Longtime Grundy Foundation employee Donna McCloskey retires after 42 years
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
All good things must come to an end. Right now, no one understands that better than Bristol’s Donna McCloskey, who recently retired from the Grundy Foundation after an unforgettable 42 years.
As the only employee to ever serve in all three areas of its operation — Grundy Library, Foundation Office and Grundy Museum — it’s easy to imagine the countless memories made over a four-decade-long period. The Times caught up with McCloskey as she reflected on some of her favorites and outlined what post-retirement life has in store for this grandmother of 11.
McCloskey’s elementary school days are when her Grundy story truly began. Born and raised in the borough on Beaver Street, she and her friends often escaped to the serenity of the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library to hang out and complete homework. 680 Radcliffe St. remained her go-to spot, even after graduating from Bristol Jr-Sr High School.
Around this time, a good friend of McCloskey’s, Mindy Ratini, was headed off to college and vacating her position as a library page, a role that involved shelving books and helping at the circulation desk. Ratini recommended her for the job and, in September 1975, McCloskey was hired by library director Mary Jane Mannherz.
“Mary Jane was a lifelong mentor and must have seen promise in me,” McCloskey reflected.
In 1986, she was promoted to the role of librarian and, for seven years, learned all she could of the field. In 1993, McCloskey was asked by foundation executive director Bob Kelly to join him in the Foundation Office as office manager/executive assistant. It was a no-brainer to take advantage of yet another great opportunity that acquainted McCloskey with payroll, HR, property management and the operations of a private foundation.
Finally in 2006, McCloskey was asked to oversee the Grundy Museum, where she served as administrator for the remainder of her career. During her tenure, a number of events, partnerships and projects took place thanks to McCloskey’s drive and dedication, with a select few forever remaining at the forefront of her mind.
To celebrate the Grundy Museum’s 40th anniversary in 2007, McCloskey coordinated “The Victorian Festival,” a collaboration with the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation. Two years later, she designed and oversaw the installation of Margaret’s Garden, an award-winning garden located near the museum’s entrance at 610 Radcliffe St. This project and other landscaping attractions helped extend the museum beyond a house tour experience.
Additional career highlights for McCloskey include the development and launch of a Bristol Borough historic district audio tour, which can be viewed at tourbristol.org; the founding of the Garden Club of Bristol Borough; the establishment of Adams Hollow Community Garden; and of course, the curation of Grundy’s first permanent exhibit “Made in America: The Grundy Mill and the Business of Spinning Wool,” which was unveiled last year as part of the museum’s golden anniversary.
The list of successes can go on forever, but McCloskey isn’t one to brag.
“All of the above were done in collaboration with individuals and organizations in the community,” McCloskey said. “The museum staff with whom I had the pleasure of working were the best to be found. We always did top-quality work and managed to have a lot of fun and laughs along the way.”
It’s this humble nature and willingness to learn that made McCloskey both a treasured colleague and friend to many in the community.
“I have had the good fortune to work closely with Donna for many years,” said Doug Miller, historic site director at Pennsbury Manor, whom McCloskey often sought professional advice from. “The museum community and Pennsbury Manor always was better for her efforts in public history. She brought a professionalism, elegance and eloquence to our community.”
Debbie Mahon, president of the Hulmeville Garden Club, with whom McCloskey collaborated to advance the formation of the Garden Club of Bristol Borough and Adams Hollow Community Garden, shared a similar sentiment.
“She has demonstrated grace so effectively that it was natural for her to become a mentor to me and all who met her,” Mahon said. “Although her retirement is an end to a successful career with the Grundy Foundation, her drive to be involved with her community continues on.”
The Bristol Borough Business Association also took note of McCloskey’s contributions to her community, recently naming her 2017 Business Person of the Year.
The feeling of retiring is certainly bittersweet for McCloskey, but she explained it was time to see what the next phase of life has in store. She and her husband, Don, have plans to travel the world and see their 11 grandchildren, eight of whom recently moved to Colorado.
Still, McCloskey isn’t straying too far from her Grundy roots. Margaret’s Garden remains under her diligent care and, in her spare time, she attends the library’s drop-in “Knitting and Crocheting” program.
“I suppose that I never thought I would remain there for 42 years,” she said. “It just felt like an extension of family, especially in those early days.” ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
