Obituary from the Washington Post, April 4, 2009 (by Lauren Wiseman) David A. Liston Security ConsultantDavid A. Liston, 64, a security expert and analyst who had worked for the Smithsonian Institution since 1977, died March 4 at his home in Cheverly. He had cancer. Mr. Liston began his career at the Smithsonian in the Office of Protection Services, training security officers in the United States and abroad. Later, he became a safety officer and disaster preparedness coordinator in the Office of Facilities Management and Reliability. He also consulted with museum professionals around the world on modern museum security systems and disaster preparedness. Most recently, he met with museum officials from Iraq to help them recover and preserve antiques that were stolen during the latest conflict. David Alan Liston, a native of Santa Barbara, Calif., received a bachelor's degree in English from Northern Illinois University in 1971 and a master's degree in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University in 1978. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War and later was stationed in Panama. In 1978, he help found the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection, a three-day conference for museum security professionals, and last month received its Robert Burke Award for excellence in cultural property protection. He also helped found the Cultural Property Protection Exposition and served on its international museum security committee and board of directors. He was a member of the American Association of Museums and served as secretary, treasurer and vice chairman for the Museum Association Security Committee. He edited a book, "Museum Security and Protection: A Handbook for Cultural Heritage Institutions," published in 1993. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Barbara Scully Liston of Cheverly; three children, Claire Liston of Alexandria, Shawn Liston of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Christopher Liston of Somerville, Mass.; his mother, Virginia Liston of Rockford, Ill.; a sister; and a brother. Full ObituaryDavid C. Liston, a 32-year veteran of the Smithsonian Institution, died on March 4, 2009 of cancer. He was 64. Mr. Liston was born in San Diego, California on October 6, 1944 to Virginia Shirley and Fletcher Liston. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Panama, attended Northwestern University, and met the former Barbara Scully in Chicago. They were married in 1971 and settled in Cheverly in 1978. Mr. Liston was a world-renowned expert in modern museum security systems and disaster preparedness. Most recently, he worked with museum professionals in Iraq to protect and preserve thousands of priceless antiquities in that war-torn country. He was also an accomplished writer and a dedicated a mentor and teacher to hundreds of security officers, staff, interns and visiting professionals. Just hours before his death, Mr. Liston accepted, via telephone, the prestigious Robert Burke Award from the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection, which recognizes individuals whose accomplishments and impact on the cultural property protection community merit significant recognition. His colleagues, gathered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, gave him two standing ovations. He began his career at the Smithsonian in 1977 in the Office of Protective Services, where he trained security officers in the U.S. and overseas. He rose through the ranks of the Smithsonian, and in 2003 was assigned to the Office of Exhibits Central as a Special Assistant to the Director, providing program analysis and strategic planning. In 2006, he was given the additional duties as Safety Officer and Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, and in 2008 was assigned that position full-time in the Office of Facility Management and Reliability. Mr. Liston was active in several professional organizations. In 1978, he helped found the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection, which he managed for the next twenty years. During this time, he conducted museum protection workshops and international security conferences. “The programs he assembled were essential to establishing and solidifying the Conference’s reputation for value that has allowed it to endure and thrive to this day,” according to Michael Headley, Director of the Smithsonian’s Office of Central Exhibits, who delivered one of the eulogies at Mr. Liston’s funeral. He was also one of the founders of the Cultural Property Protection Exposition; he served on its International Committee on Museum Security for ten years and on its board of directors for three years. He was also active in the American Association of Museums, including several positions on the Museum Security Committee. His influence safeguards cultural treasures in many museums around the world; he was especially proud of his work in The Hermitage in Russia. A well-regarded networker, his generosity helped many young professionals rise through the ranks and thrive in their jobs, according to Mr. Headley. He offered a wealth of contacts and an exhaustive knowledge of the field, best attested by the book he edited, “Museum Security and Protection: A Handbook for Cultural Heritage Institutions,” published in 1993. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind three children – Claire Liston of Alexandria, Virginia, Christopher Liston of Sommerville, Massachusetts, and Shawn Liston of Bonita Springs, Florida. He is also survived by his mother, his sister Barbara Pipas, and his brother Daniel Liston. |