This month, Member Spotlight features Ileane Rayman-Kaufman. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about the Norton Museum of Art.

For many years, I served as the Executive Director of the Palm Beach Chapter of the American Technion Society on the island of Palm Beach.  In that capacity, I arranged special events for my membership that would stimulate their minds, incite their interest, and at the same time, support our community.  The Norton became one of the most-loved venues for our organization.  We made a promise that when we had the time to enjoy and appreciate everything the museum had to offer,  my husband and I would become members.

And we did…and we really enjoyed our membership.  But, unfortunately, not too long afterward, my husband passed. And, then the Museum closed for renovation.

The old saying that you don’t realize how much you love something till it’s no longer there really describes my feelings. 

The week the Norton reopened was like a reopening of my soul! I had a lovely new place to visit which in my mind represented renewal and rebirth.  I have spent many hours wandering the galleries, visiting the gift shop, enjoying delicious meals, listening to lovely music in the gardens-

filling my time with beauty rather than sadness.

And then the pandemic! And then the Norton is closed once again!

It’s been a tough several months!  I’ve decided that taking charge of who I am is the only way I can get through this and doing good had always been the first step for me.  That’s why I decided to offer my services as a volunteer to the Norton when it reopens. The Norton has been there for me and I want to be there for the Norton.