Yaddo Announces New Leadership For Its Second Century

Peter C. Gould

Saratoga Springs, NY (September 8, 2003) — Yaddo, the world-famous artists' community in Saratoga Springs, is under new leadership, having just elected Peter C. Gould, an intellectual property lawyer, as chairman, and renowned magazine editor Patricia Towers as vice chairman.

Mr. Gould succeeds Donald S. Rice, a New York City attorney who is stepping down after 16 extremely successful years as Yaddo's board chairman. Mrs. Towers follows the Rhode Island-based poet and literary critic Nancy Sullivan, who has served as vice chair for 8 years. Mr. Gould and Mrs. Towers assumed their new positions at a meeting of the members and directors of The Corporation of Yaddo held September 5-7 at Yaddo.

"My love for Yaddo and its mission has sustained me through my sixteen year reign," said Mr. Rice. "I have derived indescribable joy from the experience of chairing Yaddo; it's been a uniquely enriching experience, taking me to realms beyond the legal, political and business worlds of my professional life. This legacy of joy and enthusiasm emanating from the Trasks I willingly but reluctantly cede to Peter. I have great faith in his ability to lead Yaddo into new decades of artistic achievement."

Mr. Gould, a member of The Corporation of Yaddo since 1997, is a managing partner at Sabin, Bermant & Gould LLP, a New York City firm that maintains a general corporate law practice with a specialty in media law. The firm's clients include The Condé Nast Publications, Fairchild Publications, and Parade Magazine.

"After being on the board for a while, and knowing the central role Yaddo has played in America's cultural life for over a hundred years, I'm greatly looking forward to the Chairmanship," Gould noted. "Working with the many wonderful people who love and support Yaddo, I'll do my absolute utmost to build on the achievements of my predecessors. It's inspiring to have the opportunity to help preserve and enhance this cherished place for artists."

Prior to becoming a managing partner at Sabin, Bermant & Gould, Mr. Gould was a partner specializing in all aspects of publishing law and an associate specializing in editorial aspects of publishing law. He previously worked as an associate at Townley, Updike, Carter & Rodgers, specializing in litigation and counseling for media clients, including The Daily News and Newsday. A graduate of C.W. Post College and Columbia University, Mr. Gould was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1973. He is a member of the Legal Affairs Committee for the Newspaper Association of America and formerly served as a member of the City of New York Bar Association Committee on Communications Law and as chair of the Magazine Publishers of America Legal Affairs Committee.

Mrs. Towers is features director at O, the Oprah Magazine, and has been a member of The Corporation of Yaddo since 1995. She began her publishing career at Time magazine, then moved to the book publisher Harcourt, Brace, before going to The New York Times Book Review. Mrs. Towers was a founding editor of Vanity Fair magazine, was in on the launch of 7 Days, and has worked at Mirabella and Elle magazines. Throughout her career, she has championed writers, working with leading authors and nurturing newcomers.

Yaddo's president, Elaina Richardson, said, "Yaddo has always been incredibly lucky in its leadership, and that trend clearly continues with the appointment of Peter Gould and Pat Towers. Both have had remarkable careers in which they've built their reputation on intelligence, empathy, and good judgment. They couldn't be more highly-regarded in the publishing world, and they have the appreciation and support of all the artists in Yaddo's world."