What Did That ‘MR 20!’ Message on the Pru Mean?
If you found yourself wondering why the Pru was lit up to display the message “MR 20!’’ Saturday night, you weren’t alone.
[fragment number=0]
[fragment number=1]
[fragment number=2]
The “MR’’ stood for Malcolm Rogers, outgoing director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, who on Sunday marked 20 years as director of the museum — the longest tenure in the MFA’s 144-year history. Rogers announced that he would be retiring back in February, and became the longest-serving director in May. His leadership saw the reopening of the MFA’s Fenway entrance, the elimination of entrance fees for children under 17, and, in 2010, the opening of the Art of the Americas Wing.
The MFA’s Malcolm Rogers.
While the Pru lit up in his honor Saturday night, the MFA feted him with a moonlight gala. But the love doesn’t end there for Rogers — the MFA is holding a free community day to celebrate his milestone, and Mayor Marty Walsh declared Sunday, Sept. 7 to be “Malcolm Rogers Day’’ in Boston. (Though WBUR reports he was one of the last to know:)
He came in on his day off, dressed casually in a button-down and khaki slacks. Rogers joked about being the last person at the museum to hear the news about the mayor’s decree. “People have been very good about keeping secrets,’’ he said with a laugh, adding, “I feel very honored — and I’m thrilled that it’s a free community day here at the museum.’’
Maybe “MR 20!’’ wasn’t as clear a message to some Bostonians as the familiar “GO SOX!’’ or “GO B’s,’’ but it’s nice to know that here in Boston, when it comes to Pru shout-outs, we’re as proud of our museum directors as we are of our sports heroes.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com