Christopher A. Judge, the newly appointed Director of the North Shore Historical Museum, has always followed his heart, even when it led him down unexpected paths. From a successful career in sales to an impactful journey through non-profit work, Christopher’s story is one of reinvention, passion, and dedication to preserving history and fostering community engagement.
Born with a love for music, Judge earned undergraduate degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Therapy from SUNY New Paltz. He sang professionally at Christ Church in Oyster Bay for 14 years, a role that connected him to the community and began his deep engagement with the area’s rich history. “My way of introduction into Oyster Bay was through Christ Church,” he recalls. “I’ve sung professionally with the choir there, which gave me a sense of belonging and a love for the area.”
Judge began his career in sales, where he quickly climbed the ladder to become a district sales manager for MarketSource, overseeing operations in New York City. Despite his achievements, something was missing.
“The excitement of my day-to-day work started to fizzle,” he said. “I realized my heart was pulling me elsewhere. I didn’t want to help someone build a seventh house; I wanted to do something meaningful.”
Taking a leap of faith, he transitioned to the non-profit sector, a move he describes as terrifying but ultimately fulfilling.
“It’s gone from one success to the next,” Judge said. “I know the universe is leading me in the right path.”
Judge’s journey through non-profit work began with Friends of the Bay and later Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, where he served as Director of Visitor Services and Marketing. Over his seven-year tenure, he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the museum’s programs.
At Raynham Hall, Judge helped develop tour content alongside the education director, established historic spirits tours and boat tours, and reintroduced the Oyster Bay walking tours. His efforts extended beyond programming to preservation, where he led initiatives to conserve cemetery headstones and repaint historic markers. These projects underscored his commitment to preserving local heritage while fostering community involvement.
His innovative spirit also led to the introduction of technology-driven exhibits at Raynham Hall.
“We incorporated interactive elements like augmented reality and artificial intelligence,” he said. “Visitors could ask questions to a digital George Washington, who would search his ‘digital brain’ to provide answers. It was a fantastic way to engage young people and make history come alive.”
Judge’s appointment as Director of the North Shore Historical Museum is a natural progression of his dedication to history and community. His vision for the museum is ambitious yet grounded. He aims to expand educational outreach, establish partnerships with schools and libraries, and introduce interactive exhibits that incorporate cutting-edge technology.
“I would love to institute programs similar to what I developed at Raynham Hall,” he said. “Building on the museum’s existing community engagement efforts and preserving local heritage are my top priorities.”
In addition to his professional achievements, Judge is pursuing an MBA at Long Island University, with a focus on non-profit management.
“One of the classes I’m taking is accounting for non-profits, which will help me in my new position,” he said.
