Roundtable

Arts Patron Nancy Zeckendorf
Pays Tribute to Legendary Developer Bill Zeckendorf Jr.

Thursday, May 25
6:00 PM

Nancy Zeckendorf is a cultural leader who began her career as a principal dancer, appearing on television as well as on Broadway, and earning plaudits with such prestigious companies as the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and the Santa Fe Opera. She devoted three decades to the American Ballet Theatre, serving as Gala Chair and chief fundraiser. But she is best known for what she and developer William Zeckendorf Jr. have done for the special locales that have benefited from their civic vision and enlightened philanthropy.
   Anyone familiar with Union Square is aware of the impact that Zeckendorf Towers has had, not only on one of Manhattan's most vibrant urban centers but on quiet adjoining neighborhoods such as Gramercy Park. And those who reside in or visit Santa Fe are grateful for such treasures as the Lensic Performing Arts Center, a cinematic palace from the 1930s that the Zeckendorfs restored to its former glory.  
   As you'll know if you read about "Life with the Legendary Zeckendorfs" in a recent issue of The New York Times, Mrs. Zeckendorf has recently published an homage to her late husband. It's called Developing: My Life, and it's a beautifully illustrated volume that builds on the memoir he'd hoped to produce himself. She'll talk with John Andrews of the Shakespeare Guild about what makes the Zeckendorf tradition so enduring. In the process she'll offer a unique perspective on the historic area that helps define The          National Arts Club and reinforce its mission.