A Love for All Eternity

Drs. Sarah H. and George Pappas shared a love of vibrant art during their 55 years of marriage, and Sarah wants their legacy to reflect that.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Sarah H. Pappas fondly remembers growing up in several Latin American countries, including Cuba and Mexico. Her father worked for U.S. Steel and his work allowed the family to call Latin America home for the first 13 years of her life. Sarah often recalls being immersed in the rich and vibrant cultures of these countries and how they’ve impacted her life forever.

“Living in those countries made me love color,” she says.

This is evident when entering her beautiful condo at Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay. The white floors, countertops, and appliances are the only items absent of color. A beautiful cobalt blue radiates from the kitchen’s backsplash and echoes through numerous large-scale paintings that adorn the home. Artists in her collection include proponents of the Pop Art movement, such as Ed Paschke, James Rosenquist, Ed Ruscha, and Nicholas Krushenick, as well as Barnett Newman, who was one of the foremost figures of the Color Field painters.

There are also large bold and bright canvases by one extremely special artist—Dr. George Pappas. Her devoted and loving husband for 55 years, George was a highly regarded and talented artist and educator who retired in 1993 from a 40-year career in higher education as Professor and Chair Emeritus of Art at the University of South Florida. His teaching career also included Penn State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

“My George was my professor at Penn State,” Sarah says. “I took every class he offered because I was in love with him…he just didn’t know it yet! Thank God I was a liberal arts major and had a lot of electives.”

“It’s a tribute to my husband because I am still very much mourning his absence. Contemporary art is what we love most about the Museum. This way our collection will be part of a larger legacy and commitment to presenting contemporary art. Being a very recent widow, I’ve learned there’s so much to do after a death. But this gives me peace and a very satisfied feeling that I can take care of this now.”
—Dr. Sarah H. Pappas

As enthusiastic as George was about art, his primary passion was his family. Throughout his 55-year marriage to Sarah, George unconditionally encouraged her to pursue graduate degrees and a career in higher education. He considered it an incredible distinction to be the “first gentleman” of then-Manatee Community College, now State College of Florida, when Sarah became the college’s first female president in 1997 and remained until her retirement in 2008. In addition to her career in academia, Sarah served as the president of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation for nine years and (among many things) has proudly served on The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation Board for the past six years.

“The Ringling has been a part of my life since George and I moved to Tampa in 1966. It wasn’t until my tenure as president of the Selby Foundation that I began to really see the development, exhibition, and progress of promoting contemporary art in Sarasota. George and I always wanted to see more contemporary art here.”

In September of 2021, George passed away after a brief battle with cancer. The late Dr. Pappas, or “my George” as Sarah so lovingly refers to him, still feels very present in their home due to his bold and colorful abstract paintings hung perfectly on the walls. Upon his death, the family asked that those who wished to honor George contribute to the Drs. George and Sarah Pappas Art Acquisition Fund at The Ringling. This fund, which has raised considerable donations, is designated to support the acquisition of contemporary art. Additionally, in 2022 Sarah announced that she intends to gift The Ringling her beloved collection of art in her estate. This includes several paintings by George, as well as the aforementioned artists in their collection.

For additional information on how to give a gift of artwork or to learn more about giving to The Ringling through your will or estate plan, please contact Michelle A. Young at 941-358-2611 or michelle.young@ringling.fsu.edu.