Marlow Germain Burt passed away Sunday May 14, 2017 after a valiant 35 year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Marlow was born in Oswego, NY on December 28, 1935 to Alice (Germain) and Arthur Burt. He served in the U.S. Army Radar Signal Corp after graduating from Strong Vincent High School in Erie, PA. He received his Bachelor’s degree in education from Oswego State University in 1960 followed by graduate work in Economics, History and Political Science at Syracuse University.
Among his many accomplishments, Marlow directed the New Hampshire Commission of the Arts, and also worked as Development Director for WCYN-TV in Syracuse, NY after spending five years as program administrator for the Syracuse University Theater.
He worked for ten years as Executive Director of Minnesota’s St. Paul-Ramsey Arts and Science Council. While in St. Paul, he served as President of Minnesota Public Radio, served on the National Endowment for the Arts’ Special Projects Committee and was Chairman of the NEA’s City Spirit program. Other involvements include serving as President of the St. Paul Downtown YMCA and committee work with both the St. Paul and Minneapolis Chambers of Commerce and the Downtown Community Development Committee.
Marlow served as President and Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for the Arts from 1983 to 1997 and was responsible for planning and developing the multi-purpose three-theatre complex, including oversight establishing an endowment fund for the Center and maintaining cooperative relationships with the five resident arts organization (Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, The Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Theatrical Association and Stage One: The Louisville’s Children’s Theater).
Additionally, Marlow was responsible for oversight of the restoration of Louisville’s Macauley Theatre (now known as the Brown Theatre) and management of the Louisville Gardens arena while serving on numerous community boards and committees. He also served as interim director for the Kentucky Arts Council and was a sought-after consultant nationally in the performing arts.
Marlow moved to Dexter, NY in 1998 and has been an avid supporter of the Dexter Free Public Library and was a member of the Savage-Smith chapter of the America Legion. He enjoyed sailing the Thousand Islands and was passionate about Notre Dame Football.
Marlow is survived by his wife and life partner of 36 years, Cathy Henry Burt; two children (daughter Carrie Dillon [Terry] of Crestwood and son Timothy Burt of Hudson WI], four grandchildren (Meghan Dillon and Sean Dillon of Crestwood and Donald Burt and Michael Burt of Hudson, WI) and his nieces and nephews and many friends around the country.
There will be a private burial service at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in McKean, PA and memorial services to follow at a later time at All Saints Catholic church in Chaumont, NY, Our Lady of the Lake in Edinboro, PA and Middletown Christian Church in Louisville.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts in Louisville, KY and the Dexter Free Public Library in Dexter, NY. Condolences may be sent to Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter, NY at dexterfuneralhome.com.