking forward to bringing to Lawn Events this summer.
Evan is an automotive historian, author and restorer specializing in automobiles built prior to WWII. He serves as a Senior Specialist with Bonhams Auctioneers and is the founder and principal of Historic Vehicle Services restoration shop. In the early 2000s Evan served as Curator of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. During this time he published two books and continues to have a strong involvement with Museums internationally. Evan was selected to author a section of The Stewardship of Historically Significant Automobiles the first book ever published on the subject of preservation. Evan’s restoration/ conservation work primarily focuses on pre-WWI and WW2 vehicles. Historic automobiles he has restored and prepared have received ten awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance including multiple best in Class prizes. Evan is a frequent contributor to a variety of media including a recurring role on televisions Chasing Classic Cars. An avid collector himself with a largely pre-war collection his favorite being his 1928 Bugatti Type 44 roadster.
Bill is a certified financial planner and Senior Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he leads The Keeney Group. His mission is to assist business owners, corporate executives, and high-net-worth families with wealth management strategies. A trustee of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum for many years, Bill helped develop the Museum’s popular Cars and Coffee and MotoTour events. He and his wife Lauren have two children, Dillon and Tyler. In his free time, Bill enjoys spending time with his family, driving his Porsche with the top down, and training for triathlons.
Norty leads the board of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. He has spent his professional life in private investment, most recently owning a number of specialty manufacturing companies in New England. In addition to chairing the Larz Anderson board he is a trustee/director of three organizations in his hometown of Buffalo – a foundation, an art museum and an impact investment fund. He and his wife Vicki live in Dedham and spend their summers in Maine. Their two sons Tripp and Rigby are based in Denver and share their father’s love for fun and distinctive European sports cars.
Tom owned and operated the award-winning Pillar House restaurant, named after the four majestic pillars that adorned the front of the building. In 2001, the Boston landmark closed after nearly half a century of continuous operation as a family business. This gave Tom time to devote to another of his passions: classic automobiles and vintage racing. Recognizing the Museum’s contribution to the history of the automobile, Tom became involved at Larz Anderson Auto Museum in 2002 and joined the Board in 2012. Tom has spearheaded the effort to raise an endowment for the Museum and was instrumental in creating the Anderson Society to recognize leadership supporters. Tom and Nancy Monaghan reside in Weston, and Nancy serves on the Museum’s Board of Advisors.
Mez has called Boston home for over twenty years and lives in the South End with his wife, Mary Ann, and near his three adult children and daughter-in-law. He has over two decades of experience leading engineering teams and projects in biotech, life science, and specialty materials and has degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mez has had a lifelong passion for cars, with a preference for European and Japanese marques from the 1980s and 90s. When not participating in events at Larz Anderson Auto Museum during lawn event season, he enjoys travel, food, soccer, running and Formula 1.
John Darack has been involved with the Larz Anderson Auto Museum for many years, but he got his start like many others: he attended a lawn event with his father.
At age 13, heading home after a baseball game, John noticed some sparks coming from a garage. Curious, he peered in and saw a group of young men working on a hot rod. Bitten by the car bug, John began the search for his own vehicle and soon found a Model A Ford to purchase. John’s father, hesitant about his son’s burgeoning passion for cars, agreed to let him spend $125 of his bar mitzvah money on the Model A as long as he also bought a typewriter—a more practical and useful purchase for his son’s future prospects.
John enjoyed tinkering with the Model A. His goal was to figure out how to get the car back on the road. By the time he was sixteen and received his driver’s license, he drove the Ford to his first lawn event at the Museum. Like many others, intrigued by the collection and events, John kept coming back. He then began volunteering and eventually, philanthropically supporting the Museum. It was during this time that he met and was befriended by Joe Freeman (see article page 21) who asked John to join the Museum’s board of directors. For two terms, John served as president of the Board of Trustees.
“My priorities were to strengthen the Board, and to increase our appeal to an increasingly younger audience whose interest and involvement are critical to our future.”
John adds, “Now having stepped aside from direct executive involvement, I have remained, and will continue to be active in an advisory capacity, as well as an enthusiastic supporter.”
You always feel welcome and there is such a strong sense of community. It’s also exciting to see children taking an interest in science and technology through some of the new programs at the Museum. You can really see the impact of your charitable gifts at Larz Anderson.”
Always looking forward, John and Marilyn have given thought to how they can help the Larz Anderson Auto Museum continue to fulfill its mission now and in the future.
“For many of us who have reached the age when minimum distributions from our IRAs are required, the option to donate to charity through an IRA makes a lot of sense and increases what we can give very significantly. By donating directly from our IRA, we avoid paying taxes on the distributions and enjoy the satisfaction of being able to contribute more to the Museum than if we took the distributions and then wrote a check.”
John and Marilyn have also made provisions in their estate plans to support the Museum.
“Our parents taught us to be charitable—and it feels good! Larz Anderson is important to us and our relationship to the Museum has given us great pleasure and satisfaction over the years.
We hope our contributions will fund educational and cultural programs, and provide our staff with ongoing resources to support and encourage their creativity.’’
Marilyn became involved with the Museum after she and John married, and her enthusiasm now matches John’s. “We love attending events at the Museum,” Marilyn states. “I really enjoy the concerts and lectures.
My priorities were to strengthen the Board, and to increase our appeal to an increasingly younger audience whose interest and involvement are critical to our future.
There are many ways you can support the Larz Anderson Auto Museum today and help secure its future while also receiving certain tax benefits.
A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave a specific item -- such as an automobile -- a specific amount of money, or a percentage of your estate to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. If you have already made provisions for the Museum in your estate plans, please let us know so that we can recognize you.
A gift from your IRA can be beneficial if you are age 72 or older. A direct transfer from your IRA to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum counts toward your required minimum distribution and you avoid paying taxes on the distribution.
A gift of appreciated stock that you’ve held for more than one year can be tax-wise way to give to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. The gift qualifies for a charitable tax deduction for the current value of
the stock, and you pay no capital gains on the increase in value since you acquired it.
It would be our privilege to help you find ways to meet your charitable giving goals. To discuss making a planned gift to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in confidence, please contact: Sheldon Steele, Executive Director at (617) 522-6547, ext. 19, or development@larzanderson.org
Did you know the first electric car was developed around 1832 by an Englishman named Robert Anderson?
He was no relation to the Larz Anderson family, but he loved cars just as Larz and Isabel did!
By the late 1800s, there were as many electric-powered cars on the road as there were gas and steam-powered cars. Electric cars were close to outselling gas-powered cars because they were quiet, easy to drive, and didn’t emit bad-smelling pollutants. The 1908 Bailey Electric Car was one of Isabel Anderson’s favorite cars for many of these reasons. She could also drive it herself without a chauffeur.
What is another way we can power our cars if we can’t use electricity or gas?
Can we use air, smoke or rainwater?
Below are two cars that run on vegetables and chocolate. Yes--that’s right chocolate!”
The Formula 3 racecar can run on vegetable oil and waste chocolate. The car can reach 60 miles per hour in only 2.5 seconds.
The 1963 Chrysler can run on vegetable oil. It cost about $50,000 to make which was really expensive at the time, but it was a first attempt to find an energy solution for American vehicles.
Grab a piece of paper and some colored pencils and design your own alternative fuel-powered car. What will you use to make it drive? What will it look like, will it be big and slow or little and speedy?
Joe Freeman has a long tradition of supporting the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. A well-known vintage racer and racing historian, he first became involved as a consultant, lending his expertise for an exhibit on vintage racing.
DONOR PROFILE WRITER: NATALIE HARRINGTON
There’s a good reason we’re known for the Anderson cars, because they’re extraordinarily important automobiles in their current condition.
He has remained a staunch supporter for some 50 years and estimates that he has held a seat on the Board of Trustees for nearly 40.
When asked what motivates him to give generously to the Museum, Freeman will remind you that while many non-profits’ worthiness is widely taken for granted, auto museums tend to appeal to a narrower crop of donors. “They’re on the low point of the feeding chain of charities,” he says, particularly when compared with causes such as health care, social justice, and children’s wellbeing.
This acknowledgement is in no way a suggestion that the Museum might be less deserving of philanthropy, however. With his automotive expertise and his several decades of intimate familiarity with the inner workings of the organization, Freeman knows better than most the unique value that the Larz Anderson Auto Museum offers the world.
For one thing, “We have such a rare, such a wonderful core collection.”
Freeman chairs the Collections Committee of the Board, which is responsible for maintaining the Anderson Collection of original automobiles.
“There’s a good reason we’re known for the Anderson cars, because they’re extraordinarily important automobiles in their current condition. A lot of people say they’re ‘scruffy’—well, the reality is that that scruffiness is something that another car museum would love to have, because they don’t have anything like that. They have bright, shiny,
beautiful things, but the DNA of those cars is long gone.” The Anderson Collection is a rarity for having adhered over the last century to the philosophy which has only recently gained widespread traction in the automotive world; that of “preservation over restoration.”
“You get somebody who really knows old cars, and who knows the situation in the field at the moment, and they’ll come in and say, ‘My God, these are fabulous, don’t touch them.’”
Preservation does not, of course, render financial outlay irrelevant. “Conserve” and “preserve” are the watchwords, and neither can be executed inexpertly or without the proper resources. Although Freeman notes that “restraint is our primary concern” when it comes to treatment of the Anderson Collection cars, ultimately, “it’s very important we guard their original nature.”
That is one of his motivations for continuing to support the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, but it’s not the only. “First and foremost is keeping the doors open and keeping the activities alive,” he says. Just like those other charities that may find more ready sympathy among the general public, the Museum relies on donors to fund its work. “We perform a lot of different services, and we are a community resource.” He points to the Museum’s Lawn Events, exhibits, and educational programming as a few of its many important contributions to the automotive and larger Brookline communities.
“Those are the reasons that I give, and I feel strongly about it, and have given for a long time.”
Many people first become aware of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum through the Lawn Events. The same could be said of Mark Dolan,* who had visited occasionally for Lawn Events since the early 2000s, even entering his own Alfa Romeo into Tutto Italiano.
“A Lawn Event might inspire one person to become a member, while it might be a Carriage House Cultural Concert—or even a private function—that motivates another to return. Flexible funding plays a critical role in such programming by making dollars available wherever they are needed most.
For him, it was a couple of private functions that first made him feel truly connected with the organization.
In 2011, a charity that supports families with children undergoing cancer treatment held a fundraiser at the Museum. Dolan attended as a board member of the charity.
“It made me realize that the Larz Anderson Museum was not only an important piece of history but also a living, breathing, thriving part of Boston that was very compelling to me,” he says.
Following that experience, Dolan opted to use the Museum as a venue for his own company’s Christmas party. “I realized after these two interactions that the museum was more than just Lawn Events, which really gave it more depth for me.”
In 2020, Dolan started a charitable fund of his own and worked with his family to identify causes that are important to them.
“I saw that the Museum was something that I really wanted to get more involved in,” says Dolan, “and I thought that donating was one way I could get closer to the Museum and understand it better. And the more I did, the more I realized I really liked what I saw.”
Though there are things Dolan loves about the Museum, he is not eager to impose his preferences on anyone else. “I don’t have anything in particular that I feel that I wanted to focus my donation on. I think having unrestricted funds is important to the museum,” he says. He recognizes that the museum
provides value to the community in a number of ways, not just as a repository of historically important automobiles, or a setting for special events, or a hub for enthusiast activity, or a source of education, but as a sum greater than each of those parts—though each is indeed important.
Dolan’s own route to a connection with the Museum illustrates the merit of varied offerings. A Lawn Event might inspire one person to become a member, while it might be a Carriage House Cultural Concert—or even a private function—that motivates another to return. Flexible funding plays a critical role in such programming by making dollars available wherever they are needed most.
Pressed for highlights of his own experience, Dolan offers two. He mentions a fond memory of dancing at the White Lightning Ball back in 2014, and he also notes that “maintaining the history of the Anderson Collection is important to me. I really like the idea that there’s a number of vehicles that are in their original state, which you don’t see a whole lot. There are a lot of museums that really amp up their cars quite a bit and make them look pretty, but I really like the idea that a lot of these cars are survivors that really show their age.”
Ultimately, though, he says “it’s not all about the cars. It’s about the community,” and he is happy to leave the impact of his support up to the Museum’s leadership.
“It’s a well-run organization,” he says.
*Mark Dolan is a pseudonym; this donor prefers to remain anonymous.
Anyone who has attended a few Lawn Events at the Museum would recognize Wes Wong. He’s one of the longest-serving Larz Anderson volunteers, and he’s been a fixture at these events for more than a decade.
VOLUNTEER PROFILE | WRITER: NATALIE HARRINGTON | PHOTOS: JOSH SWEENEY
Anyone who has attended a few Lawn Events at the Museum would recognize Wes Wong. He’s one of the longest-serving Larz Anderson volunteers, and he’s been a fixture at these events for more than a decade.
Wong first encountered the Larz Anderson Auto Museum through his involvement in Yuppie Racing, when the Museum’s Lawn Event Manager and Graphic Designer Jenn Corriveau reached out to YR founders Chris Benvie and Pete Ladas seeking volunteers.
“That’s how I started volunteering, and I haven’t left since. I haven’t lost the interest.”
Wong now volunteers on an as-needed basis, primarily for larger shows. But when he first started, he worked every Sunday event, plus many Saturdays, while still working weekends at his job as well. He would wake up at 6 am, head straight to the Museum, leave by 12, and then work until 2 am. “It was brutal,” he says, yet he maintained that schedule for five years.
What motivated Wong to give his time so generously? “It’s nice to see the car community gathered together. Over the years, you meet new people at these shows, and you look forward to seeing them.”
Asked about his favorite events, Wong acknowledges that Tutto Italiano and German Car Day are popular. Nevertheless, he’d pick Miata Day or Swedish Car Day, where he enjoys “seeing people have so much fun just seeing each other’s cars.”
For those looking to get involved in Lawn Events, Wong’s advice is to “come with an open mind,” ready to learn the ropes of the established successful
formula. And, most importantly, remember that a Lawn Event volunteer/staff position is a visitor service role. “You are representing the Museum,” so while automotive knowledge is not necessary, the ability to work well with other people is.
Wong has found volunteering to be rewarding. “Getting to meet new people in the automotive world, at both a professional and enthusiast level, and creating relationships outside of the Museum” keeps him coming back. And even though it can get stressful at times, he says, “I just never have a bad time there. Car shows are fun.”
The Museum itself has evolved during Wong’s tenure. “When I first started, it was all about preserving the history,” and much emphasis was placed on its status as America’s Oldest Car Collection. Now, he says, the focus is on the community.
“The core of Larz is now primarily the people.”
Gus Berg* first came to the Museum as a volunteer in the spring of last year.
“It was one of those strange turns in life’s path that one doesn’t expect, but it couldn’t be more perfect,” says Berg.
Although he has considered himself an automotive enthusiast since the age of twelve, Berg became aware of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum recently, while searching for a summer opportunity. Meeting with Executive Director Sheldon Steele sold him on the volunteer position—following that discussion, Berg found the role so appealing that he felt it unlikely his application would
be accepted.
“Getting the role was a surprise,” he says, “and what a surprise it has been.”
Since he signed on as a volunteer, Berg has served in several different capacities. He credits the variety with both developing his skillset and helping him feel more confident taking on new challenges. Of all the tasks he’s tackled, Berg says that working Lawn Events is his favorite way to contribute his time.
“I rarely appreciate the prospect of waking up early on a Sunday to work,” he says, “but Lawn Events are the best. The energy is high from the moment we arrive until we wind down.” He adds that debriefing with the crew of staff and fellow volunteers following an event makes him feel like a member of a successful sports team.
Part of what attracted Berg to the role is his strong appreciation for museums: “They teach people about our past and future, connect us to our and others’ cultures, entertain in a healthy way, and inspire the creation of more art.”
“But,” he adds, “Larz Anderson is special even in that light. It’s a center for the car community in our region, and it brings together a huge amount of very disparate sub-communities.”
In particular, Berg appreciates the diversity of the community. He notes that each enthusiast he meets has a different story of what drew them to the hobby.
“Having a place to expand on our specific knowledge areas, as well as gather and share them, is a beautiful thing.”
Though the work can certainly be challenging at times, Berg finds it well worth the effort to support an institution for which he cares deeply.
*Volunteer’s name has been changed
he prefers to remain anonymous.
as
I rarely appreciate the prospect of waking up early on a Sunday to work, he says, but Lawn Events are the best. The energy is high from the moment we arrive until we wind down.
With everything going on in our worlds—family, home, etc—charitable giving might seem like a daunting task, or at least a low priority. But if you have found your passion, and that passion calls the Larz Anderson Auto Museum home…there is always a way to get involved. Whether you volunteer your time (as covered in its own article in this issue), or donate your old car to the Museum, there are many ways to become a valued member of our community.
Sustainable giving is the process of regularly scheduled charitable donations of a fixed amount over a set time period. The benefits are in the name—this is a sustainable model for both the giver and recipient. For the recipient (in this case, the Museum), it allows that organization to plan around a set source of revenue. For the giver, it makes a seemingly sizable contribution an attainable component to your monthly budget.
WHETHER IT’S AN ENTHUSIAST THAT SEES THE MUSEUM AS THE HUB OF THEIR PASSION, OR A HISTORIAN RECOGNIZES AND APPRECIATES THE CARRIAGE HOUSE
SIGNIFICANCE, THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS TO SUPPORT THE LARZ ANDERSON AUTO MUSEUM.
What is Sustainable Giving? Sustainable giving is the process of regularly scheduled charitable donations of a fixed amount over a set time period.
A shining example of how this model works is Natalie Harrington, one of our youngest board members, contributor, and associate editor to UpShift. Natalie’s first experience with the Museum was back in 2010, at a Studebaker Day Lawn Event. “I distinctly remember my first sight of the Anderson Collection cars,” explained Harrington, “and this feeling of seeing where it all started. It felt like a rare and highly privileged glimpse of something remarkable.” Natalie recalls making donations to the Museum even in college, as well as volunteering at Lawn Events. “Even if it was an early morning and I hadn’t really wanted to get out of bed to go volunteer,” continued Natalie, “Once people started arriving with their cars, I always found there was a contagious spirit of joy.”
Natalie’s passion for the automotive genre and its hub here in Brookline led her to eventually become a Museum board member. A key component to her involvement with the Museum is as one of the early members of the Anderson Foundation, a charitable avenue for the Museum rooted in sustainability. According to Natalie, what made the Anderson society so attractive is because you can (as she puts it), “set it and forget it.” Natalie continued, “It’s a really easy way to give that has a disproportionately significant impact on the Museum.”
How is it that a smaller donation made regularly over time can disproportionately benefit a museum? Nonprofits are constantly wrestling with budgets. A reliable, regularly scheduled donation allows a museum to have a certain level of visibility for that budget, which is instrumental in being able to make well-informed decisions for the future. And Natalie has hopes for how that sustainable giving is put to work. “I’d like to see the Museum grow to new heights.” Explains Natalie, “I’d like to see it get the worldwide recognition that I feel it deserves.”
Whether it’s an enthusiast that sees the Museum as the hub of their passion, or a historian who recognizes and appreciates the Carriage House for its significance, there are so many reasons to support the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. For Natalie Harrington, there is a deep connection that nurtures her passions. In her own words, there is something powerful that comes from, “The sense of contributing to something that I find important but that I wouldn’t know how to address or execute on my own.” She concludes, “It’s a way of acting on a purpose that I don’t have the power to achieve, at least not readily, right now.”
Through her generous bequest, Isabel Anderson initiated what is now regarded as one of the most significant collections of historic cars in the Western Hemisphere. Since 1949, scores of other individuals have contributed in various ways to build the Larz Anderson Auto Museum into a vibrant cultural and educational institution that attracts and serves enthusiasts of all ages.
Nile & Lee Albright Clint Allen* Anonymous (3) Safi & Tiffany Barqawi
The Benvie Family Robert & Maryann Brugnoli Denis Bustin John Carberry Stace & Jill Caseria Thomas Cunningham Lloyd Dahmen Mark & Janice Daniel John & Marilyn Darack
The Davis Family Fund Richard & Eileen DeVito Francis Domohoski* Joseph Freeman Richard Fryberger John Gately Stefan M. Gavell
The Geisinger Family Nathanael Greene
The Gutierrez Family Natalie Harrington Neal Heffron Brett Hershey Van Horneff
Peggy & Michael Iandoli Michael Kaleel & Linda Mullen Bill & Lauren Keeney Northrup R. Knox, Jr. Tom Larsen & Nancy Monaghan Robert & Elaine Lawrence Selina Little Kenneth* & Mary Alice Loring Jack Memishian & Elaine Burns Miller Motorcars, Inc. H. Bradlee Perry Mary Ann & Mez Polad George Rowland* A. Kim Saal Ronald Savenor Jean S. & Frederic A.* Sharf Gilbert L. Steward, Jr.* Rosamond Value Elizabeth & Paul* Wuori
WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY OF DONORS, WHOSE SUPPORT KEEPS THE LARZ ANDERSON AUTO MUSEUM VIABLE AND VIBRANT. THE ANDERSON SOCIETY RECOGNIZES THE CUMULATIVE LIFETIME SUPPORT OF OUR LEADERSHIP DONORS.
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is grateful to the following individuals and organizations that made a philanthropic gift to the Museum between December 1, 2021 - November 30, 2022
Daniel Abarr
Alexander & Livia Aber
Patrick Ahearn
Michael & Barbara Alavi
Paul Aldrich
Gabriel Alves Lima Chris & Kari Anderson
Coleman Anderson Malen Anderson
Anonymous Leo Auclair
Thomas Austin Steven Bader Eric Balboni
Stephen Barlow & Paul Moreno
Myron Barnett Scott Barton Andrew Bass Michael Belkin Andrew Bender Jennifer Bender
Michael Bentinck-Smith
The Benvie Family Alex Berger
Anker Berg-Sonne
Robert Berman
Stewart Berry
Roy & Karen Bertalotto
Paul & Linda Bicknell
Christine Bielakowski
Ray & Peggy Binder
Victor Bishara
Dale Boch
Jeffrey & Sharon Bolduc
Darrin Bono
Louise Borchert
Drew & Francie Bossman
James Bradley Herman Branco
David Briggs
David Brigham
Leo Brissette
Marc & Laurie Brown Erik Brown Robert & Maryann Brugnoli Elliott Brundage
Kenneth & Barbara Buntrock Denis Bustin Ryan Buzzanca Brendan Cahill Arthur Cameron Andrew & Andrea Carleton Keith Carlson Mario Carnevale
Stuart & Caren Carpenter Angelo Caruso Stace & Jill Caseria Roger Cassin Frank Castle Steven Cataldo
Joseph & Marie Cauteruccio Joshua Cayea Stephen Chaletzky Susan Chandler
Andres Chaparro Reid Chapman Philip Cherkas
Winston Chou & Donna Castro Anthony Cigliano Robert Ciocca
David Clauss
Thomas Clifford Scott Cohen Clement Cole & Margaret Marshall Colin Connor William Cooney Michael Coppe
Joel Coran
James & Beth Cosgrove
Matthew Cost Maurice Cozzo James Crandall Charles Cullen Ceth Custer James Cypher Joseph Dagostino Lloyd Dahmen Mark Dalaklis Mark & Janice Daniel Alfred Daniels
John & Marilyn Darack
The Davis Family Fund
Gary Dayton Mike & Michelle Del Tergo Jess & Kristin Delaney Martin Deluga Nicholas DeSimone Nelson & Andrea DesJardins John & Robin Devereux Stephen DiOrio Charles Dolan Kevin Donovan Edward Dougherty Robert & Monique Doyle Michael Dube James Duffley Jason Duncan Charles Dunn Paul Dutton William Earon Michael Eisenberg Stephen Ellis William Ellis Mark Emerson Robert & Crystal H. English John & Janet Erb
Peter Evans
Jeffrey Farash
Steven Feinberg
Anthony Fernandez
Anthony Ferraro
Robert & Barbara Fiacco
James Fitzgerald John Fitzmaurice
Sheri Flagler
Paul & Leslie Flaherty
Thomas Foley Ven & Laura Fonte
Tina Forbes & Talbot Lovering Charlie & Sarah Forbes
Stuart Forer
The Foster Family Charitable Fund
William Fralick
Robert Franklin Richard Frantz
Joseph Freeman Kenneth Freiner Harry Friedman Richard Friedman Richard Fryberger Roger Fuller
Cynthia Furman
Jeffrey Gagnon Thomas Gardella John Gately Stefan Gavell Connor Gay Ara Gechijian
The Geisinger Family James Georges
Terri Gerber
David Gilbert
Joseph Gildea Kenneth Goldman Jeffrey Goldstein Stella Gould
Eric & Lisa Green
Nathanael Greene
Joshua Greenson
James Greer
Gary Grenier
Peter Grenier
Laurence Guelfo
Eduardo Guerrero
Marie Gunnerson
The Gutierrez Family
Frederick Gutierrez Chris Hallgren
Mark Halliday
Samuel Hallowell
Fredric Hammerle G. Robert Hampson Rick & Louise Hanmore
Paul Harden Natalie Harrington Dylan Hayre Neal Heffron Carl Helmetag Michael Henriksen Asher Herrmann
Brett Hershey Dave Higginbothom Carl & Mary Higginson Joseph Hill Fred Hilton Max Hobart Martin Hoffman Daniel Hogan John Hosken John Howard Jason Hui Christopher Hurley Duncan Irving Frederick Jackson Gabriel Jackson John James John Jameson Kevin Janesch Alexander Jarvie Brian Johnson Michael Kaleel & Linda Mullen Bill & Lauren Keeney Dennis Kelly David & Madelyn King Gregory Kirby Alex Klavsyuk Bruce & Diane Kline Armen Knaian Northrup R. Knox, Jr. Tripp Knox Roy Kring Mohandass Kuppusamy Glenn Kurkjian Daniel Kuzmak John Lannon Robert Larsen Tom Larsen & Nancy Monaghan Jack Larson Cosmin Laslau Mike Lastella Bradley Lauzze Donald Law
Frank Leandro Charles Learoyd Kenneth Lemoine Braden Levesque Shengqi Li Richard Lichoulas John Linderman Laurence Linse David Lord Antonio & Barbara Lorusso Salim & Christy Lotuff Carl Luck Liam Lydon Stanton Lyman Griselde Lyman Tim Lynch Wayne Mackie Richard MacKoul Robert & Ann Macone Michael Maffeo Brian Mahan Doug Maloof Rashka Manning Ross George Manoogian Douglas Markley William & Katherine Marohn Kyle Martin Nathan Matsubara Kyle McCarthy Samuel McGraw Dennis McGurk Carol McKeen Mark McPherson Jesus Mendez
The Michael Family David Michael Matthew Michaels James Miga Carlos & Suzanne Mitus-Uribe Stephen Moody Keith Morgan Rick Morgano Victor Morse Adam Mundt Bruce Murray John Murray Luckens Narcisse Robert Nardella Jake Nervi Andrew Newton Russell Newton William Nichtern John Nicosia
Larry Nyborn
John O’Connor
Grace & Scott Offen
Udaiy & Sarah Ogirala
Jeff O’Neil
Matthew O’Reilly
Ryan O’Sullivan
David & Laurie Otten
Edward Owen
Thomas Owen
Richard C. Paine, Jr. Trust
Annette Papanikolaou
Robert Pardo
Sawyer Parks Charitable Foundation
Michael Patnode
Roger Pearson
Max Peckler
Gary Penniman
Michael Pepi
Robert Perillo
Robert Perron
Stephen Perry
Kenneth Peterson
Andrew Pickett
Mary Ann & Mez Polad
Alex Pond
Keith Porges
Jackson Poulson
Garry & Tereza Prime
Jeffrey Pritchard
Andrew Psilakis
Nathaniel Pulsifer
Darren Racht
Anthony & Elizabeth Rainone
Michael Rauworth
Rayteam, Inc.
Thomas Rebello
Mark Reich
David Reilly
George & Elizabeth Reilly
RELX, Inc.
Peter Rhoten
Michael Ricciardi
William Richard
Luis Rodriguez
Rogelio Rodriguez Cuevas
Richard & Jean Roketentz
Stephen Rossi William Rousseau
Christian Rubbert
A. Kim Saal
Gary Sable
Andrew Saletnik
William Sand
Giovanni and Maria Luisa Saraceni
Elaine Savage & Mark Schreiner
Ronald Savenor
F. Dennis Saylor
Mark Scerra
James Schooler
Daniel Scully
Elizabeth Seitz & Jorge AbellasMartin
David Shein
Kevin Sherman
Steven Sicklick
Greg Slama
Jonathan Smith
Stephen Smith
Paul & Jacqueline Soares
Gary Southworth
Alice Speck
Derek St. Amand
Marcel & Ana St. Germain
Elliot Steinberg
William Strachman
Katharine Sturgis
Philip & Tracy Sullivan
David Swider
Richard Taber
Joseph Tagliente
Mark Terranova
Arthur & Teresa Thomas Jesse & Amy Thompson
Boyd Thompson
James Thompson
Carmine Tomas
William Trask
William & Andrea Traut
Derek Trelstad
Ralph & Liela Trepanier
Thomas Trykowski
Valerie Uber
Lois Vandekopple-Smith
Robert Varney
Rosamond Vaule
Sterling & Deb Vernon
Steven Volante
Max von der Heydt
Christopher Vournakis
Sterling Wall
Shane Walsh
Christopher Waring
Warren Wein
Benjamin Weinstein
Edwin Wells
Zachary Wentworth
George Wildman
Elden Willis Jerrold Winful Paul Wuori* Stanley Yamane Kan Yao Chizhou Yao Lee Yee
Every effort has been made to accurately recognize those who have generously supported the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. If we have omitted or incorrectly recorded a name, we sincerely apologize and ask that you contact us at 617-522-6547 or development@ larzanderson.org.
From open-wheel racecars to specialty off-road vehicles, George Kennedy has driven it all. A career automotive journalist, George has been a contributor, editor, and/or producer at some of the most respected publications and outlets, including Consumer Reports, Boston Magazine, Autoblog.com, and Hemmings Classic Wheels. He helped start Cartender, an automotive marketing technology company, and is currently a contributor to the Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report. He is also the YouTube host for CarGurus.com. Kennedy brings this breadth of knowledge and experience in compelling automotive content to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.
Every weekend as a young girl Jenn would accompany her “Car Guy” dad to Car Events around New England. So, it is only natural that her path would eventually lead to the Larz Anderson Museum where her primary work would become the Lawn Events Manager. While in college, Jenn studied Graphic Design. She found that she had a real passion for it in all of its forms. From photography, logos, branding to designing brochures or even crafting her own Wedding Invitations – Jenn loves to organize, curate ideas and make things pop! Her unique skill set and position at the Museum allows her to play an integral and important role in shaping the Museum’s image and message.
Abby, the new Education Manager at LAAM finds the beauty and sculptural aspects of car design fascinating. She holds a master’s degree in art education from Lesley University and a master’s degree in curriculum development from Caldwell University. Abby served for many years as Manager of Family Programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where she curated curriculum, programs, and interpretation for visitors. Abby believes in looking at museum objects through multiple lenses in hopes of engaging as many visitors as possible.
Natalie Harrington is a Boston-based motorcyclist, writer, and auto enthusiast. Raised in Syracuse, NY, and Bucks County, PA, Natalie relocated to Massachusetts in 2009 following her graduation from Wellesley College. She has been a LAAM member and volunteer ever since. More than any one marque or vintage, Natalie appreciates the joy and passion she sees in the car community. She believes there is no one right way to be a car person and loves that LAAM embodies that sentiment with its diverse community, varied collection, and long history of sharing its treasures with the world around it. Natalie recently earned a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University and hopes to apply that to her role as a member of the Museum’s board. She loves attending car shows and races and visiting auto museums around the world, but thinks that LAAM’s unique community and collection top them all. She looks forward to spreading the word.
Denis has more than 35 years of experience in institutional advancement working with healthcare, academic and cultural organizations. He got his start writing grant proposals and a capital campaign feasibility study in graduate school. Denis went on to hold positions at Boston University, the Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Mount Auburn Hospital. In addition to serving as a trustee of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Denis is an overseer of Mount Auburn Hospital and past Director of the Milton Library Foundation. Denis resides in Milton with his wife Ana. A fan of sportscars from an early age, Denis passed the “car bug” to his son Rikky. The two of them competed together in autocrosses and track events using Denis’ modified ’94 Miata.
PHOTO: ETHAN PELLEGRINO | MAGAZINE TEMPLATE BASED ON DESIGN FROM LUUQAS DESIGN
