Greenwich Historical Society’s History in the Making award dinner on October 29th at the Belle Haven Club honors the extraordinary 30-year legacy of their recently retired Executive Director and CEO Debra Mecky. Dr. Mecky will receive the History in the Making award for her leadership in transforming the Historical Society into a nationally recognized regional history museum. Distinguished author and maritime historian Nathaniel Philbrick will be the evening’s featured speaker.
Philbrick has written extensively about the sea in numerous New York Times bestsellers. In the Heart of the Sea won a National Book Award and was the basis of the 2015 movie directed by Ron Howard and a PBS American Experience documentary Into the Deep. His gripping narrative Sea of Glory which focused on a 19th century expedition to Antarctica won multiple awards, and his account of the Pilgrims’ harrowing voyage to America in Mayflower was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History.
The evening opens with a tribute to the significance of the art and maritime history of Greenwich. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, it is timely to reflect on the role of the town’s waterfront during the American Revolution. Some one hundred years later the Cos Cob waterfront was a key attraction to the founders of American Impressionism as the bucolic setting of the Holley boarding house. Interpretation and documentation of these pivotal historic events and serving as a resource for local preservationists and conservationists is a vital aspect of the Historical Society’s mission.
History makers recognized for extraordinary contributions
Established in 2003, History in the Making recognizes outstanding individuals from the community who are the history makers of their time for having made a positive impact on the region and the world and provides a forum for learning about their thought-provoking ideas and perspectives.
“It is a privilege to bestow this award on our longtime leader for making Greenwich Historical Society a world-class cultural organization,” says Historical Society Board Chair Catherine Tompkins. “We will cherish the visionary leadership, dedication to historic preservation and commitment to community engagement that has been her hallmark.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to succeed Debra Mecky and to build upon the foundation she established,” says Historical Society Executive Director and CEO Carol Cadou. “The critical support realized through History in the Making enables us to expand and enhance our mission-based preservation and education initiatives which are fundamental to strengthening our community’s connection to our past and to each other.”
Debra Mecky is preceded by impressive individuals who have been honored with the History in the Making award. In addition to the Mitchell Family last year, prior awardees include Allan Houston, Ray and Barbara Dalio, and Indra Nooyi.
History in the Making event co-chairs are Isabel and Peter Malkin, Mallory and Gregory Molenkamp, and Debbie and Russ Reynolds.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://greenwichhistory.org/history-in-the-making/
