Working up a head of STEAM for art

The good works of the Siegel Trust

By Zoey McGee | Manor Ink

Liberty, NY – The STEAM Fund, an acronym for Siegel Trust Enriching Arts and Music, was founded by Gary and Judy Siegel in 2015, and was created to honor the lifelong dedication, passion and support of the arts shown by Gary’s parents, Lee and Marge Siegel. Throughout their lives, Lee and Marge were deeply connected to music and the arts scene in Sullivan County, regularly attending shows at Shandelee and doing whatever they could to support local artists.

After World War II, Lee and Marge moved back to Livingston Manor, where they opened Siegel’s Department Store on Main Street. Both parents were heavily involved in the community. Lee was a charter member of the hamlet’s Rotary Club, served 20 years on the school board, spent 10 years as the Town of Rockland supervisor, was president of the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation and served on the Roscoe Nursing Home board. Marge was also dedicated, working with the Sullivan County Arts Council, Ladies Aid at Congregation of Agudas Achim, the PTA and volunteering to catalog braille books for the Library of Congress.

Growing up around music and the arts

Music played a central role in Gary Siegel’s childhood. That was because his mom was a classically trained pianist, and his dad played clarinet and saxophone and was a music major at Ithaca College before being drafted during World War II. Many of Gary’s aunts and uncles were also musically inclined.

Judy Siegel’s background was different, but also rooted in Livingston Manor. Her grandparents settled here, and her father built a farm that eventually became a Catskills hotel. While Judy did not grow up in a musically trained family, music was always present, and community involvement was a shared value with Gary’s family, who were actually close to Judy’s when the couple grew up.

Together, these experiences shaped Gary and Judy’s belief in giving back. That belief is at the heart of what the STEAM Fund has become today. Judy grew closer to music through Gary, who studied the importance of music in character development and went on to have a long career as an instrumental music teacher in the Livingston Manor and Liberty school districts. The Siegels passed that love on to their two children. Both children began piano lessons at the age of three and later took on secondary instruments. Their son went on to study sound technology at Ithaca College and became a sound engineer.

The healing power of music

In 2015, the family experienced another life-changing moment when their son suffered a sudden medical emergency and had to be flown to a trauma center in Westchester. He had multiple strokes and was on a ventilator for several days. Doctors were unsure if he would walk or speak again. When he eventually woke up, it became clear that he could not speak.

While he was in the ICU, friends visited often. One day, someone brought in a keyboard. As the Siegels’ son began playing Stevie Wonder songs, the first sounds came out of his mouth. From that moment on, he slowly relearned to speak. For Judy, this experience confirmed everything she had always believed about music: that it connects neurons, supports healing and carries real power. “Music is such a powerful force in our world,” she said.

Supporting festivals and healthy food

Today, the Siegel Trust Enriching Arts and Music primarily supports artists, musicians and venues where they share their gifts throughout Sullivan County, with a recent expansion into Delaware County.

One major cornerstone of STEAM’s work is the arts education and community enrichment programs they offer. Through their initiative known as Mission One Gig At A Time or MOGAAT, they sponsor festivals and performances like the Shandelee Music Festival, the RadioBOLD Music Festival, the HPAC Summer Music Festival, the Weekend of Chamber Music and others.

STEAM also runs multiple Arts in Education programs for students of all ages, such as “The Real Food Songwriting Program.”

Partnerships are also a big part of STEAM’s work. They collaborate with organizations such as SUNY Sullivan and local events like the 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon, which provided a grant supporting STEAM’s Healthy Habits programs.

The Siegels have also launched a podcast titled “Full STEAM Ahead,” hosted by Michelle Semerano. The podcast features interviews with artists about their musical journeys and, in the first episode, Gary and Judy shared their own story and the inspiration behind STEAM. The podcast is available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

“At the end of the day, we just want to do what we can to contribute to things that make the world a gentler and kinder place,” Judy Siegel said.

Looking ahead, the Siegels’ main goal is to continue expanding their nonprofit and building partnerships that strengthen the arts community. When asked about their favorite music, Judy described herself as a “classic rock fan,” while Gary’s taste is more eclectic, appreciating music of all kinds.