I first met Julia Alexander when she was a young deputy director for the San Diego Museum of Art. The AAMD was meeting in San Diego, and I vividly remember an extraordinarily tall woman approaching with a smile and energy that seemed almost impossible to contain. "Hi, I'm Julia," she said. Little did I know that this remarkable woman with her infectious smile would not only become President of AAMD but, more meaningfully, a dear friend and confidante.

Julia infused AAMD with the same boundless energy she brought to everything. In her orbit, nothing was impossible, nothing was too challenging, and nothing was too serious to approach without a good laugh. She embraced everyone with genuine openness and honesty. Julia adored her children, and we spent countless hours sharing stories about our kids, discussing her aging mom, and contemplating the state of the world.

The presidency of AAMD is demanding. Managing both a museum and this association sometimes requires more hours than a day seems to hold, yet Julia consistently approached these responsibilities with grace and a profound sense of duty—to her peers and, more significantly, to the entire museum field. She asked for help when she needed it, and importantly, accepted that help.

When I received the news this morning, I couldn't help but think of "Time Waits for No One" by the Rolling Stones, from their 1974 album It's Only Rock 'n Roll. 

Drink in your summer, gather your corn

The dreams of the night time will vanish by dawn

And time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me

And time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me

My heart aches deeply for her family, friends, and colleagues. I also mourn for our field, which has lost not just a champion and a scholar, but a good person who was always willing to give you her time. 

Julia's passing should remind us all of life's most important truth: the work will always be there, but our time will not. Take that trip, have that walk in nature, and embrace your loved ones. The moments with those we cherish cannot be rescheduled.

You will be missed, my friend.

Christine Anagnos 
Executive Director, AAMD
05/05/2025

Learn more about Julia Alexander's life and career in this remembrance from her Yale University colleagues and friends.

Image courtesy of The Walters Art Museum