Board Members
Meet the faces behind the scenes!
Kevin Berner, President
A retired Wildlife Management professor from SUNY Cobleskill, Kevin’s career and passions revolved around wildlife and photography. Being on the JHS board is fullfilling to Kevin so that JHS can help people become more aware of the fascinating history or the town through our books, Facebook, lectures, and other means.
Contact: BernerKL@gmail.com
Vice President
Bonnie Dailey, Secretary
Bonnie is the Town of Jefferson Historian. She is also a retired attorney who spent 12 years with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. After retiring, Bonnie returned to her hometown of Jefferson. She is Registrar of her DAR chapter and Genealogist at the Old Stone Fort in Schoharie. She enjoys reading, gardening, watching the birds and re-enacting period events. Being a member of JHS affords her the opportunity to help others appreciate the beauty of our town and its interesting history.
Diane Ericson, Treasurer
Town Clerk of Blenheim, NY
Deep historical roots in Schoharie County.
Family researcher and archive keeper for over 20 years.
Stephanie Ruquet, Co-Treasurer
Stephanie took on the responsibility of JHS treasurer in 2009 and currently serves as Co-
Treasurer. A frequent contributor to the society’s newsletter, Stephanie particularly enjoys
researching and writing about topics of local history.
Joan Powers
Co-owner, Mill Pond Inn. Retired editor from the Candlewick Press.
Shannon Finn
Shannon Finn lives at and runs the Danforth Jersey Farm that has been part of the Jefferson agricultural community since 1817. She is raising her 3 children there as the 7th generation to grow up on the farm. Her family’s history has been intertwined with the history of the town for 207 years, making it important for her to help preserve their combined legacies as a trustee of the Jefferson Historical Society.
Bob Glas
Retired art teacher, bay constable, sailor, outdoorsman, once chairman of Jefferson Planning Board, sculptor, thespian, Judd Hall building boss. Believer in Jefferson
Sara Henry
Sara is a retired elementary teacher who spent 32 years in the Gilboa-Conesville CS. After retiring, Sara saw the wonderful work that JHS was doing and wanted to be a part of restoring and celebrating Jefferson, her home, for the past 42 years. When not participating in JHS activities Sara enjoys reading and doing pretty much anything outdoors; gardening, hiking, canoeing or just wandering around in the local fields and woods of this beautiful area.
Barb Palmer
Barb is a native of Jefferson and has a great fondness for the town. Being a member of JHS affords her the opportunity to help others appreciate the beauty of our town and its interesting history, while also helping to preserve those same things.
Barb is a former special-educator, and is now a gardener, birder and amateur photographer, and enjoys being outside whenever possible.
Ed Atkins
Dr. Edward G. Atkins taught Biological Sciences at Columbia University, worked at Sesame Street, contributed to NOVA tv shows , interim Executive Director of an Art Museum and seven (7) years on the planning board of Jefferson NY.
Mark Sisk
Mark is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church. His family and he discovered Jefferson and began to build their home here in 1974. They have lived here full time since 2013.
Teres
a Fellion
Teresa Fellion founded BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance in late 2011, after working as an independent choreographer since 2004. She has received the Choreographic Fellowships from SummerStages Dance Festival and ICA Boston, American Dance Guild Fellowship for Jacob’s Pillow’s Choreographers’ Lab, and LEIMAY Outsight Garden Choreographers Fellowship. Teresa has received grants for her work from The National Endowment for the Arts Window Award, O’Donnell Green Foundation for Music and Dance, LMCC, Peg Santvoord Foundation, Brooklyn Arts Council Community Arts Fund Grant, and many other organizations.
She has taught regularly at The Ailey School, Sarah Lawrence College, she is an Adjunct Dance Professor for 10 Hairy Legs New Jersey Arts & Education Center at Brookdale Community College, Middlesex County College, Union College, and Monmouth, and she is a faculty member and director of the Summer Dance Program at The Ross School. She was also the Dance Department Director and lead faculty at Studio Republik Dubai.
Teresa completed a Dance MFA from Sarah Lawrence under Bessie Schonberg Scholarship, Certificate from the Ailey School under scholarship, and BA in French & English Literature, with a minor in dance from NYU as a merit scholar.
Brian Darcy
I have a love for history. JHS has become a focal point and an outlet for our support and commitment. My wife Caryn and I enjoy staying involved while away for the winter and immersing ourselves in this, the heartbeat of Jefferson, every summer. Being a board member of JHS is both a privilege and an honor.