LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Elizabeth Egbert posthumously upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Staten Island
Museum on May 9, 2015

WHEREAS, From time to time, this Legislative Body takes note of certain
individuals that it wishes to recognize for having given of their time
and energies to serve the best interests of their communities and to
publicly acknowledge their service; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Elizabeth Egbert posthumously upon the occasion of her designation for
special recognition by the Staten Island Museum, at its Annual Spring
Gala, on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at The Hilton's Above Ballroom, Staten
Island, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born in West Virginia, Elizabeth Egbert was raised in both
Long Island and Connecticut; in the 1960s, she established her art
career in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City; and
WHEREAS, In 1967, Elizabeth Egbert received her bachelor's degree,
magna cum laude, from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachu-
setts; three years later, she obtained her Master's degree in Sculpture
from New York University, Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Egbert then went on to further her education by
completing the Executive Level program of the Institute for Not-for-Pro-
fit Management at Columbia University's Business School, New York City;
and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Egbert always had an ardent passion for the arts;
she was skilled in many facets of art, including sculpture, outdoor
public art, printmaking and drawing; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable woman has exhibited her art collection at
many venues, including Socrates Sculpture Park, Lincoln Center Gallery,
the American Craft Museum, the Newhouse Gallery at Snug Harbor Cultural
Center & Botanical Garden, the Sculpture Center, and the OIA, as well as
SOHO20 Gallery; and
WHEREAS, Some of Elizabeth Egbert's well-known public works are Monkey
Puzzle with The Philadelphia Art Alliance, Desert Pergola, Broadway
Starship with Art in the Park; many other pieces are displayed at
Collect Pond Park, as well as numerous gallery and sculpture commissions
and exhibitions; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Egbert was a devoted Art Teacher at several univer-
sities, Hunter College, Manhattan, the College of the Arts, Philadelp-
hia, the College of Mount St. Vincent, the Bronx and New York Universi-
ty, Manhattan; in addition, she taught Pre-Kindergarten art at the 92nd
Y and was a Cofounder of the Visual Arts Program Third Street Music
School Settlement, both in Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Prior to heading the Staten Island Museum, Elizabeth Egbert
held numerous leadership positions at several institutions, including
Director/CEO of the Hudson Valley Children's Museum, Vice President for
Administration for the Staten Island Botanical Garden, Assistant Direc-
tor of the Staten Island Children's Museum, and Interim Director of the
Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art at Snug Harbor, as well as Profes-
sor of Sculpture at the Philadelphia University of the Arts; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Elizabeth Egbert became the President/CEO of the
Staten Island Museum; under her luminous leadership, the museum was
transformed into one of New York City's most engaging cultural entities;
the institution earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold Certification, continuing the 138 year-old museum's commit-
ment to the environment; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth Egbert's proudest achievement was the restoration
of the first of two triple landmark buildings at Snug Harbor, opening in
2015; the new museum building will feature exhibitions from the museum's
permanent collection and a venue for exhibitions in the disciplines of
art, natural science and regional history; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Egbert was instrumental in organizing several key
projects at the museum, such as the addition to the museum's permanent
collection, re-housing the art collection, re-locating the history
archives and library, creating a new collections management policy, and
preserving significant art objects; and
WHEREAS, Active in her community, Elizabeth Egbert held the title of
Chair/President of the Board of Directors at the Jacques Marchais Museum
of Tibetan Art; in addition, she served as a member of the Board of
Directors for both the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and the Mud Lane
Society for the Renaissance of Stapleton; and
WHEREAS, Noted artist, sculptor, and community activist, Elizabeth
Egbert of Staten Island, New York died on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at
the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her loving husband of 37 years,
composer Carl Michaelson, one son, Charles (Lauren), a daughter, Ingrid
(Greg), and her three sisters, Louise, Diane, and Margaret, as well as
many cousins, nieces, and nephews, all of whom felt privileged to be a
part of her extraordinary life and rejoiced in her many achievements;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Elizabeth Egbert posthumously upon the occasion of her desig-
nation for special recognition by the Staten Island Museum; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Elizabeth Egbert, and the Staten Island Museum.