Steven M. Mendelson

For several years before coming to New London, Steve was emploed by City University of New York in a variety of administrative and counseling positions. Steve arrived in New London in 1971,having accepted the offer of $25.00 per week and"all you can eat" to assist in the box office at the Barn Playhouse.

He continued for the next 30 years as a mainstay at the Barn Playhouse. His primary job was Business Manager and Controller, but over the years he ended up doing any job that needed to be done. He could be found washing dishes in the kitchen, watching a rehearsal to give help if needed, picking up butts in the parking lot, or giving good advice to a staff member or intern about any number of topics.

On occasion he could even be seen on stage at Sawyer Center at Colby-Sawyer College, at the Newport (NH) Opera House or with the Sunapee-Kearsarge Intercommunity Theatre (S.K.I.T.). He was a founding member of S.K.I.T. and was an advisor and board member from its inception. In addition to his busy theatre schedule, he was a well respected community servant, serving on the boards of the New London Historical Society, the Town Hall Refurbishers, the New London Area Chamber of Commerce and as Chair and founding member of the New London Bandstand Committee. Most every Friday evening during the summer, he was on the town green introducing the evening concert. Local voters recognized him as one of the friendly faces at the poles and in 1998 he was elected as Town Treasurer. His belief in community service was rewarded in 1977 when he received the New London Rotary Club’s Community Service Award.

His devotion to theatre, the arts and community service are the principles which guide the scholarship committee in choosing recipients for the annual Steven M. Mendelson Scholarships.