Paul Bass Photo
Andrew Wolf, who as city government’s cultural director tapped an endless reservoir of inspiration and enthusiasm to boost New Haven’s arts scene, died Tuesday at the age of 68.
He died peacefully at Connecticut Hospice with his family around him.
“His dedication, passion, and infectious enthusiasm for New Haven has left an enduring impact, so this is a great loss to our creative community,” Arts Council Executive Director Daniel Fitzmaurice wrote in a community-wide email message.
“Andy was a special guy and I doubt we will ever see someone like him again. I learned so much from him and was inspired about his constant desire to infuse the arts with all that we do,” city Community Services Administrator Dakibu Muléy wrote in another community email message.
“Andy had exceptional enthusiasm for New Haven and will be sorely missed,” Mayor Toni Harp stated.
Wolf grew up in New Haven’s Norton/Chapel Street area. He earned degrees form Trinity, Georgetown Law, and Harvard, and embarked on a diverse career that took him across the country to L.A. He worked as a lawyer, hosted a radio show, behind the scenes at CBS and the United Nations, then president of the Pacfic Design Center and marketing and regulatory advisor at Cedarlane Natural Foods.
He and then-State Sen. Toni Harp met in L.A. during the 2000 Democratic Party presidential nominating convention. They stayed in touch. When Harp became mayor in 2014, she lured Wolf back home to serve as her director of arts, culture & tourism.
Director of a department of two. Wolf. One aide.
Harp’s charge to Wolf: Make fun, interesting cultural events happen every month in New Haven. Without spending any public money.
Wolf rose to the challenge. He cooked up endless ideas. He found outside groups to fund them and participate in them.
He did that with an irrepressible love for his city, for people, for community. Getting pitched an idea by Andy Wolf was even more fun that actually attending the events that ensued.
As a result, New Haven launched a popular annual opera and pizza fest on the Green. It has a new sister city. It has an expanded jazz fest. It has an annual birthday celebration that brings together people of all ages. It honors community heroes from all walks of life once a year. To name a few Wolfian projects.
Like any visionary, he dreamed big with some ideas that didn’t materialize in his lifetime, leaving his successors work to do. One example: If Downtown ever does end up with those “strategically-placed” public European-style self-flushing “conveniences,” we’ll all have another reason to remember Andy Wolf. In the meantime, we’ll have arias and sax solos in the summer air.
Wolf, the beloved son of Ruth and Harold Wolf, is survived by his loving brother Jimmy (Melanie), sister Jan (Rich) and six adoring nieces and nephews, Rachel (Jeff), Ruthie (Tim), Julie (Seth), Daniel (Kaylan), Michael, and Jake.
Funeral services for Wolf are planned at Robert E. Shure & Son Funeral Home, 543 George St., Friday at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be sent to CT Hospice, Inc. or to Smilow Cancer Hospital. A period of mourning will be observed at 112 Judwin Ave. on Friday following the service until 7p.m., Saturday, 6 – 8 p.m., and on Sunday, 1 – 3:30 p.m.
A terrible loss. I didn't know he was ill.