Friends Board of Directors

2009/2010

Front Row, Left to Right: Susan Blodgett, Representative from the Library Board of Trustees, Carol Wall, Jean Berasi, Patricia Sieving. Back Row, Left to Right: Fredrick Wall, Peter Berasi, Bruce Sieving, Ralph Verdu.

Who we are:

Jean Berasi

After graduating from the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in physics, Jean worked for ten years at IBM East Fishkill in engineering and engineering management. Jean left IBM to become a stay at home Mom. During those years she was a coach, referee and Vice President and Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the East Fishkill Soccer Club. She also served on the Board of Directors of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League and the Board of Trustees of her church. Jean is starting her eighteenth year at H&R Block where she is a Master Tax Advisor and an Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Jean is one of the founding members of the Friends of the East Fishkill Community Library and is serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

Peter Berasi

Pete moved to East Fishkill after having grown up and completed his college work in New York City. He obtained a BS in chemistry from Fordham and an MBA from Columbia and then moved on to life in the “country”. Coming to live in Hopewell Junction, green grass and trees were a new life experience for Pete, who was conditioned to playing baseball on asphalt as a youngster. He has now been a resident of Hopewell Junction for 40 years, having retired from an IBM career in engineering and management served entirely within Dutchess County . During his years here, Pete has tried to be involved in community affairs, having participated with the East Fishkill Soccer Club as an Officer and Director for 10 years. He is currently active as a member of the Town of East Fishkill Conservation Advisory Council, the Dutchess County Environmental Council, Secretary of the Fishkill Creek Watershed Association and is one of the founding members and the President of Friends of The East Fishkill Community Library.

Catherine Celtruda

Catherine Celtruda

Catherine Celtruda was brought up in Buchanan, NY, graduated from Hendrick Hudson HS, Montrose, NY; received her BA in history and elementary education from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY and her MS in child and adolescent studies from Western Connecticut State University. Catherine’s career as an educator included teaching in the Lakeland School District (NY); Montgomery County Public Schools (MD); and the Wappingers School District at Gayhead Elementary, where she taught for 22 years. Over the years Catherine has enjoyed watercolor painting, reading, sewing, walking, and teaching at her church. She is a past registrar of the East Fishkill Soccer Club and a current member of AAUW. She looks forward to serving on the board of the Friends of the East Fishkill Community Library.

Bruce Sieving, Director Emeritus

Bruce is retired from Central Hudson Gas & Electric where he served in various technical and managerial positions for 37 years. His prior not-for-profit background includes board memberships with the Mid-Hudson Alcohol Recovery Center, the Hudson Valley Opportunities Industrialization Center and the Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation. He has been a resident of East Fishkill for more than 20 years and enjoys playing racquetball, senior softball and working on home improvement projects. Bruce earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a registered professional engineer in the State of New York . A founding member of the Friends, he served as Secretary on its Board of Directors until moving from this area in July, 2010.

Patricia Sieving, Director Emeritus

Pat has lived in the Hudson Valley for nearly forty years. When her children were young she was involved with many of their activities and became a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, Brownie leader, classroom mother and helper. When her children were older she completed her education at SUNY New Paltz and began her career as an elementary school teacher in the City of Poughkeepsie . Upon completing her Masters at Mount St. Mary College she continued working in Poughkeepsie for seventeen years until her retirement in 2006. Pat enjoys reading and has become an avid knitter in her spare time. She enjoys making sweaters, hats, scarves and mittens for her eight grandchildren.  Pat assisted with the development of the Friends organization and served on the Board of Directors until moving from this area in July, 2010.

Ralph Verdu

Ralph Verdu is a twenty year resident of East Fishkill , arriving from Pittsburgh , PA to serve as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church of Shenandoah.   During his residency in Hopewell Junction, he has also served for eight years as past secretary of the Dutchess County Volunteer Fire Police Association, and is Chaplain for the Wiccopee Fire Company. Ralph is employed part time as chaplain for the two Elant nursing facilities here in Dutchess County where he also volunteers regularly. Ralph, a six year Navy veteran, lives with his wife, Donna, and their five children. One son is employed part time as a page and a daughter volunteers for the Library.  Ralph is the Vice President of the Friends Board of Directors.

Carol Wall

Carol Wall, a resident of East Fishkill, was born in Manhattan, but raised on Long Island.  After graduating from Malverne High School, she attended SUNY New Paltz getting her BA and MA in elementary education.  Minoring in music, she was accepted into the music fraternity there.  With degrees in hand, she was hired by the Wappingers School System where she taught for 28 years.  Over the years she has been an avid tennis player, a member of a church choir, a library volunteer, a member of a book club and the American Association of University Women, a gym rat, and a founding member of the Friends of the East Fishkill Community Library.

Fredrick Wall

Fred Wall lived on Long Island and New Brunswick , NJ , before graduating from high school in Chatham , NY . As a youth he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the Schiff Reservation Leadership Award, the God and Country Award, and the Eagle Scout Badge.  At SUNY New Paltz, where he earned his BS and MS degrees, he was active as president of the class of 1966, a representative on student council, and member of Delphic Fraternity.  After graduating from New Paltz, Fred spent most of his 32 year career teaching sixth grade in the Wappingers School System. He coached East Fishkill sports in both baseball and soccer, where he was also head referee for years. In addition, he is a past member of the East Fishkill Community Library’s Board of Trustees and is a founding member of the Friends organization.

Marilyn Walsh

Marilyn Walsh grew up in New York City. She earned a BA and MA at SUNY New Paltz in elementary education. She also earned a Masters Degree in mathamatics from CCNY. For 33 years she was a teacher in the Wappingers Central School District. Marilyn and her husband Joseph have lived in East Fishkill since 1979. She has served as treasurer of the Lomala Civic Association and on the executive board of the Wappingers Congress of Retired Teachers. Since her retirement she has done volunteer work through the American Association of University Women and Puppies Behind Bars. She is currently Secretary of the Friends of the East Fishkill Community Library Board of

Directors.