Celebration scheduled for retiring MoC director
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EAST LIVERPOOL -- The family of Susan Weaver has announced her retirement from her second career as Director of the Museum of Ceramics.
"For the community of East Liverpool, this may bring feelings of regret or loss, but the changes set in motion by Weaver and the team at the Museum have just begun. Her work legacy and impact will continue in the innovative and community-centered events that were initiated during her tenure. She leaves the Museum of Ceramics having made a difference in not only the establishment itself, but in the people and community that support it," according to a family release.
Weaver has always been a storyteller at heart, beginning her career as a Children's Librarian at the Lynn Memorial Library in Chester and then moving on to work as an interpreter at the Museum of Ceramics from 1980-85. She then worked as a librarian at the Carnegie Library in East Liverpool until she completed her Master's in Library Science degree in 1989 and moved on to the Library Director position at Kent State University, East Liverpool.
She ertired from KSU in 2016 and decided to keep herself busy with some local volunteer work, which ultimately turned into her second career as Director of the Museum of Ceramics.
From the start, Weaver's goal was to get the community back to the Museum of Ceramics. Noticing that local residents seldom came into the museum, she set about to create a strong events program, classes for adults and children and exhibits that would appeal to the local community. Museum of Ceramics Talks, the Walker Music Series, The Around Town Literary Club, Clay Academy, art classes, Museum March and Trivia Night are just a some of the community-involved events she initiated.
With her assistance, the Museum of Ceramics has received capital expenditures from the Ohio History Connection to improve and rehabilitate the building -- a treasure in itself.
When asked about a favorite accomplishment, Weaver said, "My pride and joy is the mural by nationally-known artist Christopher Leeper. I wanted to improve the appearance of the MoC property and display our pottery heritage. With financial support from the Lady Slippers, we were able to take an otherwise unnoticed or even unattractive space and create a new piece of history for our town."
Accomplishments are many regarding displays, exhibits and preservation efforts. But her greatest was simply making a difference. Weaver fostered a change in how the community perceived itself; how the locals interacted; and how pride can be the center of our history and future.
The family of Susan Weaver invites the community to join in the celebration of her retirement from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, at the Museum of Ceramics.