ROSA Core Committee

Ellen Burns, a 20-year resident of Ridgefield, serves as President and Treasurer of ROSA. A CPA sole practitioner who holds a BS in Accounting and an MS in Taxation, Ellen is a life-long environmentalist who turned, more recently, to activism. In addition to co-founding ROSA, she has served as President of the Fox Hill Lake Association for the past 14 years, is a member of the Ridgefield Council of Lake Associations and is a past Board member and Treasurer of the Woodcock Nature Center. Ellen and her husband, Darwin Ellis, enjoy reading, traveling and hiking Ridgefield's open spaces. They live on Great Hill Road in the company of two cats.

Debby Mandelbaum, ROSA Vice President and co-founder, has been an active environmental advocate for many years. A Ridgefield resident since 1979, she launched the Ridgefield-based Earthkeepers Club and served as President of the Ridgefield Earth Alliance for five years. On the professional front, Debby is a psychotherapist in private practice, having earned her BA from Dickinson College and MSW from Adelphi University. A Limestone Road resident with her husband, Michael, their two children, a dog and a cat, Debby enjoys gardening, snorkeling and exercising in her free time.

Dr. Robert Kleinberg, Secretary of ROSA, has lived in Ridgefield for 20 years. He is a physicist at Schlumberger, holds more than 20 U.S. patents and is the author of 65 scientific publications. In addition to open space and urban sprawl, Bob is interested in streetscape issues. With Ellen Burns (above), he organized a 1997 neighborhood protest against excessive tree cutting by Northeast Utilities.

Scott Sharlow holds a BS in Environmental Geology from St. Lawrence University. A Geographic Information Specialist for the City of New York's Department of Environmental Protection, Scott enriches ROSA with his broad-based environmental knowledge, map-making skills, detailed knowledge of Ridgefield's remaining open spaces and unshakable sense of humor. A 1994 graduate of Ridgefield High School, Scott enjoys hiking, mountain biking, camping and canoeing.

Al Baker, a Fairfield University graduate (BS, Mech. Eng.) and 37-year Ridgefield resident, recently retired from his post as a Senior Project Engineer with Philips Electronics. The father of four grown children, Al has served Ridgefield in many capacities over the years, including as a Ridgefield Joint Council of PTAs president, Ridgebury School PTA co-president and Zoning Board of Appeals alternate. A vital ROSA researcher/organizer, Al currently serves on the Ridgefield Conservation Commission and is Treasurer of the Saugatuck Valley Audubon Society. He lives on Old Stagecoach Road with his wife, Pat, and five cats.

Pat Sesto, a Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Control Specialist, serves as Director of Environmental Affairs for the neighboring Town of Wilton. Pat, who holds a BS in Environmental Geology from Eastern Connecticut State University, is an environmentalist by training and an activist by choice. Since moving to Ridgefield two years ago, she has brought her expertise to bear as a ROSA researcher/intervenor. Currently a member of the Board of the Weir Farm Preserve and the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative (NRWI) Advisory Committee, Pat previously served as co-chair of the NRWI and Vice Chairman of the Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District. Pat lives on Nod Road with her husband, Eric, two school-age children and two dogs.

Jenny Bocchino, a forecasting and allocation manager for Guinness/UDV in Stamford, is an environmental activist with a long history of community volunteerism. Before, during and after her studies at Sacred Heart University -- where she earned a BS in Business Administration -- Jenny helped staff the crisis-intervention phone lines of Hotline in Greenwich. A five-year resident of Ridgefield, she lives on Great Hill Road with her husband, Guy (see below), plus a surprisingly compatible pet rabbit and cat. In her free time, Jenny enjoys reading and outdoor travel.

Guy Bocchino -- a Payroll and Benefits Manager with Marakon Associates in Stamford ñ has the important role of overseeing ROSA's computer database. A Board member of the Fox Hill Lake Association, Guy earned a BS in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. Like Jenny (see above), Guy is an avid reader, community volunteer and traveler.

Eric Kristoffersen is a licensed land surveyor in Connecticut and New York who operates a Ridgefield-based surveying business. A lifelong Ridgefield resident, Eric's expertise in land surveying and in-depth knowledge of land-use have proved invaluable. A graduate of Ridgefield High School, Eric began surveying while serving in the Connecticut Army National Guard. He resides on Madeline Drive with his wife, Beth, two dogs and two cats. A member of both the Sierra Club and the NRA, Eric enjoys hiking, camping, hunting and fishing.

Pete Stewart, a life-long resident of the Ridgefield area, is a freelance soundman, cameraman, gaffer and director who holds a BS in Television and Radio from Syracuse University. Pete hosts a Tuesday morning program of eclectic music on Bridgeport radio station WPKN (89.5 FM), where he served as Public Service Director for ten years. In addition to his love of music, Pete enjoys skiing, hiking and motorcycling. He lives on Sylvan Drive with his wife, Anne, a sled dog and an iguana.

Barb Jennes brings 25 years of professional writing, editing and photography experience to ROSA. A former Board member of the New Canaan Nature Center and educator for the Woodcock Nature Center, Barb earned her BA in English from SUNY Albany. She currently coaches synchronized swimming and is seeking her certification in secondary education. Barb, her husband, Chuck, and their daughter, Mallory ñ both of whom also serve as frequent ROSA volunteers -- share a Madeline Drive home with two dogs plus two newly adopted kittens.

Sarah Felice, a Research Coordinator at Weill Cornell Medical College, holds a BA in Biology from Colby. Sarah's fine researching skills - as well as a first-hand familiarity with the fauna of the Bennett's Pond property, gleaned from years of living directly adjacent to the tract - have served ROSA well. An avid birder, ballet student and backpacker, Sarah is a member of Audubon and the Connecticut Ornithological Association. Until her recent move to Katonah, Sarah was a life-long resident of Shady Lane.