The Arden Craft Shop Museum community celebrates and honors the life of our dear friend and supporter, Linda Eaton. Linda passed away on August 18th, after a courageous battle against a long-term illness. Linda came to Arden in 1993 after getting a position as a textile conservator at Winterthur Museum and Gardens. She went on to have a long and distinguished career at Winterthur, retiring as the John T. and Marjorie McGraw Director of Collections and was a recognized authority in her chosen field of textiles.
Linda wholeheartedly embraced life in the Ardens and became a founding member of the Arden Craft Shop Museum, Inc. Board in the 2002. She served as one of the board’s presidents, helping to preserve the unique history of the three Ardens.
Her professional museum expertise helped to make the Craft Shop Museum an important center for the history of the three villages. Not withstanding her demanding schedule at Winterthur, she never missed an event at the Museum. Linda was generous with her time and her talents, whether it was navigating a tricky board meeting, writing a perfectly worded grant request, or guiding our fledging museum into the future. She was also known for offering sage advice and giving support to friends and neighbors during difficult times.
She had a playful side to her as well, playing baseball on the village green in games of Winterthur vs. Arden, sharing her love of single malt scotch in tastings at her home, and always being there to cheer on the participants in the ACRA games on the green at the fourth of July celebrations or at an art show in the Ardens; as well as arriving at a dinner party with a batch of homemade shortbread – fresh from the oven.
She will be missed by so many as a good neighbor and an even better friend.
”…if we do meet again, why, we shall smile”
