On April 11, 2013, Morris Arts marked its 40th Anniversary year’s Celebrate the Arts event by paying homage to those individuals who have had a major impact on the organization over the past four decades. Tributes were paid to the late founder Barbara Keefauver (award accepted by her husband Bill), former Executive Director Carolyn Ward, former Board President Richard (Dick) Eger, former Board member/ ongoing Giralda event chairman/logistician David Clair, former Arts in Education Director Bonnie Gardner, and current Board member/graphic designer John Weber. These “movers and shakers” are the giants on whose wide shoulders Morris Arts stands – and it was fitting to honor their dedicated service – and their gifts in time, treasure and talent – which built and sustained Morris Arts over these past 40 years.

Left:  Former Executive Director Carolyn Ward with former founding board member Gay Culin

The event was also an occasion to celebrate the future, introducing this year’s talented graduating high school seniors who won Morris Arts’ two arts scholarships. Actor Rachel Moss, a Morristown resident graduating from the Morristown-Beard School, was awarded the 2013 Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship ($5,000). Industrial designer Daniel Hounsell, a resident of Boonton Township graduating from Mountain Lakes High School, was awarded the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship ($1,250).

The event was sponsored by The MCM Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Nearly 200 members of the arts community shared in this heady and exciting celebration held, for the first time, at a lovely auditorium area on the Novartis campus.

L-R; Board member, graphic designer and awardee John Weber with his daughters; Awardees:  Dick Eger (former President of the Board and current Board member) with Bill Keefauver (husband of late founder Barbara Keefauver); Founding board members Gay Culin with Barbara Moran and her husband Farley.

L-R: Awardees pose with Morris Arts Executive Director Tom Werder (on right in each photo): Paul Mandel, presenter for awardee David Clair; Barbara Reuther, presenter for awardee Bonnie Gardner; Board President Alan Levitan, presenter for awardee Dick Eger; John Weber (with presenter Tom Werder).

L-R: Anne Aronovitch (former Morris Arts Executive Director) presenter for awardee Bill Keefauver and Tom Werder, current Morris Arts Executive Director; Anne Dodd presenter for awardee Carolyn Ward (former Morris Arts Executive Director) and Tom Werder; ColadarciArts Scholarship Winner, Daniel Hounsell; Scholarship Winners Daniel Hounsell (Coladarci) and Rachel Moss (Ehlers); Ehlers Arts Scholarship Winner, Rachel Moss.

The evening concluded with an inspiring performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, by one of Morris Arts’ Local Arts Grantees, the Lakeland Youth Symphony, conducted by Debra Seftel. It was a night to remember!

L-R: Morris Arts Development Director Gina Moran with Anne Aronovitch, former Executive Director; violinists of the Lakeland Youth Symphony; Debra Seftel conducts Lakeland Youth Symphony; Jim Mignone with Board member Cheryl Ellis and Don Smith, a founder of the NJ Hall of Fame.