LucyTower Funke ’56
Major: French
Minors: history and government
Profession: Foundation Director, Sam & Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts

Lucy Funke grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., where she was exposed to the arts as a child. At St. Lawrence, she came upon options that she felt she needed to explore further. Her passion for arts grew throughout her college years and eventually developed into her career path. She was actively involved in the life of the fine arts department and served on the Concert and Film Series Committee, through which she realized that it was arts administration she was especially interested in.

Funke has been executive director of the Chenango County Council of the Arts in Norwich, N.Y., watching it “grow from a one-person part time staff to a visible and viable cultural organization.” She currently is the foundation director for the Sam and Adele Foundation for the Arts, Inc., which “was established with a goal to become a meaningful resource for professional visual artists and a significant contributor to the artists’ support system,” she explains.

“I value St. Lawrence for giving me a clear vision of what I was passionate about as well as encouraging me to explore options that I knew were out there. I am still involved with the University. I have served as Class Reporter for the past 25 years – a perfect way to stay in touch,” she notes.