Keeping her Memory Alive: The Esther Steinberg Lecture Fund

The family—and spirit of intellectual curiosity—behind the Esther Steinberg Memorial Lectures

Admirers of the exhibition “Mural: Jackson Pollock | Katharina Grosse,” had a special opportunity this past October to see Grosse—one of today’s most intriguing contemporary artists—in person at the MFA discussing how her works interact with their built environments. This event was one of a popular series of free endowed lectures on art and architecture that brings great names in the field to MFA audiences. The annual Esther Steinberg Memorial Lectures have enriched the Museum’s public offerings and reflected the pursuits, enthusiasm, and curiosity of the woman for whom they are named.

Esther Saxe Steinberg was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, and lived her whole life there with her husband, Lester, and their three children, Bill, Jane, and Robert. A proud community volunteer, Esther joined MFA Associates (then the Ladies Committee) in 1978. The Museum became her second home, providing friendships and new opportunities for learning. She was a docent and played an instrumental role in the early success of the now-beloved Art in Bloom event. Esther’s son Robert says, “The MFA enriched her life intellectually and socially. Perhaps for her, it was a chance to be in academia.” After attending courses at the Museum, Esther developed an interest in Boston’s built environment and began coordinating architectural tours of the city for fellow MFA Associates and visitors, even promoting the tours on a local television program.

In 1987, Esther sadly passed away from cancer at the age of 62. Memorial gifts from family and friends, especially from her fellow MFA Associates, were used by the Steinberg family to create an endowed lecture fund at the MFA in Esther’s honor. In the years since Esther’s passing, Lester has remembered his wife’s contributions to the MFA through his support of the fund and annual sponsorship of a pedestal at Art in Bloom. He and his family have included continued support for the fund in his own estate plans. Lester was “never really a museum guy,” Robert says. “[Esther] brought him to the Museum by her strong will. He didn’t come easily. But once she opened his eyes, he embraced the institution.”

Because of Lester’s support and the Museum’s sound investment, their fund has grown. This year, for the first time, the MFA is hosting a second free Esther Steinberg Memorial Lecture: on May 13, 2020, renowned architect Sam Anderson speaks about his work on the Museum’s new Conservation Center, opening in 2020, and the challenges of designing a space where art and science intersect.

Lester celebrated his 100th birthday this past May. He still carries a photo of his wife in his wallet and shows it to everyone he meets. At the MFA, we are deeply grateful for Lester’s generosity, and we appreciate the opportunity to ensure that Esther and her spirit of intellectual curiosity are remembered at a place she loved.