Stephanie M. Terenzio, former assistant director of the William Benton Museum of Art, died September 13. She was 66.

Terenzio had been an important figure in the museum's development since its inception in 1967. Thomas Bruhn, curator of the Benton Museum, says that Terenzio was "instrumental in establishing the design and philosophy of the museum and in always striving for the highest quality art."

She is remembered for being a focused and serious scholar of the arts. One of her most noteworthy exhibitions at the Benton Museum was Robert Motherwell and Black, in 1979. Other artists she was responsible for bringing to the Benton Museum were the painter, Milton Avery, and collage artist, Ann Ryan. Terenzio later interviewed Motherwell, an American abstract expressionist painter, for the definitive work on his graphic art, and after her retirement as the museum's assistant director, she edited a book of his writings on art.

Stephanie Terenzio was born in Hartford, the daughter of John and Mary Samek. She lived for most of her life in Mansfield, before moving to Coventry 10 years ago with her husband, Anthony Terenzio. She is survived by a daughter, Lisa Terenzio, and a sister, Theresa Samek.