FROM OUR PRESIDENT

I am proud of my long relationship with the East End Hospice board, from the early years when we were in formation, to today when we are a mature organization. And I have always seen the board as a group acutely aware of its responsibility to the community – to uphold the very finest quality of care for the people we serve – the East End residents.

It is not easy to be a member of a volunteer board, with such substantial duties and responsibilities. Not the least of these is to be sure that we have adequate funds to carry out our mission. Recent years have been difficult times for health care as we all know, to resolve the ever-widening disparity between what insurance will pay for services rendered, and what those services actually cost. I note with tremendous pride that in eighteen years East End Hospice has finished every single year in the black – often by a slim margin, but with no year ending in deficit despite rising costs. This achievement reflects assiduous work by the board in fundraising projects and events, and in community campaigns and generous individual gifts.

The scope of the responsibilities of our board, however, is not only to ensure that the business is run efficiently and that our mission is carried out with the utmost care. That scope also includes looking at current trends in health care and what may be coming, and positioning us to be prepared to meet the challenges ahead. To this end, the ethics, finance, and fundraising committees invite participation from all parts of our East End community.

For the work of the board, in its generous and skilled help on behalf of the entire East End community, I express the gratefulness of all staff, volunteers, and friends of East End Hospice.

– Priscilla Ruffin

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EEH Board of Directors 2008

Ellen D. Baer, RN, lives in Florida, New York, and Jamesport and is a Visiting Professor of Nursing who advises EEH in health care issues, problem solving, as well as with fundraising and volunteers. Is former chair of the board’s ethics committee, leading preparations for Supreme Court decision on physician assisted suicide, and lends expertise to diverse board projects – among them personnel, clinical research, Jeremy Goes to Camp Good Grief, residence projects as well as special events. Serves on National Hospice Association Foundation board.

Jean Brechter, Shelter Island, is an Associate Real Estate Broker and former Owner of Foxfire Real Estate Company. Devotes time and energy to furthering the EEH mission on Shelter Island, serves as a patient family and Camp Good Grief volunteer, and chairs a biennial cocktail party on Shelter Island.

Jane S. Campbell, a real estate broker living in Quogue, is a patient family volunteer and frequent hostess of small dinner parties to introduce Hospice to new contacts. Active in fundraising, including service as chair of EEH Sandacres Gala and as Camp Good Grief volunteer.

Steven M. Coen, from Florida and Southampton, is an information technology and banking operations industry consultant. Is EEH board treasurer, finance committee chair, and residence committee chair, and participates at Camp Good Grief.

Robert W. Deichert, East Hampton, is a retired professional engineer. Advises on operations techniques, and has served as EEH board treasurer, chair of the finance committee, and member of EEH speakers bureau and opera benefit committee.

Dorothy V. Evans, a real estate broker from Remsenburg, is a founding board member and former secretary of the board and the founder of the Thrift Shop with Jeanne Waller. Has helped with numerous fundraising events and community programs and served as a speaker for EEH. Active in Sandacres, Tree of Lights, and patient family volunteer training.

Carolyn Gemake, Water Mill, is retired from a career in sales and catering. She joined the board in 2006 and currently serves on the Box Art Auction committee.

Steven R. Goldfarb, MD, lives and practices in Southampton and is affiliated with Southampton Hospital. Among associations – American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, NY Medical Society. Aids in conveying to practicing physicians the value of end-of-life-care issues. Is EEH ethics committee chair, establishing clinical policy on removal of life support systems from patients in home setting. Active in speakers bureau, Camp Good Grief.

Lorrie McQuilling Gordon, Esq., Remsenburg, is an attorney and former public school teacher. Former chairman and board liaison for EEH Golf & Tennis and East End Open committee member since 1994.

Lynn Stanton Jerome lives in East Hampton and owns Stanton Capital Management in East Hampton. Serves on the EEH finance committee. Active in the speakers bureau.

L. Wesley Lowd, retired marketing executive, lives in Quiogue. Serves on the EEH finance committee. Developed corporate fundraising strategy and Sandacres Journal.

Barbara McMahon, Remsenburg, is a retired elementary school teacher. Currently secretary and development chair of the board and an active patient family volunteer. Has served on executive committee and as chair and advisor for Sandacres Summer Gala, and helped with Tree of Lights in Westhampton Beach.

Rajesh Patel, MD, Quogue, is a physician in private practice with Eastern Suffolk Pulmonology and affiliated with Peconic Bay Medical Center. Among associations – International Surgical Mission and Mt. Sinai Hospital, NY–Critical Care. Has helped at Camp Good Grief. In first board term, presented staff seminar on clinical management of end stage pulmonary disease in ALS.

W. Michael Pitcher, Quogue, is former editor of the Southampton Press Western Edition and a freelance writer. Is a founding member of EEH and has served as Board of Directors chair since 1992. Has been active in speakers bureau and Camp Good Grief, and as patient family volunteer.

Louis Pizzarello, MD, Remsenburg, is a Physician and Ophthalmologist with offices in Riverhead, Southold, and Southampton; affiliated with Southampton Hospital. Active as vice chairman of EEH board and past chairman of residence committee, and as Camp Good Grief volunteer.

Dominick Protomastro lives in Westhampton Beach and is retired from the industrial management field, former president/CEO of Philips Medical Systems Corporation. Is a member of the EEH board’s finance committee, and has helped EEH with business planning and analysis. Serves also as patient family volunteer.

Helen Sheehy, Amagansett, is the chair of the board’s nominating committee and has been actively involved in special events fundraisers for EEH, among them Songs for a Summer Night Opera and Box Art Auction. Has led Tree of Lights in East Hampton since its inception, and with her husband John has been a patient family volunteer. Helped secure East Hampton LVIS grant funding for Jeremy Goes to Camp Good Grief.

Jacalyn Krauss Weinstein holds a master’s degree in social work, and lives in New York City and Westhampton Beach. Has completed patient family volunteer training and helped at Camp Good Grief, and founded EEH’s Annual Valentine Salon to benefit Camp Good Grief. Instrumental in developing East End Open tennis tournament; has served on EEH board’s public relations committee.

Priscilla A. Ruffin, RN, MS, CS, NPP, is the president and CEO of East End Hospice and has been at the helm since the organization’s inception in 1990. She facilitated the agency’s transition from an all-volunteer palliative care program to a certified hospice with clinical staff and volunteer training programs, community and children's bereavement care programs, and is a co-founder of Camp Good Grief. She has lectured extensively on topics associated with end of life issues and grief in a variety of academic and community settings. Priscilla holds a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner in psychiatry and is certified as a clinical nurse specialist and trauma therapist concentrating on issues of emotional trauma, grief and bereavement. She’s developed innovative bereavement care programs for adults and children and is co-author of Jeremy Goes to Camp Good Grief, a book for grieving children – which has become a best seller in the professional arena. A companion book for the caregivers of grieving children is scheduled for publication later this year.

Louis J. Avvento, MD, lives in Manorville and has offices in Riverhead and Southampton for his practice, Eastern Long Island Hematology and Oncology; affiliated with Southampton Hospital, Eastern Long Island Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center; diverse associations include American College of Physicians and American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Helps EEH with end of life care issues with East End physicians and medical staff.

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Don L. Andrus*, East Hampton, 1994-97 Stephen R. Angel, Remsenburg, 1996-08
Louis J. Avvento, MD, 1991- Ellen D. Baer, Jamesport/FL, 1995- Jean Brechter, Shelter Island, 1997- Jane S. Campbell, Quogue, 1996- Byron Chandler, Westhampton Beach, 1986-99 E. L. Childs*, Westhampton, 1986-94 Albert Cleary, New York, 1991-92 Steven M. Coen, Southampton/FL, 2005- Anne Finch Cox*, Westhampton Beach, 1990-95 Michael J. Cruise, Westhampton Beach, 1986-93 James de Blasis, Amagansett, 1998-07 Robert Deichert, East Hampton, 1995- Kathryn Duggan, Southampton, 1997-02 Jan Dunay, Westhampton Beach, 2002-04 Dorothy V. Evans, Remsenburg, 1986- Elizabeth Failing, Westhampton Beach, 1986-91 Carolyn Gemake, Water Mill, 2004-06 Steven Goldfarb, MD, Southampton, 2003- Lorrie McQuilling Gordon, Remsenburg, 2005- David H. Hall, Westhampton, 1986-90 Barbara Hattrick*, Southampton, 1986-93 Lynn Stanton Jerome, East Hampton, 2008- Charles E. Johnson*, Westhampton, 1989-90 Susan Kohl Katz*, Remsenburg, 1995-02 Norma Lawrence, East Quogue/FL, 1987-88 Norman L. Leavitt, Remsenburg, 1991-97 Louis LeGrand, North Fork, 1992-94 L. Wesley Lowd, Quogue, 1998- James Makrianes*, East Hampton, 2004 Susan McAllister, Quogue/FL, 1987-89 . Kevin McLaughlin, Esq., Cutchogue, 1995-97 Barbara McMahon, Remsenburg, 2000- Kathleen McVann*, Westhampton Beach, 1988-91 Virginia Morris, Sag Harbor, 2001-04 John C. Morrison*, Water Mill, 1990-95 David L. Mudd, Southold, 1996-97 Jay Nuland, Quogue, 1987-89 Jack O’Leary, NYC/East Hampton, 1998-03 Rajesh Patel, MD, Quogue, 2006- Susan H. Peck, Quogue, 1986-92 W. Michael Pitcher, Quogue, 1988- Louis D. Pizzarello, Remsenburg, 1993- E. David Porter*, Wainscott, 1986-02 Dominick Protomastro, Westhampton /NYC, 2004- Violet Romeril, Nassau Point, 1991-03 Priscilla Ruffin, Westhamton Beach, 1990- Dorothy Savage*, Westhampton Beach, 1986-94 Claudia Sawicki, Mattituck, 1986-91 Henry Selby, MD, Quogue, 1995-97 Helen E. Sheehy, Amagansett, 1993- Barry Strauss, MD, Southampton, 1998 Esther Taylor, Southampton/TX, 1988-90 Rev. Alfred Thompson, East Hampton, 1991-93 Jeanne Waller*, Westhampton Beach, 1986-03 Jan Wallinger, Westhampton, 1990 Rose Walton, Remsenburg/FL, 1993-96 Jacalyn Weinstein, Westhampton Beach, 2000- Ralph Wolfe,* East Hampton, 1999-07 * Deceased

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