Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors
Nancy Dwyer – President
Fresh from graduating Saratoga Chamber’s Leadership Saratoga class in 2018, Nancy joined the board of Gateway House of Peace, bringing together her leadership skills and experience of helping a friend pass peacefully at home. That experience altered her life in such a profound way she knew it was a calling to have the opportunity to help Gateway House serve an entire community. Nancy served as Vice President for two years and is currently serving as President of the Board. She is excited to use her skills bringing people and processes together to build upon Gateway House’s foundation and create a sustainable, strong future that not only ensures Gateway House’s doors stay open well into the future but that it can serve the community in ever growing ways. Nancy has two grown children and when she’s not selling real estate, tutoring math or volunteering, she and her husband Kevin like to spend time outdoors hiking, kayaking and fishing here in the foothills of the Adirondacks and along the coasts of Maine and Cape Cod.
Patti Veitch – Vice President
Patti”s contribution to Gateway House of Peace is beyond description. She witnessed first-hand how important end-of-life care is, and after the passing of both of her parents, she made the phone call to the founder, Joni Hanchett, to learn more about how she could become involved. Since that day in 2013, Patti has seen Gateway House grow and evolve, and there is no aspect that she has not been a part of. She fondly recalls the very first resident, and so many others that followed. “I treasure everything about Gateway House. I love the residents and their families. It is a special place, and I know I am called to be here. Each time I walk through the doors, I am reminded why the work is so important and I am happy to do it.” Patti and her husband Kevin live in Greenfield and have 2 grown sons, an adorable grandson “Maple Boy”, and a new granddaughter on the way. They are also involved with the Twin Leaf Farms maple syrup business. Patti serves as Vice President with Gateway House, and also volunteers with the New York State Office for the Aging and Youth and the Greenfield Historical Society as Secretary for both.
Mary Ellen Olenyk – Recording Secretary
Mary Ellen Olenyk began volunteering at Gateway House of Peace in 2019 as a direct care volunteer and joined the Board of Directors in 2020. Mary Ellen became aware of Gateway when a former colleague of hers became a resident. Having had two parents who were hospice recipients in relatively recent years, it was not an unfamiliar experience. She currently resides in Southern Saratoga County with her husband Michael. Their two daughters both work in the health care field. Mary Ellen is an HR professional, having worked in Human Resources for over 30 years at both non-profit and for-profit companies in the Capital District. Currently the Director of Human Resources for Hoffman Car Wash, she enjoys sharing her expertise with the staff, leadership and Board of Gateway. Mary Ellen enjoys reading, fitness and spending time with her family.
Robert Roback, Jr. – Treasurer
Bob Roback joined the Gateway House of Peace Board of Directors in 2014 and has served as Treasurer since. Bob’s first experience with hospice was a little different than most. Bob’s mother Joanne Roback was a hospice nurse and over the years his father served as a member of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees of the Community Hospice. Bob would attend fundraising events and hear stories of the profound impact Hospice had on the lives of so many. Unfortunately, Bob also experienced hospice the way most do when his father was diagnosed with cancer. In his final months with the help of hospice, Bob’s father was able to pass peacefully at home surrounded by family. Bob will be forever grateful for the time he had those final months with his father. This is why Bob is blessed to be a part of The Gateway House of Peace’s mission to provide a comfortable and caring home not only to those in need but their families as well. Bob Roback is a CFP® professional that currently resides in Saratoga County with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer with his girls, golfing, and traveling.
Elaine Pearson
Board Member
Elaine has been a board member since 2014 and is currently the Director of the Gateway House Thrift Shops. She was the driving force behind opening Noah’s Attic Thrift Store for Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa. Elaine and her husband Bill had a desire to help the Church and the community, they spent many years facilitating and volunteering at Noah’s Attic. They brought this skill set to the Gateway House to help create their Thrift Shops. On January 18, 2014 Elaine’s mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. Elaine went to her mother’s home and for the next three months was her caregiver. Elaine’s mothers’ death was hard on her but she had been assisted with her care by hospice, who had a nurse come into her mother’s house three times a week to help her. After her mother’s passing, she was introduced to Gateway House of Peace founder Joni Hanchett, who talked her into volunteering at Gateway House. She was so touched how much hospice care helped her, she felt it would be a great way to pay back the care and support that hospice had given her with her mother’s care. This is the backbone of her ministry at the Gateway House Thrift Shops… to give back and to help provide monetary support to Gateway House
Allison Murphy
Board Member
Allison Murphy joined the Gateway House of Peace in August 2020, serving as the organization’s first social work intern. Following the completion of her internship, she joined the team as a patient caregiver and in 2021 accepted a nomination to the Board of Directors, serving as the youngest member on the Board. Allison currently serves on the Events Committee. Fueled by her work at Gateway House in addition to being a recent graduate with her Masters in Social Work, Allison is focusing her career on community-based palliative care. Additionally, she intends to pursue her End-of-Life Doula certification beginning in Spring 2023. Allison hopes to capitalize on her interests in the growing field of aging and end-of-life care to encourage others to talk more openly about their wishes at the end of life. When not working her full-time job or spending time at the House, you can find Allison country line dancing around the Capital District and North Country with Aaron’s ‘A’ Team of Line Dancers.
Greg Willmott
Board Member
The “end of life” process holds a special place in his heart; starting with witnessing his father’s transition in a hospice setting some 20 years ago. As years passed, high school friends, acquaintances, and other people close to Greg benefited from Hospice care, often utilizing the services of Gateway House of Peace. As a result, he understood that the end-of-life process is an essential part of the human journey. Most recently, Greg’s Mother, Gloria, was a resident at Gateway House. “Words will never be able to express the gratitude and esteem I have for the staff at Gateway House for the care my mother received. I am committed that our staff’s services are available to all who need it in our community “Greg has enjoyed a 30+ year marketing and sales career in the software industry and currently heads the Competitive Intelligence program for OneStream Software. .Greg enjoys golf with his grown sons, fishing, yoga, and spoiling his granddaughter Ella in his spare time.
Dan Roberts
Board Member
Dan Roberts started at Gateway House of Peace in 2021 as a direct care volunteer. He found the mission and work meaningful and deeply personal, and joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He lives in Malta with his wife Caitlin, dog Willow, and five chickens. Dan and Caitlin are happily expecting a new addition to the family this summer. Dan recently joined the Corporate Strategy team at GlobalFoundries in Malta and previously was an investment analyst at BlackRock in New York City. He is also a member of the finance committee at First Presbyterian Church in Ballston Spa. Dan enjoys home and garden projects, hiking in the Adirondacks, reading, volunteering, and pub trivia.
Celeste Caruso
Board Member
Celeste is our most recent board member to join Gateway House of Peace but comes to us with many years experience of community service/activism . She is a licensed New York State Real Estate Broker for 25 years and has volunteered for many of the local organizations like Sustainable Saratoga, The Giving Circle, Saratoga Springs Workforce Housing Initiative, Mayor’s Senior Advisory Committee, She has always admired the work done at hospice facilities. When her parents were in need of hospice care she was able to see it up close and personal. She became a volunteer at Gateway House of Peace as a way of honoring all hospice workers and the care they most generously give to the patient and their families. Celeste is a former New York Racing Association employee and is a racing enthusiast and former horse owner.