Heather Ruhsam is stepping down from her position as director of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the Sailing Museum. In her four years in the position, she made the board of directors’ goal of creating a permanent home for the hall of fame a reality and spearheaded creation of the museum in downtown Newport, R.I.
Ruhsam drove fundraising through the pandemic, staged the official museum opening last year and oversaw its first year of business. She also revamped the hall of fame’s annual induction ceremony.
“It has been a highlight in my career and a true honor to lead the organization through this chapter of its history,” Ruhsam said in a statement. “I am delighted with the response from the sailing community, our local community and our visitors. We have created a space that is fun, educational, exciting and, most importantly, that will have an impact in Newport and across the greater sailing community for decades to come.”
Board of directors co-chair Tom Whidden called Ruhsam a “guiding light” for the hall of fame and museum, adding that the “long-term viability of what has become the preeminent sailing museum in the U.S. has been ensured by Heather’s capable leadership.”
