BOCA RATON, FL – The Boca Raton Museum of Art announced today the appointment of John DesPrez III as the new chair of its board of directors. DesPrez succeeds Jody Harrison Grass, who stepped down after serving in the role since 2016.
DesPrez’s appointment inaugurates the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s 75th Anniversary Season. As part of the celebration, the Museum is embarking on a fundraising initiative to lay the groundwork for a bold and remarkable future. In the spirit of leading by example, John DesPrez and his wife, Angela DesPrez, have stepped forward with a gift of $1,000,000. This contribution will help create the Angela and John DesPrez III Innovation Fund to support forward-looking programmatic initiatives and will play a pivotal role in ensuring the continued success and growth of the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
“Angela and I are deeply committed to fostering a culture of support for the arts,” said DesPrez. “Our gift is from our hearts, reflecting our unwavering beliefs in the power of philanthropy, the mission of this Museum, and laying down a sound foundation for its success.”
DesPrez additionally will chair the search committee to find the replacement for Irvin Lippman, Boca Raton Museum of Art’s Executive Director. Lippman will retire from his position on January 31, 2025, after serving in the role for over a decade.
JOHN DESPREZ III
John DesPrez III is a prominent executive in the financial services industry. Since 2015, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Palm Beach County-based InspereX. DesPrez previously served as CEO of John Hancock Financial Services and as Chief Operating Officer of Manulife Financial Corp., one of the largest diversified insurance groups in the world. DesPrez joined the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s Board of Directors in 2016 and also serves as a board member of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Halstatt, LLC, Haversine Funding and Microporous.
JODY HARRISON GRASS
Jody Harrison Grass will step down as the longest-serving chair in the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s history and will remain an active member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees as Immediate Past Chair. The Museum shares its gratitude for her outstanding service and legacy of leadership. Her accomplishments include leading a $5,000,000 renovation initiative that brought the Museum from “hiding in plain sight” to a bold new presence in Mizner Park. Renovations of the Museum’s Wolgin Education Center and Jody Harrison Grass Lobby are further testaments to her passion for the Boca Raton Museum of Art serving as a leading cultural institution in South Florida.
BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART
Founded by artists in 1950 as the Art Guild of Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Museum of Art has evolved into a vital cultural resource. The Museum's original building on Palmetto Park Road now serves as the Museum's Art School, nestled within a 3-acre sculpture park. In 2001, the Museum was provided land in Mizner Park, a mixed-use area in downtown Boca Raton. Designed by Donald Singer, the current Museum facility, with its bold volumes and emblematic design, reflects the spirit of Addison Mizner's Mediterranean Revival architecture of the 1920s that provided an indelible mark on Boca Raton. Located in Palm Beach County, the Museum attracts visitors from a wide range of regions, with nearly 50% being cultural tourists from drive markets or out-of-state, underscoring the appeal of its reputation, quality of programs, and supporting the Museum’s mission to be a vital cultural resource dedicated to the creative life.
