Brian
A. Alexander, visiting professor of museum administration at the
Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP), whose career was devoted to the
management and leadership of cultural institutions, as well as
mentoring students in this field, passed away unexpectedly on
Wednesday night, November 27, 2024, at Albany Medical Center. A
beloved husband, father, son, brother, brother-in-law and educator,
he was 73.
Born
on March 25, 1951, in Peoria, Ill., Brian was one of four children of
Arnold George Alexander and Norma Jean (Hoffman) Alexander. Raised in
Bellevue, he earned a BA and MA from the University of Illinois
Springfield. He later earned a certificate in museum management from
the University of Colorado.
Brian
worked in the museum field for 48 years, including 13 years at
Shelburne Museum, where he served as assistant director, director and
executive vice president. He was a much-appreciated staff advocate
and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to stabilize and maintain the
museum’s financial base. Brian began his career as a Lincoln
Scholar in Illinois. Among other positions, he served as president
and CEO of the National World War I Museum, president and CEO of the
Historic Annapolis Foundation, museum director for the North Dakota
Heritage Center, and senior curator for the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency. He served on numerous AAM Accreditation Visiting
Committees, as faculty for the Seminar for Historical Administration
and as a consultant for the AAM Museum Assessment Program. He was
also a trustee of the American Association for State and Local
History and a grants reviewer/panelist for IMLS, NEH and the
Massachusetts Cultural Council.
It
gave Brian great joy to mentor the next generation of museum leaders
at CGP, one of the preeminent programs in the country, sharing his
varied professional experiences with students. His adventures
included couriering fine art to major museums in Europe, working with
Sotheby’s, testifying before Congress and advocating for the
museums he served.
Brian
is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Audrey Porsche, of
Cooperstown, N.Y.; children, Sarah Alexander, Mark Alexander, Jason
Alexander, Peter Alexander and wife Anna Landskroener, and Christian
Alexander; mother, Norma Alexander; sister-in-law, Janet Porsche;
brother-in-law, John Hyde; and siblings, Debbie Bateson, George
Alexander, and Brenda Strong and husband Wayne. He was predeceased by
his father, Arnold Alexander.
A
celebration of Brian’s life will be held on Monday, December 9,
2024, at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, 5838 State Route 80,
Cooperstown, NY.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Brian’s memory can be
made to the SUNY Oneonta Foundation to help establish the Brian
Alexander Scholarship in Museum Administration. To donate, go to
simu.oneonta.edu/give and when selecting which fund to support,
choose “other” and type in “Brian Alexander Scholarship.” Or
mail a check payable to the Division of University Advancement,
Alumni Hall, 108 Ravine Pkwy., Oneonta, NY 13820.
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2024.