Leslie Griffin Hennessey
Born 29 October 1949 in Chicago, Leslie grew up in Colorado before moving east to attend Vassar College. It was there that she discovered her love of art history. Leslie went on to earn an MA from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas where her dissertation focused on the 18th-century painter Jacopo Amigoni. It was through her thesis research that she developed an enduring passion for the city of Venice, its art and history.
Leslie met her husband William Hennessey in graduate school in New York City. They married in 1978. Their shared passion for art history led to intertwined careers that took them to the University of Kansas, Vassar College, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Michigan. Leslie held faculty positions at each of these schools, while simultaneously finding time to publish articles, contribute to catalogues, and present academic papers. After moving to Virginia in 1997, she continued teaching and lecturing. Her last post was at Norfolk Academy where she directed the art gallery and created a pioneering program to integrate the visual arts into disciplines across the curriculum.
Whether in the classroom, leading a tour group through Italy, or walking through a museum with friends, it was her lifelong mission to share with others the magic and meaning she found in works of art. She loved nothing more than good conversation and was gifted not just at observation and description, but at drawing out and engaging others. She had a great gift for developing and sustaining friendships.
In 2016 Leslie and Bill retired to New York City where in addition to taking full advantage of the city's museums, theaters, and music Leslie became a devoted swimmer at the 92nd Street Y and a dedicated student of Italian language and literature. She loved to dance and to sing. And she loved travel, including walking holidays in England, Ireland, and Italy and an annual family pilgrimage to the Adirondacks. But in retirement the focus of each year became an extended stay in Venice where she continued her language studies and spent time with friends, both new and decades old.
While the arts and her friendships were essential to Leslie, her family, particularly her daughter Claire, was her unwavering center. Leslie is survived by her husband, Bill; by Claire and her husband Andrew Thompson; and by her brother, John Griffin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of this extraordinary woman of warmth, beauty, spirit, intellect, courage and principle may be made to the Ft. Tryon Park Conservancy or to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Born 29 October 1949 in Chicago, Leslie grew up in Colorado before moving east to attend Vassar College. It was there that she discovered her love of art history. Leslie went on to earn an MA from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas where her dissertation focused on the 18th-century painter Jacopo Amigoni. It was through her thesis research that she developed an enduring passion for the city of Venice, its art and history.
Leslie met her husband William Hennessey in graduate school in New York City. They married in 1978. Their shared passion for art history led to intertwined careers that took them to the University of Kansas, Vassar College, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Michigan. Leslie held faculty positions at each of these schools, while simultaneously finding time to publish articles, contribute to catalogues, and present academic papers. After moving to Virginia in 1997, she continued teaching and lecturing. Her last post was at Norfolk Academy where she directed the art gallery and created a pioneering program to integrate the visual arts into disciplines across the curriculum.
Whether in the classroom, leading a tour group through Italy, or walking through a museum with friends, it was her lifelong mission to share with others the magic and meaning she found in works of art. She loved nothing more than good conversation and was gifted not just at observation and description, but at drawing out and engaging others. She had a great gift for developing and sustaining friendships.
In 2016 Leslie and Bill retired to New York City where in addition to taking full advantage of the city's museums, theaters, and music Leslie became a devoted swimmer at the 92nd Street Y and a dedicated student of Italian language and literature. She loved to dance and to sing. And she loved travel, including walking holidays in England, Ireland, and Italy and an annual family pilgrimage to the Adirondacks. But in retirement the focus of each year became an extended stay in Venice where she continued her language studies and spent time with friends, both new and decades old.
While the arts and her friendships were essential to Leslie, her family, particularly her daughter Claire, was her unwavering center. Leslie is survived by her husband, Bill; by Claire and her husband Andrew Thompson; and by her brother, John Griffin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of this extraordinary woman of warmth, beauty, spirit, intellect, courage and principle may be made to the Ft. Tryon Park Conservancy or to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
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