PROVIDENCE – Ted Sanderson, the longtime executive director of the R.I. Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, has announced his retirement. Executive director since 1984, Sanderson, in a statement released to his contacts, said he had worked at the commission for 42 years.
“I have decided that this is the right time for me to retire and for the Commission to transition to new leadership,” he wrote. “I had the rare opportunity to learn from Antoinette Downing and Fred Williamson, two great leaders of America’s historic preservation movement, who preached time and again that Rhode Island’s extraordinary historical resources are worth preserving.”
During his tenure, Rhode Island protected thousands of historic buildings and archeological sites and approved historic rehabilitation and restoration plans for 2,500 historic buildings.
The commission has named the deputy director, Jeffrey Emidy, to serve as acting executive director, effective Aug. 1.
Sanderson will continue to serve as the state-appointed state historic preservation officer.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Email her at MacDonald@PBN.com, or you can follow her on Twitter @MaryF_MacDonald.
