Two Losses in the Montserrat Community

This past weekend Montserrat lost two amazing members of our community.

“Color in the Mist,” Rose Olson, 2017

On Saturday morning, Faculty Emeritus Rose Olson passed away. Rose attended Montserrat College of Art in the mid-1970s and became an instructor almost immediately upon graduating, eventually rising to full professor. She was consistently among the most popular instructors at the school and was named its first professor emerita in 2019.Olson worked with Montserrat students for more than 25 years, and with the larger Montserrat community for much, much longer. Her influence was profound. Many of who have come through the college see the world through Olson’s understanding of color and can point to her own work as major influences on their style and approach to art-making. Some examples of Olson’s work are currently on display in the Founder’s Gallery at 248 Cabot Street through September 30.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers Rose’s family asks friends to consider making a contribution in Rose’s honor to The Montserrat College of Art Scholarship Fund. 

Former Montserrat President, James “Jim” Davies

The very next day, the college learned of the passing of former Montserrat President James “Jim” Davies. It was in 1983, during Davies’ tenure, that Montserrat School of Art became accredited and changed its name to Montserrat College of Art, enabling the college to award the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Davies’ work helped set the college on t he path to become the thriving community it is today. More recent members of the Montserrat community may remember Davies from recent graduation ceremonies or from the impact he made here in the Beverly community. He was awarded an honorary of Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the college in 2011. Davies was predeceased by Beverly Davies, his wife of 70 years. A memorial service will also be announced at a later date for Jim.

Our community is grateful for the impact that both Rose Olson and Jim Davies had on the college.