Archived Press Releases

Gloria R. Lombardi announces retirement as executive director of Virginia Living Museum 
March 10, 2005 
 

Gloria R. Lombardi, who led the Virginia Living Museum through its recent $22.6 million expansion, announced her retirement as museum executive director on Thursday, March 10. The retirement, due to health reasons, will be effective May 3.

Lombardi, 59, joined the museum in 1987 as its first director of volunteer services. She developed the volunteer program into a force that numbered more than 400 people and played a key role in the transformation of the old Peninsula Nature and Science Center into the Virginia Living Museum.

She served as interim director for nine months in 1993 while the museum was between directors. In 1994, she was named deputy director and became responsible for supervising the museum's daily operations.

Lombardi was named executive director in March 1999 after former director Randy W. Ray moved to Texas. Her appointment came shortly after the museum launched its capital campaign to finance the new 62,000 sq. ft. building.

During her tenure as executive director, Lombardi spearheaded the fund-raising and oversaw the design and construction that turned the museum's expansion dreams into reality when the new building opened on March 28, 2004.

Lombardi became ill in December 2003 and was on sick leave until mid-March 2004 before returning to help guide the museum in its new home. She recently spent considerable time in Richmond working with a coalition of arts organizations to obtain state funding for capital projects. The museum is scheduled to receive $1.4 million from the state for the expansion.

Lombardi told the staff Thursday she was retiring for health reasons. "This is probably the hardest decision I have had to make. I love the museum. I love the people. It's been a pleasure working here...You are not going to lose me. I will find ways to stay involved."

Board of Trustees President William B. Downey said the museum has been fortunate to "become a world-class institution under Gloria's leadership."

A search committee is being formed to find the next executive director to "take the museum to the next level," Downey said. The board plans to name an interim director by the end of March.