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As the chief preparator at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Museum of Art over the past five decades, José Ribas ’76 has played a pivotal role in building its reputation as one of the leading academic museums in the United States. José retired earlier this spring. It is hard to imagine the Museum of Art without him, though we know the institution will long be the beneficiary of his remarkable career. In recognition of his service, Bryson Brodie ’00 and the Devonwood Foundation have established the José Ribas ’76 Care of Collections Endowment, the proceeds of which will be used to support the stewardship of the Museum’s collections. We appreciate greatly the generosity that led to this new fund and are thrilled that it will be named for someone who has done so much to care for the museum’s collections.

José first arrived on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s campus as a student in the fall of 1972. During his first semester he applied for a job at the BCMA helping curator David Becker ’70. David taught him many of the fine points of museum work and instilled in him a love for the visual arts and museums. After taking a few years away from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ after his graduation in 1976, he returned in 1981 as the BCMA’s preparator.

His accomplishments are many, though the following are especially noteworthy:

• Overseeing the installation of over 800 special exhibitions and installations. We know no one in the museum world who has been involved in so many different projects.
• Helping to organize and set up artworks for literally thousands of class visits to the BCMA.
• Working with BCMA staff, faculty, and students on a daily basis to better understand the collection and its significance.
• Stewarding the storage and care of a collection that numbers today more than 30,000 artworks.
• Playing a lead role in the BCMA’s renovation and expansion in 2005-07, which included the temporary relocation of the collection to an off-site storage facility.
• Helping to develop a new off-site storage facility in Brunswick in 2019 that doubled the BCMA’s storage capacity.

It bears noting that he has also been an incredible mentor to many generations of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ students, who continue to stay in close contact with him, and many of whom have themselves gone on to become leaders in the arts. Through the powerful example he provided with his hard work, his excellence, and his sense of humor, he has continued to open doors into the world of the visual arts for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s remarkable student body.

As so many across campus know, José is a remarkably kind and generous person. He is always willing to assist, regardless of the task, whether it be at the BCMA or at other campus buildings. Throughout the work, José has continually radiated true joy in his work and enthusiasm for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College at large. He has never faltered in his gracefulness and always greets his colleagues with a smile. In a fast-paced environment, he is truly unflappable!

Our deep thanks to José, Bryson, and the Devonwood Foundation. Congratulations!