$10 million gift to advance arts and learning at art museum

The Colby College Museum of Art has received a $10 million gift from long-time supporters Dorothy Weathers Maston and her husband, Dr. Bruce Maston, providing a major boost to the museum’s operations and artistic initiatives.

The funding will support exhibitions, educational programs, collection care, academic partnerships, and other mission-driven activities that expand access to the arts for Colby students and visitors.

The gift establishes the Dorothy Weathers Maston Museum Endowment, a permanent source of support that will strengthen the museum’s ability to plan boldly for the future and invest in innovative programming. Jacqueline Terrassa, the Carolyn Muzzy Director of the Colby College Museum of Art, emphasized the transformative nature of the Mastons’ philanthropy.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Dorothy and Bruce Maston for their vision, generosity, and trust. They’ve been dedicated supporters of the museum for many years, and their gift will benefit our students and our visitors for generations to come,” Terrassa said.

She noted that the unrestricted nature of the endowment will give the museum vital flexibility as it advances its mission of opening access to art and artists and creating opportunities for learning, inspiration, and enjoyment, including a growing art-on-campus initiative.

For the Maston family, the gift reflects a deep, multigenerational commitment to education and the arts.

“It is impossible to overstate the impact Colby had on Dorothy’s life,” said her stepdaughter of 38 years, Sarah Maston.

“Colby was profoundly important to her, and Dorothy often spoke of her wish to give back. Rooted in a family of educators, she carried forward a lifelong devotion to learning.” Dorothy Weathers majored in French at Colby before earning a master’s degree from New York University and teaching French and Spanish at Herricks High School on Long Island for 23 years. Dr. Bruce Maston built a distinguished career at the intersection of medicine and law, specializing in medical malpractice.

Their partnership was grounded in a shared love of the arts. Dorothy was passionate about the visual arts and fashion, while Bruce gravitated toward music, theater, and opera.

“She brought the visual arts to him, and he brought the performing arts to her. They built their life around artistic events and experiences,” said Sarah. Many years ago, the couple chose to include Colby in their long-term philanthropic plans. After Dorothy’s passing in April, Bruce made an additional contribution to the College, working with Sarah and daughter-in-law Teresa to imagine a garden at the museum’s entrance in Dorothy’s honor.

The garden, to be installed this spring, will welcome visitors as a living tribute to Dorothy’s creativity and care. An award-winning gardener, she was celebrated by her family for her ability to cultivate beauty and connection; Bruce described the garden as “a ribbon atop the gift to the museum.” In keeping with the couple’s longstanding support of the Colby College Museum of Art, Dorothy’s obituary invited memorial contributions to the museum. Bruce passed away in July, leaving behind a legacy of cultural engagement and generosity that continues through the endowment.

For Sarah, the story of the gift is inseparable from her stepmother’s enduring bond with Colby.

“She talked fondly about Colby all the time. All the things you hope will happen at college happened for her there,” she said.

“Colby was an overarching presence in her life. Her heart never left.” Sarah added that the Maston family’s choice reflects a broader commitment to philanthropy and the arts.

“On behalf of my family, I am proud of my dad and Dorothy’s decision to make such a meaningful gift, and proud that their legacy endures in such a profound and positive way. I am inspired by their example: they worked tirelessly and chose to do something that ensures a college student they will never meet has the chance to experience the arts.”