Christine Rupp, is a “can do” person unafraid to tackle challenges head on with amazing results.
A native of Ohio, Rupp moved to Palm Beach County in 1980. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Design and Social Inquiry and worked as a paralegal prior to moving to Coral Gables. Upon moving to the Gables in 1993, Rupp began doing volunteer work and became involved in the historic preservation community.
With eight years of service on the Merrick House Governing Board of Directors and another three years chairing Dade Heritage Trust’s Dade Heritage Days, Rupp earned the respect of her peers always going above and beyond.
Aside from working for the Friends of the Miami-Dade County Public Library, Rupp’s organizational skills were apparent time and again as she planned Earth Day events for Citizens for a Better South Florida, and the City of Miami’s inaugural Miami River Day in addition to working on various successful political campaigns.
With this track record of excellence and an interest in historic preservation, it is no wonder that Rupp became the Coral Gables Museum’s first employee in 2007, and was named director of operations in 2008.
She is very excited about the museum’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, operating the museum in a “green” manner and setting an example for Coral Gables’ business community. Under Rupp’s direction, the museum formed a partnership with Shenandoah Museum Magnet School resulting in the publication of the book about Gables history titled Building a Dream, created by Shenandoah students who also produced and directed a yet-tobe- previewed documentary film about the Coral Gables Waterway.
In addition to her paying jobs, Rupp has been involved actively as a member of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce serving on many committees. She also has served on the City of Coral Gables’ Cultural Development Board as well as the Landscape Beautification Advisory Board.
She currently serves on Coral Gables K- 8 Center Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (EESAC) Committee. Through this committee and in her position at the museum, Rupp was instrumental in creating Coral Gables’ First School Community Garden at Gables Elementary (now Gables K-8 Center), working with school principal Graciela Cerra, Slow Food Miami, the Coral Gables Garden Club and the American Institute of Wine and Food. The garden project will continue and expand this year with Rupp’s assistance.
In her free time, Rupp currently is training for the ING half-marathon. She takes full advantage of the South Florida lifestyle playing golf, tennis, swimming, and scuba diving, and even is involved in ballroom dancing. She is a docent at the Biltmore Hotel as a member of team of volunteers who provide public tours every Sunday.
You may have seen this little dynamo with short blond hair riding a motor scooter around Coral Gables “going green” as she makes efficient use of time.
Rupp notes that, while she loved the Gables, her heart remains in northwestern Ohio, where she owns a five-acre farm — complete with the 1896 three-story brick house where her mother was born. It comes complete with barns, a chicken coop, bee hives, a summer kitchen and a Chevy pickup, all located on a dirt road.
Rupp’s next big challenge will be the opening of the Coral Gables Museum on Oct. 10 (10/10/10).
