About

Muriel Wood Ponzecchi, known to her friends as "Oriel," was born on February 8, 1924, and passed away on December 21, 2015. She was the granddaughter of William Wood, president of the American Wollen Company in Lawrence. 

Muriel grew up in Andover at the Wood Estate, named "Arden." She attended Vassar College majoring in philosophy and then went on to graduate school at Radcliffe College and Stanford University, where she was awarded a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. 

Muriel led an active life in retirement with her husband, Piero, and a number of canine companions over the years. She took up photography and traveled, but always spent her summers at her home, "Winter House" on Cuttyhunk Island near Cape Cod. 

Cuttyhunk was one of her favorite things to photograph and her pictures were displayed in island stores, galleries and homes. 

The photography contest was created to honor her creativity and passion for the island. The hope for the contest is to inspire artists of all ages to capture their own view and perpetuate Oriel's legacy.