Board of Directors

Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong

We are committed to the excellence of patient care, education and research for the children of Monroe and its neighboring counties. This will be accomplished through fund-raising and promoting an increased awareness of Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.

Howard "Howie" R. Jacobson, Chair, managing partner at Dixon Schwabl Advertising.

Jacobson's connections with the hospital date back to helping as co-auctioneer at the 1996 Gala; then, in 1998, the place became even closer to his heart when one of his sons was in a life-threatening car and bicycle accident and airlifted to the children's hospital.

"Dr. Walter Pegoli and the team performed their magic, and afterward, I wanted to do more.  Being asked to join the Board afforded me that opportunity," Jacobson said.  "After all, it's all about the children."

Jacobson, in addition to serving as Board Chair, serves on the Gala committee and partners with community fundraising efforts. On his free time, he enjoys skiing, snow-shoeing, swimming, and wine-and-food sampling.  He resides in Rochester with his wife, Peggy, and their five children, Grace, Angus, Henry, Rory and Gunther.

Al Chesonis, Vice-Chair

Chesonis' ties to Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong were born at the same time as his youngest daughter, Katie, who required open heart surgery when she was only one day old. Things turned out well for Katie -- so well, in fact, that pediatric cardiac surgeon, George M. Alfieris, M.D., said she "was perfect."

Suddenly, Chesonis was faced with another challenge: how to thank the man who saved his daughter's life.

Joining the board and promoting the hospital, its team, and its vision seemed to be a solid start. He has since been inspired to do his part helping other families enjoy the same positive medical outcomes that his had, and his efforts are especially evident in his energetic and innovative service as Chair of the Stroll for Strong Kids Committee. The Stroll is an annual fundraiser involving more that 2,000 participants on a leisurely, 2-mile summer walk through Genesee Valley Park. 

Chesonis lives with his wife, Amy, and their three children, Tommy, Sarah and Katie. He enjoys photography, tennis and volleyball, and sharing activities with his children --ranging from his son's Cub Scouts, football, baseball or basketball, to his daughters' dance classes and soccer games.

Robert "Bob" G. Jacobson, Vice-Chair, director of human resources at B&L Wholesale Supply.

Jacobson, an active fundraiser for Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong since 1990, has helped to head B&L Wholesale Supply's annual golf tournament, which started back in 1995.  The company also partners with the hospital for a holiday tradition all its own-- donating money to the hospital in customers' names (in lieu of a bottle of liquor, fruit basket or other gift.)  The employees, customers and suppliers have become passionate about this, and to this point, have provided over $400,000 for the hospital.

Jacobson serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee; he also chairs the Special Events Committee that plays a role in Community Fundraising and the Children's Miracle Network. In his spare time, he enjoys reading American Civil War non-fiction, boating, fishing, playing the drums, and spending time with his family-- his wife, Pat, their two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Mark Siewert, Vice-Chair, owner of Siewert Construction Company.

Siewert's involvement with Golisano Children's Hospital can be traced back to a personal experience with the hospital.

"I had a son in the hospital," he said.  "And I'm committed to the board, now, because of who we serve.   There are some very special, skilled, compassionate people working there, performing miracles every day."

Siewert is the Vice Chair and heads the Major Gifts Committee; he also is a member of the Corporate Committee.  In addition to his work with Golisano Children's Hospital, he serves on Boards at the Mary Cariola Children's Center, Heritage Christian Homes and the Al Sigl Foundation.  He enjoys golfing, boating and reading.  He and his wife, Marcia, live in Pittsford and have a 20-year-old son, Christopher.

Michael Amalfi, Executive Committee

Amalfi has a long-standing relationship with Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong: his own daughter, Alissa, has been treated there on several occasions.

Extremely pleased with the care the hospital has provided for their daughter, Amalfi was delighted to join the board and have the opportunity to help with the mission to keep kids, like Alissa, healthier. He lives in Pittsford with his wife, Kathy, and their three children.

Joseph L. Carbone, D.P.M., podiatric physician at Rochester Foot Care Associates.

Carbone was recently named to the Golisano Children’s Hospital Board.  Carbone joins 23 other board members to promote the hospital’s fundraising and development efforts.

For Carbone, accepting the nomination made sense.  “I’ve attended charity events for the children’s hospital, toured the facility and make donations myself,” he said. “The hospital is a great benefit to our community and I am excited to continue endorsing the great work that goes on there.”

Carbone lives in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary McCombs-Carbone, reporter with R News, and their 4-year-old daughter, Roma. 

Jeffrey A. Davis, president of Elmer W. Davis, Inc.

Davis' ties with Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong run close to his heart-- his daughter was treated here on a number of occasions, undergoing several surgeries.

Now a healthy teenager, his daughter is the primary motivation behind Davis' decision to serve as a board member.  He, his wife Patricia, and their family live in Pittsford.

John L. DiMarco II

Biography in progress.

Wanda B. Edgcomb

Edgcomb, a long-time supporter of Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, has been on the Board for a number of years, even serving a two-year term as Board Chair. Her enthusiasm for bettering the hospital is contagious.

Edgcomb and her husband, Lee, live in Mendon with their two sons.

Harvey B. Erdle, president of Erdle Corporation.

Erdle's involvement with Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong began a few years ago after shooting a hole-in-one at Greystone Country Club. This "magic shot" earned him a brand new car-- which he sold, giving a portion of the proceeds to Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.  Erdle joined the board of directors in 2001.

Erdle is president of Eldre Corporation, a thriving, Rochester-based company with 350 employee and a worldwide customer base. 

Timothy D. Fournier

A long-time Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Fournier was the first board liaison between the two organizations, collaborating to integrate a "House Within the Hospital" as part of the renovated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) design.  Fournier chaired the capital campaign that would drive this project, and resultantly, was offered the opportunity to join the Golisano Children's Hospital Board.

"Rochester is truly blessed," Fournier said. "I imagine it is hard to find a community our size anywhere in the nation that rivals this level of care."

Fournier serves on the Stroll for Strong Kids committee, and is passionate about children's health, skiing, golfing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.  He and his wife, Susan, have two children, Gabriella and Timmy.

Roger B. Friedlander

Friedlander, who has been involved with Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong for many years, has served both as Board Chair and as a member of the Executive Committee.

Most recently, as medical center liaison, Friedlander and his family have donated a pediatric intensive care transport isollette, which will help in transferring the tiniest patients by tending to their most critical care needs while in-between hospitals. 

Friedlander's daughter, Deborah Haen, also serves as a member of the board.

Heather A. Goodbody

Goodbody has first-hand experience about the excellent care found at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong-- her first child was born 11 weeks premature, weighing less than three pounds and requiring around-the-clock care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Goodbody and her husband, John, were able to bring their son home eight weeks later.

"I am very grateful to all the doctors and the nurses," she said. Goodbody's belief in the mission of Golisano Children's Hospital brought about her appointment to the hospital's board of directors.

Michael Goonan

Chair of Golf Fundraisers.

Remainder of biography in progress.

Deborah Haen

Haen, one of Golisano Children’s Hospital’s most loyal and devoted supporters, has been involved with the hospital’s annual Gala for six years.

Her family has always been involved in improving the lives of children. Her father, Roger Friedlander, is a former chair of the Golisano Children’s Hospital Board, and her mother, Carolyn, spent 25 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner with the Elmwood Pediatric Group.

Haen has a master’s degree in social work and works part-time as a social worker for Pittsford Youth Services.

Michael Haymes, president, RE/MAX Realty Group, Rochester, NY

When Haymes' friend, Michael Amalfi, suggested that he become involved with Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong -- perhaps even joining the board -- Haymes agreed in heartbeat.

"I believe in giving back to the community that has been so good to me," he said, honored and excited at the chance to get involved and make a difference. "Could we be any more fortunate? We have one of the most well respected children's hospitals in the country, right in our back yard."

Last year, he enjoyed working with Howie Jacobson to co-chair the annual Gala; he and his daughter have also volunteered in the annual Radiothon.

Haymes is married to Karen, his wife of 22 years. They have two children -- Ben, a sophomore at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, and Michelle, a sophomore at Brighton High School.

Arnold Klinsky, general manager WHEC-TV.

22 years ago, WHEC agreed to produce and broadcast the CMN telethon; since then, Klinsky, a member of the board for a number of years and general manager of 10NBC, has been instrumental in the orchestration of the annual telethon fundraiser that airs during Miracle Weekend each June.

The telethon helps to raise much-needed funds for the region's only children's hospital, and every year casts a spotlight on five "Miracle Kids"-- children whose health struggles, recoveries and fighting-spirit is something they live out daily. These children are inarguably nothing short of miracles.

Klinsky has served a variety of functions on the board, and is currently involved in Corporate Development.  He is active on other community boards, including those at Geva Theatre and the Memorial Art Gallery. Klinsky lives in Pittsford with his wife, Tommi; they have two children and one grandchild.

Todd Levine, vice president of marketing and sales for Don Alleson Athletic, a fourth-generation family business.

Levine’s involvement with Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong dates back several years, but he solidified his commitment in March 2002 when he joined the Board of Directors. Additionally, Levine sits on the Board of the Executive Committee for Strong Memorial Hospital.

Levine and wife, Julie, are proud parents of two young healthy children, Noah and Morgan.

Gary Mauro, president J.T. Mauro Co. Inc.

Mauro shares ownership of a mechanical contracting company with a tradition of taking a vested interest in its clients. For Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, that means J.T. Mauro steps beyond its expected role in providing complete mechanical systems for our PICU/PCICU and the William and Mildred Levine Pediatric Surgical Suite projects; they also support the hospital financially by sponsoring the metal fish and butterflies sculptures that adorn the walls leading up to the new units, funding a PICU nurse’s station, sponsoring the annual Gala and golf tournaments, and generously providing the Miracle Makers’ Luncheon since its inception

Mauro says that, "Over the years, I have had the unique opportunity to watch Golisano Children's Hospital grow. From that, I have witnessed firsthand the commitment of its administrators, department heads and staff to the cause -- providing superior pediatric care to the Rochester's children."

Mauro will play a role on the annual Gala and Golf Tournament committees. He currently serves on boards of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Hillside Children’s Center Foundation.

"It's an honor for me to play a role in one of our community’s greatest assets," he said.

Mauro lives in Brighton with his wife, Connie. Their daughter, 23, is in graduate school in Chicago.

Scott Marshall, President of Marshall Farms Group 
 
Webster residents Scott Marshall and his wife, Courtney, were proud parents of two healthy boys before they delivered their daughters, Anne and Molly. Both girls, though born two years apart, each arrived nearly three months early.
 
"After Anne, we thought this was just an anomaly," Marshall said. "Having had two boys at full-term, we were confident this wouldn't be a risk we’d run into again down the road."
 
Anne and Molly each spent three months in the NICU at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, gaining strength, learning to breathe and eat, putting on weight. Now, both are healthy girls and the Marshalls are giving back to the hospital in any way they can.
 
"The NICU is especially close to our hearts," Marshall said. "I serve on a committee that plans events such as  'An Evening of Wine and Wishes.'  It's a joy to be able to champion the hospital -- the doctors, nurses, staff. After all, for a long time, they were the ones supporting us."

Kim J. McCluski, consultant.

Chair of Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong's School Community Fund-raising Committee, McCluski is no stranger to community boards. She serves on the Pittsford Central School District Board of Education, Monroe County School Board Association, and the Nazareth College Board of Trustees in addition to her work with the hospital.

McCluski currently lives in Pittsford with her husband, Stephen. They are the parents of two sons, Brad, 25, and Ryan, who passed away in 2004 and is honored by a memorial basketball tournament, "The Rainbow Classic", each year. The tournament is held between Pittsford Sutherland and Pittsford Mendon High Schools, honoring both Ryan McCluski and Katie Pasley.

McCluski enjoys cooking and working out; her passion for the children's hospital springs from personal experience-- she worked there from 1975 to 1983-- and from the caring and dedication of the staff during Ryan's illness.

Brian Pasley

Biography in progress.

James G. "Jim" Vazzana, managing partner at Wiedman, Vazzana, Corcoran & Volta, P.C.

Vazzana has been an active fund-raiser for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong since 1988. He has great interest in the Children’s Hospital because of the loving and tender care that is rendered by both the doctors and nurses to the children of Western New York State.

Ex-Officio, Honorary, and Faculty Members

Joanne Fioravanti, nurse.

Associate Director of Pediatric Nursing and nurse practicioner with an emphasis in cardiology, Fioravanti has been with Golisano Children's Hospital for over 25 years. She uses her placement on the nursing staff to drum up enthusiasm for hospital fundraisers she participates in.

"I am so pleased to be a part of this team," Fioravanti said. "Being in the hospital gives me a chance to see how this place touches the lives of countless children and their families every day."

Fioravanti enjoys traveling, sewing, reading, gardening and biking. She and her husband, Tom Makielski, live in Pittsford and have a daughter, Meghan.

Faculty

Richard E. Kreipe, M.D.

Thomas K. McInerny, M.D.

Jeffrey Rubenstein, M.D.