DETROIT, MICH.- The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) announced the renaming of the Director’s role to the Mary Anne and Eugene A. Gargaro Jr. Director, President, and CEO, in recognition of nearly $15 million in gifts made to the museum’s unrestricted operating endowment. These contributions will help ensure continued excellence in museum leadership for generations to come.

The endowment recognizes Gene Gargaro’s decades of service and dedication to the DIA as Chairman of the Board, a position he held until 2024, and underscores the profound impact he and his wife, Mary Anne, have had on the museum’s growth and stability. His leadership was instrumental in key milestones, including spearheading fundraising for the museum's $158 million renovation, expansion, and grand reopening in 2007; maintaining the museum’s fiscal health during the 2008-09 global financial crisis; guiding the strategic initiative in 2013-14 to navigate the museum through Detroit’s bankruptcy, including being a key leader in the “Grand Bargain;” achieving the DIA’s $100 million commitment to the “Grand Bargain” to preserve the museum’s collection and secure the City of Detroit’s pension investments; co-chairing the museum’s original millage in 2012 and its renewal in 2020; and overseeing nearly $800 million in total fundraising over 20 years.

Mary Anne Gargaro has been Gene’s strategic partner and advisor, acting in many capacities at the DIA herself, including serving as Gala chair, serving on the Associates of the American Wing Auxiliary Board, and, with Gene, receiving the 2015 Lifetime Service Award.

Gene and Mary Anne Gargaro personally contributed $1 million to the endowment, which has received nearly 100 gifts from donors, including seven-figure gifts from numerous families including Bonnie Ann Larson; Mary Kay and Keith E. Crain; Jennifer and David T. Fischer; the Jennifer and Terence Adderley Foundation; Ann and James B. Nicholson; Anne and John H. Roberts; Anthony L. Soave; Molly and Mark Valade; and the Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation. This remarkable show of support reflects the widespread appreciation for Gargaro’s steadfast leadership and the enduring legacy he has shaped at the DIA.

“Gene Gargaro’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, now titled the Mary Anne and Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. Director, President and CEO of the DIA. “His vision and dedication have ensured the DIA’s long-term success, and this endowment is a fitting tribute to his legacy. We are deeply grateful to Gene and Mary Anne Gargaro, as well as the many donors who have made this possible.”

Gargaro expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating, “Mary Anne and I are very proud to share this special director naming recognition with all those who have joined us in supporting the DIA. This museum is a treasure for Detroit and our region, and we are privileged to have played a role in its continued success.”

Read Salort-Pons’ blog post reflecting on Gene and Mary Anne Gargaro’s legacy on the museum here.