June 19, 2008

At the annual meeting of the Newton Historical Society held on Wednesday, June 18, Sheila Donahue, chair of the nominating committee, presented the slate of candidates for Directors of the Board, which was approved unanimously. The Newton residents joining the Board of Directors, who will serve until 2011, include:

Dr. Carl M. Cohen — Dr. Cohen is President of Science Management Associates in Newton. The company addresses the need for interpersonal, group and organizational training of scientists and science executives in both the public and private sectors. With more than 25 years of biomedical research and management expertise, he has held senior management positions at biotechnology companies in the greater Boston area including Chief Operating Officer of Biovest International and Vice President for Research and Development at Creative BioMolecules. Dr. Cohen also served as Chief of the Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Acting Chair of the Department of Biomedical Research at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston. During that period, Dr. Cohen also held the positions of Professor of Medicine and Professor of Anatomy and Cellular Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Susan Heyman — Susie Heyman was re-elected to the Newton School Committee from Ward 5 in November 2003. She was elected to the School Committee for the first time in 1993 and served until 2001, including two years as Vice Chair. Susie has been a school activist in Newton for 25 years in many different roles. As a parent, she was a PTO President at Angier and Newton South. She served as PTO Council President for two years in 1990 and 1991. She has served as Board Chair of an education collaborative (EDCO) covering 22 communities and is currently a member of its Public Policy Committee. Before returning to the School Committee, Susie was a Board member of the Newton Schools Foundation. Susie grew up in Newton and attended to the Newton schools, as did her two children. She lives in Waban with her husband and two dachshunds.

Susan Paley — Susan Paley was named Community Relations Officer at Village Bank last fall. A sales and management professional, Susan has more than 20 years experience in banking, lending and building relationships through committed community involvement. She has been associated with Boston Private Bank, The Boston Company/Mellon Private Bank, Charter Bank in Newton, World Savings Bank in Newton, Cambridgeport Savings Bank in Newton, as well as at BayBank and the Bank of New England. Her many community activities include serving on the Board of Directors at Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, as a member of the Board of Overseers for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and as treasurer of the Solomon Schechter Day School Parent Association in Newton.

Dena Rashes — A graduate of Wellesley College with bachelor of arts in American Studies with concentration in History and Economics, Dena Rashes is Co-Chair of the Friends of the Durant-Kenrick Homestead. As such, she led the effort to increase community awareness and interest about the Durant-Kenrick Homestead, and helped coordinate community outreach and advocacy, which was instrumental in gaining the approval of $2.7 million in Community Preservation Act grants to the Newton Historical Society. She also serves as a Member of the Rashi School Development Committee, as a member of the Board of Directors at Congregation Mishkan Tefila, and as a member of the Boston Leadership Gifts Committee at Wellesley College. She formerly worked in corporate finance at companies including Fleet Boston Robertson Stephens, Chase Securities, Inc., and Bankers Trust Company.

Patricia Rowe — Patsy Rowe graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor's degree in political science. After graduation, she entered a teacher training program in New Hampshire, where she taught for two years. This followed by 20 year stint in the Boston Public Schools, beginning at the height of the busing controversy. During that time, Patsy also earned three masters degrees, one in Reading Education from Suffolk University, one in Special Education from Simmons College and one in Computers in Education from Lesley University. After leaving the Boston Public Schools in 1994 she became active at the community level in Newton. She joined the board of the Newton Schools Foundation in 1997 and still serves, currently as the Co-Chair of the Grant Committee for the Foundation. Patsy became a partner in Social Venture Partners Boston in the fall of 2001 and has been a member of the board since 2004.

Peter S. Terris — Peter Terris, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, is a partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP in Boston, where he divides his time between general commercial and corporate litigation and construction disputes. A seasoned litigator, Peter has more than 35 years of trial experience in state and federal courts. A member of the Massachusetts bar, his court admissions also include the Federal District Court, District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Boston Bar Association. The Newton Historical Society Board also elected Officers, who will serve for one year. They are Anne Larner, President; Jay Walter, Vice President; Russell Lightman, Treasurer; Sarah Ecker, Assistant Treasurer; and Beverly Hurney, Clerk.

Historic Newton/The Jackson Homestead and Museum Historic Newton is a public-private partnership between the City of Newton and the Newton Historical Society, Inc, a non-profit organization Questions or comments: Email © 2010 Historic Newton