Catching Up With ... Martha Stewart '63

Image

Where are you living?

I live in Katonah, New York, on a 150-acre farm with six horses, four dogs, two cats, 17 peacocks, 200 chickens, 12 geese, five donkeys, and 40 homing pigeons.

Have you traveled recently?

I last took an eight-day trip to mainland China with my 7- and 8-year-old grandchildren and daughter Alexis, also a Barnard graduate. It was a very good trip and a good opportunity for the children to practice their Mandarin, which they are learning to speak and read at the Avenues school in Manhattan. According to the guides in Beijing and in Xi’an, their comprehension was excellent. We travel quite extensively as a family, and this gives the children the opportunity to see the world and compare country to country. Their favorites so far have been the Galápagos, Botswana, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

Are you working, retired, semiretired?

I am working very hard 24/7 at my job at Martha Stewart Living, which is now a part of Marquee Brands in New York City.

What have you been doing for fun and for enlightenment?

For fun, I garden, horseback ride, hike, and build. For enlightenment, I am an active philanthropist, focusing on geriatric care — the Martha Stewart Center for Living, part of the Mount Sinai Hospital family, has two locations in Manhattan — and on environmental issues, primarily in Maine, with a focus on Acadia National Park and Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

What kind of impact did Barnard have on you?

I am very pleased with the progress Barnard has made in educating the young women of this next generation. Many members of my family have attended Barnard, and the education we all received there has helped us tremendously in the rest of our lives.

Thank you, Barnard.