Obituary: Lydia Theurer Mikell Pfund

By Emily J. Minor

 

7960328878?profile=originalHIGHLAND BEACH — Lydia Theurer Mikell Pfund, a popular docent at the Norton Museum of Art whose tours were always lively and informative, died March 8. She had just finished up a recent exhibit of her own paintings at the Delray Beach Club, where she also exercised nearly every day until just before her death.

Mrs. Pfund was 91.

Born in Manhattan on June 2, 1919, Mrs. Pfund attended Stetson University and taught there after earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees. Mrs. Pfund’s husband, Ledyard Hale Pfund, preceded her in death.

Those who knew Mrs. Pfund, especially in her later years, said she was a talented artist who loved to paint. 

As a collector, she sought out the American modernists, notably Arthur Dove and John Marin. A limited edition Red Grooms Picasso held a prized place in her foyer.

At the beach club, Mrs. Pfund attended water aerobics classes, like clockwork, and also took advantage of pilates, yoga and stretching classes. Since 2000, Mrs. Pfund had been a popular docent at the Norton, capturing the hearts not only of patrons, but also of staff members and other volunteers.

Jerry Dobrick, special assistant to the museum director, said Mrs. Pfund enjoyed working the busy weekend shifts, and was also fond of volunteering for special evening events.

“Lydia was fortunate to possess, in abundance, the twin catalysts of a knowledge and passion for art, which she happily shared with the museum’s visitors,” Dobrick said.

In 1957, after moving to Miami, Mrs. Pfund was the founding president of a group called the Vizcayans, created to raise money for the maintenance and restoration of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The group is still instrumental today in museum operations and upkeep.

Mrs. Pfund is survived by a stepson, Ledyard Bruce Pfund, and many nieces and nephews.

Diane Roberts, the membership director at the Delray Beach Club, said she loved seeing Mrs. Pfund heading for the swimming pool three times a week.

“It’s hard to lose a member as lovely as Mrs. Pfund,” Roberts said. A celebration of her life was held March 19 at the Presbyterian Church in Tenafly, NJ. 

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