STEPHEN VAN CORTLANDT WILBERDING

A Leading Philanthropist And Decorated Veteran

Stephen Van Cortlandt Wilberding was a tremendous supporter of not only The Ringling but also of the Sarasota community as a whole. His memory will be cherished for years to come as a patron and a dear friend of The Ringling whose tireless dedication will never be forgotten.

Following his retirement from international investment banking in 1999, Wilberding relocated to Sarasota and became an active and passionate philanthropist. Early on in his involvement with The Ringling, he established The Steve and Stevie Wilberding Endowment which helped support major exhibitions including 2012’s Paolo Veronese: A Master and His Workshop in Renaissance Venice and 2014’s Bandits, Beauties and Beggars: The Etchings of Salvator Rosa

In 2009 The Ringling received a wonderful gift of Turkomen jewelry from Wilberding. The approximately 80 pieces of exceptional silver and gilt ornaments from the tribes of

Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan include clothing clasps, bracelets, breastplate pendants, and headdress ornaments. This rare and distinctive collection of folk jewelry was featured in a Ringling exhibition in 2011 that traveled to several museums. A selection of these magnificent objects is now on view in the Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art.

Steven High reflected, “Stephen Wilberding’s presence will be felt at The Ringling for many years to come. His generosity, selflessness, brilliance, and courage made him a remarkable man.”