Dear University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities,
We are very sad to announce the passing of Renee Minsky, a beloved and transformational advocate for the arts here at the University of Maine and beyond. Renee passed away peacefully on Wednesday in Florida at the age of 94, surrounded by family and loved ones.
For many decades, Renee and her husband, Leonard Minsky, promoted arts, culture, and education in Maine through their hard work and incredible generosity. They are the namesakes for the Minsky Recital Hall and Minsky Culture Lab in the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA), as well as the Hudson Museum’s Minsky Gallery. The couple also created the Minsky Endowment to provide ongoing support to the Hudson Museum. Renee served on the board of the CCA and the Hudson Museum, co-created a children’s theater program in Bangor, and volunteered with children’s literacy programs.
We extend our deepest condolences to Renee’s daughter Marilyn, son-in-law Dennis, two granddaughters, four great-grandchildren, and her brother-in-law Norman Minsky. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through the many lives she impacted and the facilities and programs she supported that will continue to enrich our university and the community far into the future.
Sincerely,
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias
