 |
  Rexford A. Stead
Rexford Arthur Stead was born on January 24, 1923, in Pernambuco, Brazil, to Dorothy Margaret Norrell, age 21, and Frank Arthur Stead, age 26. He had one brother Jerry and in Rye his family lived at 362 Holly Lane. Rex was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1940.
He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the Air Force during World War II in India and China. He also served as chief the Chinese language section of the Voice of America and as a China specialist with the State Department.
He also formerly was a propaganda analyst for a psychological
warfare branch of the British Government. During the war he was an
officer in the British Merchant Navy
and later a member of the Army Air
Force Intelligence Unit in China. He
has studied at the School for Asiatic
Studies at Columbia and Brown Universities.
He married Priscilla Adele Steers on September 3, 1946, in Rye, New York. The couple would have two children during their marriage.
 Rex was founding director of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. He was director of the museum since its inception in 1962 and was made an honorary trustee when he became the deputy director of the Los Angeles County Museum.
In an Oct. 10, 1962 article at the inception of the museum he said, "In the final analysis we live for each other. The possibilities of the happy, productive and exciting life are enormous, once we go beyond our own selfish interest. Very few of us can change the world, but if we will work for a better life within our smallest sphere of influence, a positive chain reaction is inevitable.
"I'D LIKE to see Pinellas become such a catalyst. Whether we replace slums with decent housing or build an enduring art museum or work for better schools is incidental. We must first realize that our environment is our own doing. The challenge to improve it rests squarely with us. How dull our lives would be without such challenges and how meaningless our existence."
Under his direction the museum's structure was planned and completed. It acquired the nucleus of a permanent collection. When he left in 1967, the research library held about 3,000 volumes.
Rex was known for his talent, friendship, his restless energy and his uncompromising goal for the Suncoast to have the best of what is beautiful and meaningful in the lives of its citizens.
Helen Stevenson, a museum trustee, said: "As the founding director he was a man of great vision and faith in the contribution the museum would make to the beauty of living. He was a really remarkable man."
Rex moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to become the deputy director of fine arts of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a facility that is one of the world's largest and most prestigious art museums.
 A co-worker at the museum, Jeanne D'An-drea, said: "He did everything with sensitivity and dedication. He was primarily responsible for the Ancient, Islamic and African art there." Other duties included community affairs, membership and all museum publications.
He retired from that position when he became ill about two years ago according to his former wife, Priscilla.
Rexford "Rex" Stead, 60, founding director of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, died Monday (May 16, 1983) in a Los Angeles hospital following heart surgery.
At the time of his death, survivors included a daughter Penelope Stead Hlavac, Anaheim, Calif.; a son Mark, Los Angeles; a brother Jerry, Oklahoma, and a stepmother Mary Thomas, Alabama.
A private memorial service will be held in the garden at his residence in Hollywood Hills, Calif., with Rev. Andy Welch officiating.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73611748/obituary...
|
|
|