Caring

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IN THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES

2020 Board of Trustees

OfficersBarbara James, President

Edward Sigler, Vice President

Jason DeWitt, Secretary

Megan Burke, Treasurer

TrusteesColleen DoneganErnest KrugAndrew LambrixBrenden ManceEdward MauroElizabeth McDadeMarie McEneaneyCam MossgraberRonald NorrisJanet SchumacherJeff SteeleKeenan SteversonAnn Still

2020 Foundation Board of Directors

OfficersDiane Caselli, Chairperson

Gary Hugunine, Treasurer

Robert Brown, Secretary

Craig Houck, Assistant Secretary

MembersBrian Costello, Advisor

James MemmottDiane CaselliMegan Burke, Ex-Officio

Barbara James, Ex-Officio

2020 Service Board

OfficersNancy Mauro, President

Marie McEneaney, Vice President

Pat Case, Corresponding Secretary

Shirley Case, Recording Secretary

Cam Mossgraber, Treasurer

MembersJoAnn BoulisJane CoonsGladstone & Ionie CrosdaleCathy DiernaLorraine EndersDottie GoldanBetty HopkinsMartha HubbardNorma KoperSarah MalakJack MouldShirley MunsonLori NewhouseBea SchantzElizabeth Thomsen

Leadership TeamCathy CaseyAdministrator/Creekstone | 9 years of service

Bonny ClaxtonChief Financial Officer | 19 years of service

Sandra DeBellHuman Resources Director | 27 years of service

Jerry GulloSupport Service Director | 29 years of service

Rebecca PonteraAdministrator/The Homestead | 9 years of service

Carolyn RoordaCompliance Director | 18 years of service

Sherica Ross-NickelsAdministrator | 11 years of service

Nancy SmythExecutive Director | 25 years of service

Rochester’s Leading

Memory Care Residences

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The Rochester Presbyterian Home has been serving elders since 1925 and is recognized as a leader in the reform of Elder Care. Our founders believed it was our mission to provide “a safe and happy haven for persons in their sunset years.”

We continue to pursue dramatic change, not only in the architectural design, but also in the way of life within our residences to assure our Elders experience well-being and live a joyful, meaningful life.

We believe in the dignity and value of each individual and promote acceptance and respect for all people. Our residents are the elders in the RPH family. By virtue of their age and wisdom we look to them to help us define a lifestyle that is rewarding and a home that is truly their own.

2020 was a year like no other and our call to serve Elders was never more essential. It was a year in which the heroes among us were quietly revealed.

In 2020, it was faith that sustained us as Covid-19 dramatically changed the way of life within our residences. We quickly understood that we were the chosen ones who were destined to protect and care for Elders. We trusted our hearts to open wider as we became surrogate family members when Elders were denied visitors. And, we relied increasingly on prayer to quiet our fears and guide our response to the daily challenges imposed by the pandemic.

As Covid-19 became a public health emergency, our employees readily accepted the enormous responsibility as well as the risk of being essential workers. They could not work from

home nor care for Elders from a distance. They were accountable to protect, not only themselves, but also those entrusted to their care.

As weeks turned into months, the virus entered our homes and our employees were called to care for Elders infected with the virus. Sadly, these devoted heroes were also the ones to assure comfort and dignity to those who lost their lives due to Covid-19. Despite the sorrow and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, we somehow found our mission became clearer, our team grew closer and our conviction to love and care for our Elders became stronger.

We recognized that the love abiding in our residences was unshakeable and filled us with the inspiration and strength to persevere through the most challenging of times. Yes, 2020 was a year like no other. Thank you to all members of the RPH family for your trust, confidence, support, and love for this wonderful mission of caring.

Sincerely,

Nancy Smyth

I will go Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

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While the commitment of our employees has long been evident, the pandemic of 2020 revealed the extraordinary selflessness and dedication of these workers. Despite the high risk inherent in their work, these individuals responded to Covid-19 with amazing spirit and an unconditional devotion to our Elders.

The importance of their work was given global attention and affirmed that they are undoubtedly essential and most certainly heroes! We honor our employees with an abundance of pride as we present a glimpse of some of the dedicated heroes among us.

Truly EssentialOne-hundred and eighty employees have answered the call to fulfill the mission of Rochester Presbyterian Home.

Brenda Ramos T H E H O M E S T E A D

Brenda Ramos is our longest serving RPH employee with 30 years of service. She began her career at the Homestead as part of the dining services team. Brenda has served as a waitress, cook, scheduler, supervisor and mentor. She knows every Elder and caters to their individual preferences. Brenda is affectionately referred to as “Mom” among the younger wait staff. Throughout the pandemic, Brenda willingly stepped into caregiving roles and inspired a unified team spirit among employees.

Julie Ranous-Lovering C R E E K S T O N E

Julie Ranous-Lovering, recently celebrated 24 years of service at RPH. At the age of twenty-four, Julie was hired as a nurse at the Homestead. Within a few months, she capably took responsibility as the weekend supervisor, later becoming a Nurse-Care Manager and Director of Personal Care. In 2016, Julie transitioned to Creekstone to serve as the Assistant Administrator. As is her nature, Julie calmly and quietly provided care and comfort to Elders infected with the Covid-19 virus while providing guidance and inspiration to her co-workers.

Diane Russell-Jones C O T TA G E G R O V E

Diane Russell-Jones has been part of the RPH team for 15 years. She began working as a care partner at the Homestead and transferred to Cottage Grove when it opened in 2009. Diane was instrumental in defining the role of Shahbazim for the household model of care. She takes great pride in her work and is a strong advocate for the Elders in her care. Diane persistently proves that she will do whatever it takes to lovingly care for our Elders.

We recognize Brenda, Julie and Diane for their many years of dedicated service, and we equally honor all of our employees who share their hearts to make a difference in the lives of our Elders. Their work is undoubtedly essential and they are most certainly heroes!

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W H Y I S E R V EServing on the Board is simply my way of saying thank you. Thank you to the elders for the inspiring lives they lead; thank you for the care and dedication the incredible RPH staff demonstrates each day; and thank you to the Rochester community for supporting this unique organization for so many years.

In a famous speech at Yankee Stadium in 1939, Lou Gehrig proclaimed that he felt like the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He was referring to the opportunity to play professional baseball for 17 years and do so in front of wonderful fans. Serving on the RPH Board and providing financial and retirement advice to clients has afforded me that same joy.

I am amazed by the wonderful things that happen every day at Rochester Presbyterian Home.

B O A R D M E M B E R S P O T L I G H T

Craig Houck

A Pioneer in the Music IndustryEthel Nagy Gabriel was America’s first major record label music producer and recording company executive. During her 44-year tenure, she produced over 5000 records, 2,500 albums, 15 Gold Records and six Grammy Award winning albums.

Born in November 1921, Ethel grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia. The youngest of five daughters, she played trombone and started her own dance band at the age of 13 playing an array of Glenn Miller arrangements. She would later perform with the Philadelphia Women’s Symphony Orchestra.

A 1943 graduate of Temple University, Ethel studied music education and took a job with RCA Victor while still in school to help pay tuition and living expenses. She began as a “finisher” and was later promoted to record tester where she had to listen to one out of every 500 records for quality, check to make sure the label was correct and that the record had no scratches. It was in this job where Ethel learned about hit records, having to listen to so many different styles and types of music.

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Ethel Gabriel O N E O F O U R O W N

Feature photo courtesy of Living Sound Documentary

Archival Photos courtesy of Ed & Nancy Mauro

The recording studio at RCA Victor was nearby so Ethel brought her trombone to work. She would watch recording sessions and play between sessions when she could. Ethel then became secretary to Herman Diaz Jr., manager of RCA Victor’s Artist & Repertoire department (A&R). The department was responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. Ethel practically lived at the sound studios where she learned by listening and watching other musicians and performers perfect their trade. Shortly after, she married Gus Gabriel, President of the Dunhill Publishing Company.

In 1959, she became the head of RCA-Camden, the budget reissue label which was in danger of folding. However, in typical Ethel style, she went on to rejuvenate the Camden label and transform it into a multimillion dollar label.

After a transfer back to New York, she convinced RCA Victor’s vice-president, Manie Sacks, to sign a budding Mexican performer named Perez Prado to RCA Victor’s U.S. label. She produced Prado’s biggest hit record, “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.” The tune topped the charts for 10 weeks and helped ignite the Mambo craze in the United States.

She then created the RCA Camden “Living Strings” series of albums, which were easy listening instrumental string versions of popular tunes. Living Strings proved to be a popular series and enjoyed a 22-year run. The Living Strings series earned Ethel a Grammy Award in 1968.

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A Documentary About Legendary Record Producer Ethel Gabriel

Weaving archival footage with music that Gabriel discovered and produced, the film juxtaposes Gabriel’s memories with interviews of influential music industry figures and family members. The film portrays her huge (yet largely unrecognized) influence on music and technology, as well as the path she forged for women in the industry. Even as the memories fade, Ethel Gabriel’s music and legacy remain.

Learn more at www.livingsoundfilm.com

During Ethel’s career in A&R, she produced records by some of the most successful recording stars in the world such as: Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Dolly Parton, Eddy Arnold, Henry Mancini, Harry Bellefonte, Neil Sedaka, Chet Atkins, Teresa Brewer, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra, Paul Anka, and Frank Sinatra just to name a few.

In 1982 Ethel became vice-president of Pop Contemporary A&R. She was the first woman at RCA Records to achieve a vice-president title. There she experimented with new technology and recording techniques such as stereo sound, echo chamber effects and an acoustic computer restoration process. Ethel retired from RCA Records in 1984.

Despite her incredibly successful career, Ethel experienced some very challenging times. In 1984, she gave her entire RCA retirement ($251,485) to a friend, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Anderson to form a new recording company. In 1987, Anderson was sent to prison for bank fraud. Having lost her entire life’s savings, Ethel’s memorabilia from her career with RCA Victor

was put up for auction in 2007. She later discovered her Gold Record Awards had unintentionally been auctioned (including those with Sinatra and Presley).

Her nephew, Ed Mauro, managed to have some of her Gold Record awards recreated.

In 1997, she was honored by Women in Music at their Touchstone Awards in New York City. She received the award for being the first female A&R Producer in the music business and for making extraordinary contributions to the music industry.

In 2014, she was named to the

Rochester Music Hall of Fame (pictured below). She passed away at the magnificent age of 99 in March of 2021. Ethel’s story is being captured in a documentary film about her life and career, called LIVING SOUND. Production on the film started in 2019.

Ethel lived with us at RPH’s Homestead location from October 10, 2010 until March 24, 2021. Her sisters Margaret Mauro and Elizabeth “Bobbie” Saxman also lived with us at Homestead. Today, her nephew Ed Mauro serves on the Board of Trustees and her niece, Nancy Mauro is President of the Service Board.

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Chris AdamsChristine AgugliaCynthia AndersonAlison ArnoldNancy BarnettCarrie BardoJoanna BassettValerie BaxterMr. & Mrs. Douglas BealesBarbara BenardMary Sue BennettBerkshire Taconic Community FoundationBob & Bobbi BernsBethany Presbyterian ChurchAmy BettiKen & Karen BilanciniBob, Patty & Thomas BloodgoodNicholas BowmanKatherine BradfordElizabeth BricePriscilla & Robert BrownRichard & Michelle BucenecRichard & Juliana BuckJuliana L. Buck de OrtizJohn BuhrmanLidia BurrMarie R. CallDr. & Mrs. William CalnonJudith CamaKevin CampbellDiane CaselliCatherine CaseyCentral Presbyterian Church of GeneseoKimberly ChalfinLori ChamberlinJames ChappellBonny A. Claxton & John WilkinsonJames W. Clements, Jr.Mary Ellen CollingeEdward ConnorsWilliam & Nancy CookEdward & Kathleen CoonsJoyce CreeganJudy CurtinMarlene DattiloRichard DelConteBill & Donna DeMunckMarion DePrezKaren DobbinsTimothy & Marilyn DownsJudith Drews

James & Sandra DuganDunn & Pedro CPAs, P.C.Mark DurkinEllen DutcherMarilyn EavesSandra FarielloFairport Howard Hanna FamilyAndrew FedickShana FeissnerShirley FiedynDavid & Ann FincannonJohn FinkleThomas FinkleFirst Presbyterian Church of HolleyFirst Presbyterian Church of TuscaroraFirst Presbyterian Society of Pittsford James & Mary Ann FitzsimmonsDina FlanaganDavid & Sheila FovelMay Ellen FrackenpohlJim & Marjorie FulmerBarbara Griffin GalliAyn GardnerMaryBeth GermanoEmily Gilman DenningDottie & Dick GoldanMary Ellen GoodellMary GooleyDavid & Penny GoslingPatrick GraceJulia GrantJohn GreenBarbara GrimesCarol GuzinksiGeorge & Bonnie HarrisPamela J. HatchWendy HefferDan & Sharon HeiligmanJames & Patricia HendersonBruce & Sharon HerendeenHerkimer County Public Health DepartmentHeveron & Company CPA’sMaria HoffmanHolley Rod & Gun ClubBetty HopkinsEllen L. HornCraig HouckLily HuangMelanie HughesDiana IrizarryLynette Jacobs

Barbara JamesJohn Calvin Presbyterian ChurchCraig JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Michael JonesTheresa JonesJim JordanRobert & Marilyn KaiserKathryn Evelyn Bergman Memorial FundJosephine KennedyVictoria KenyonKathy Keogh & FamilyDiane J. KhouriMarianne KimmerlyPeg KingMary KnowlesLaura Koon & FamilyNorma KoperDr. Ernest F. Krug IIIThe William Kunz FamilyDonald & Kathleen LatremoreHarriet W. LeisterCarol Lewis and FamilyCarol LiposchakChris & Marie LittleCheryl LitzenbergerPatrick LoveLori LuskEmma MaherBrenden ManceSteven & Nancy ManciniAlexandra ManningPeter MarchioneJoan MarkDave & Sue MarklePaula J. MartinCathy MasonElizabeth McDadeCarl McDonoughMarie & Bob McEneaneyTom MechlerMegiddo Church, Inc.Kirk & Marilyn MerittJudith MessengerPatricia MillerTom & Jane MinerJoseph and Rosemary MitchellRonald MoffettDeanne MolinariWilliam MooreJennifer MossgraberJulie Mullen

Thank You to Our Generous Donors. Praise and gratitude to more than 100 volunteers who honor our Elders with caring support.

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Shirley MunsonJohn NersingerGinny NewbergMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey NewhouseSue and Greg NewhouseJulie NicolasRonald NorrisMarcia O’BrienSuzanne J. O’BrienSue & James OwensNancy PackardMaurice PageRalph & Nancy PanfilJanet PaoliniPoestler & Jaeckle CorporationCaroline PepperRuth PercivalDouglas & Eileen PerrymanBrian PrestonDonald & Karen PryorQCI Asset Management, Inc.Linda QuillinJay & Peg RachfalPresbyterian FoundationPresbytery of Genesee ValleyRobert & Mary RamseyJulie RanousRenee ReaganScott ReberJames RedmondRowena Ann RedmondThe Robinson FamilyJohn & Rhona RodgersMrs. Beverly RogersMaryAnn RogersSherica RossScott RudermanJohn RumseySusan Ryan & Brian ButtsBonnie SaleJose SantanaThomas & Patricia SapienzaIrene SchaeferLen & Pat SchantzBea SchantzEdward & Maryann SchauberMargaret Schauber & Anne DealyJudith SchimpThe Schimpf FamilyKenneth C. SchnabelRudolph & Kimberly Schrader

Ed & Kathi SiglerErnie & Martha SimpsonMay SkinnerTerrill SmithNancy SmythJeanne L. SokolStarlight Chapter #57, Order of the Eastern Star of New YorkMary & Kathy StefanikWilliam & Ann StegerRichard & Christine StewartAnn and David StillMr. & Mrs. Larry StoutAmelia and Scott Stratton-SmithMichael SukhenkoSunshine ClubJames & Carol SutterStephen & Rebecca SwansonDr. David & Janice SwartzCheryl TaylorDebra TaylorMarilyn TempletonJohn & Vivian ThielMary ThurlowGene & Nancy TonucciBarbara TrudeauTwelve Corners Presbyterian ChurchThe VanDerMeid FamilyGinger VanDerMeidGary VardabashLee T. Venoila & John W. Thoman, Jr.Teresa VinciUnion Presbyterian Church of ScottsvilleKim VonasekDr. Mary L. VoorhessLaurie & Dave WalkerCarol Wallace & Gerald MeccaShirley Wallace & FamilyWebster Presbyterian ChurchMike & Cathy WehnerRon & Sandy Sterling WeilerRobert WelterJean & Colin WilliamsDiane, Jill & Julie WinterRichard & Carolyn WoodEdward WrobbelWyman-Potter FoundationYork United Presbyterian ChurchCarol ZajkowskiTeresa ZatykoRonald & Alice Zorn

Join theLegacy Society

We ask that you consider remembering the Rochester

Presbyterian Home through a bequest in your will or trust.

We suggest the following wording:

I hereby devise and bequeath to the RPH the following gift of…

For more information call:Rochester Presbyterian Home

585.235.9100 or e-mail nancy.smyth@rph.org

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We apologize if your name has been omitted or is listed incorrectly and ask that you call us at 585.235.9100, ext. 125 and provide updates for our records. A copy of the most recent Rochester Presbyterian Home audited financial statements can be obtained by contacting Nancy Smyth, Executive Director, at 256 Thurston Road, Rochester, NY 14619 or call 585.235.9100.

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256 Thurston RoadRochester, NY 14619

Our CommunitiesOur vibrant communities specialize in the care of persons living with dementia.

We offer a range of assisted living options, including enhanced living and memory care specialties.

48 Cottage Grove Circle | North Chili, NY 14514585.594.8720 | cottagegroverochester.org

256 Thurston Road | Rochester, NY 14619585.235.9100 | rph.org

20 Crossing Creek Drive | Fairport, NY 14450585.223.0160 | creekstonerochester.org

CreekstoneF A I R P O R T

The HomesteadR O C H E S T E R

Cottage GroveN O R T H C H I L I