“She has done so much for our organization, held it together, and been a real stickler for detail,” John Keith Russell said as members of the Antiques Dealers’ Association of America showered praise on Satenig St.Marie, retiring executive director of ADA. The event at the Cobb’s Mill Inn on Tuesday, May 22, brought dealers from as far away as Maine and Pennsylvania to honor this lady who has served the organization for the past 20 years.
Russell, president of ADA, said that “during her time with us she was the heart and soul of ADA” and toward the end of his remarks, he noted, “I am running out of steam,” a statement that brought a “You are doing very well” comment from “Sat,” as she is known to her many dealer friends.
“Sat” retired from J.C. Penney, where she served as the first woman vice president in the company, and came to ADA “to have something to do.” “She brought professionalism to ADA, gave life to our by-laws, and brought order to our organization,” Bert Fendelman said, adding, “It was a wonderful pleasure working with her.”
Arthur Liverant, one of the directors of ADA, said, “We would meet at her house and she was like our den mother. She would tell us what had to be done, we even had a budget, and we would not be where we are today if it were not for her.” Skip Chalfant, past president of ADA, praised her for the “executive knowledge” she brought to ADA.
Members of ADA honored their retiring director with an Award of Merit who responded by saying that “ADA has become family to me, a wonderful group of people who gave me 20 great years.”
In addition to the award, she received many cards and letter from those who were unable to attend. Her position has been filled by Lincoln Sander, the new executive director, who praised “Sat” for all her work and said, “She has small shoes, but they are very large to fill.”
