I feel about guilty missing this, and Harold has just made me feel more guilty: A bum knee is preventing me from attending Harold Holzer‘s retirement reception at the Metropolitan Museum later today.
My last-minute withdrawal from the guest list elicited this (tongue-in-cheek?) suggestion from my longtime facilitator (and sometimes detractor):
Can’t you use a Met wheelchair?
Harold, I’ll make a public appearance in a wheelchair only if you push it!
Curators and directors (not to mention critics and journalists) have come and gone, but the indefatigable Holzer has been a pivotal player at the Metropolitan Museum for some 23 years, having a huge impact—both behind the scenes and publicly—on how his institution has been perceived and rightly praised by the press, the public and public officials
Harold started at the Met in 1992 as chief communications officer, was named vice president in 1996 and became senior vice president for public affairs in 2005.
He fiercely defended his institution against all criticism, which meant (as I’ve previously mentioned) that although we never fought, we sometimes had a prickly relationship. But he always treated me fairly and answered my queries, no matter how pointed they may sometimes have been.
Many of Harold’s former functions were assumed in May by Cynthia Round, in the newly created position of senior vice president, marketing and external relations. Elyse Topalian remains as vice president for communications.
With the previous departures of director Philippe de Montebello and president Emily Rafferty, there’s been a complete changing of the guard.
In a late-breaking development, Harold can take his leave knowing that he helped to preserve the existing view across the Hudson River of New Jersey’s Palisades from the Cloisters, the Met’s uptown outpost for medieval art. I live on the opposite side of the river and had argued the opposite side of the issue, but the resulting win-win resolution between preservationists and LG Electronics—lower height, larger footprint—works fine for me:
Harold’s weekend job will now likely become his day job—pursuing his scholarly interests as an esteemed author and lecturer on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era.
He’ll also probably spend lots more time with this guy:
But will this former political operative get involved in the coming campaigns? (He was press secretary for Congresswoman Bella S. Abzug, in campaigns for the U.S. Senate and NYC mayor, and for future Governor Mario Cuomo.) Time (and the candidates) will tell.
UPDATE: Judging from the “Holzer 2015” buttons in this “changing of the guard” photo from the retirement party, it looks like Harold himself may be running for something!
Left to right: de Montebello, Holzer, Rafferty, current Met director Thomas Campbell
For a flavorful take on the Holzer Years at the Met, see Brianna McGurran‘s profile in the Observer, published at the time of the museum’s January announcement of his planned retirement.
I wish you well, Harold, in your life’s next chapter. Perhaps (when I’m not limping) our paths will cross again!