Remembering Jim Rustad

This fall, we lost a dear friend, advisor, advocate, philanthropist, and role model. By “we,” I mean me, the American Craft Council and so many other nonprofits, and the large, diverse circle of people lucky enough to know and love Jim Rustad (1942-2025).

Jim joined the ACC Board of Trustees in 2022 and was a highly engaged, respected member of our finance committee. Throughout his tenure and even in his last months, which were filled with medical appointments, he made it a priority to attend all ACC meetings. Jim and Kay Thomas, his partner of more than 30 years, opened their beautiful St. Paul home as hosts for our events and traveled with us to Baltimore and Atlanta. He was a remarkably effective and generous board member, and his time with ACC has left a lasting impact.

Many tributes to Jim have covered his impressive, varied career, his dedication as a board member for countless organizations, and his deep support for the arts as a collector and provider of moral support. Though also well documented, the attributes that distinguished him are worth repeating. Jim was exceptionally smart, informed, curious, kind, gentle, progressive, adventurous, funny, refined, grounded, and irreverent and reverent in exactly the right ways. Wherever he traveled, his presence was powerful enough to create a microclimate of joy and possibility.

Jim was also humble. Though I suspect he often was the smartest person in the room, he didn’t seem to care whether others noticed. To talk to Jim was to feel listened to, and worthy of his interest and concern. The focus and respect he brought to every interaction were Jim’s greatest gift. Maybe they also explain why he, the giver, remained perpetually young in heart and mind.

Thank you, Jim, and may we all follow your example.