Tracey Albainy
Very sad news out of the Museum of Fine Arts.
Tracey Albainy, a senior curator of decorative arts and sculpture, died on Tuesday in her native Cleveland after a battle with lung cancer. Albainy, 45, started at the MFA in 2000. She was most recently coordinating curator of “Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800-1815,” which remains open through January 27.
The funeral takes place Saturday in Ohio, but the MFA will hold its own memorial service at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made in Albainy’s name to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Art of Europe Dept., 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115; Smith College, Donor Services, 33 Elm St., Northampton, MA 01063; or The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.
Other info from the MFA:
"From 1993 to 2000, she held curatorial positions in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Prior to that, she served as Associate Curator of European Decorative Arts at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and was Marble House Fellow at the Preservation Society of Newport County. Her other work experience includes associations with the J. Paul Getty Museum, Parsons School of Design/Cooper-Hewitt Museum Graduate Program, and Frick Art Reference Library.
Ms. Albainy graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, and received her master of arts in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and another master of arts degree from Parsons School of Design/Cooper-Hewitt Museum Graduate Program in the History of European Decorative Arts.
Ms. Albainy was a prolific writer in her field, having published numerous scholarly articles. She was the recipient of many awards and a member of several professional organizations, including the French Porcelain Society. She was fluent in French, and enjoyed her many sojourns to Paris."
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Tracey had so much to offer. Her determination to succeed in all she did was evident to all who knew her both as a professional and as a human being.
Her death is a tremendoud loss to the world of the MFA and so far beyond,
It was our honor to travel with Tracey to "Secret Paris" in the spring of 2007 and to view the culmination of her curatorial expertise in her final exhibition at the MFA.
Although I never met the lady, I remember with great fondness her immediate response when I emailed her a question about a suite of French Furniture the Museum had recently restored. Her detailed answer to my query was amazing - as was the breadth and depth of her knowledge in her fields of expertise. Her kindness and taking of her most valuable time represented to me a graciousness and gentility that is all too seldom seen in this world today. She will most assuredly be missed by her professional peers, and her friends of course, but she will also be missed by those whose lives briefly touched hers and to whom she responded with unfailing graciousness and knowledge which she was most willing to share with even a curious and non-professional admirer of the decorative arts within the Museum such as me.
Tracey and I lived in the same house during our senior year at Smith College. Sadly, I learned of Tracey's death at my Smith College reunion this past month. She was truly an inspirational and amazing woman at the young age of 21. I can not recall a single instance when Tracey did not display a beautiful smile and graceful presence. Her accomplishments since graduating from Smith do not amaze me because she was an amazing woman. I am extremely sad to hear of her passing. When I think back to my youthful Smith days, Tracey will always come to mind. Without a doubt, she has left a huge void in the many lives she has touched. My prayers and best wishes go to the people she has left behind. Their lives are certainly better for having met her. No one may ever set eyes on this posting, regardless, Tracey, I am sorry I did not have a chance to see you again. Forever, you will be an inspiration. Leigh Ann
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