Board of Directors and Staff

The offices of the Elizabeth Park Conservancy are housed in the “Cottage,” a small green building across from the Rose Garden.

This building was formerly the Caretaker’s Cottage for the Park, and is a two-story, frame and gable roof house with twin chimneys. It is the only building here that existed during the lifetime of the Park donor, Mr. Charles Pond. Documentation suggests it was most likely built around 1875, making it the oldest building in the Park. Theodore Wirth moved the Caretaker’s Cottage from Asylum Avenue to its present location in 1898 when he created the Farmstead as the working center for the Park.

Elizabeth Park Conservancy Staff

President & CEO
Christine Doty
cdoty@elizabethparkct.org
860-231-9443, ext 102

Director of Gardens & Grounds
Mark Gutzmer
mgutzmer@elizabethparkct.org
860-231-9443, ext 103

Director of Office Operations
Ann Drinan
adrinan@elizabethparkct.org

Development & Marketing Manager
Kelly Nolen
knolen@elizabethparkct.org
860-231-9443, ext 106

Development & Project Advisor
Margaret Tilney

Head Grower
Ash Pierce
apierce@elizabethparkct.org

Rose Gardener
Constantino Ramirez

Gardeners
Wesley Gage & David Rivera

Gardener & Grower
Liz Castle

Seasonal Gardeners
Janet Cemanes, Terry D’Italia & Betty Hogan

Gardening Staff Office
860-231-9443, ext 104

Garmany Visitor Center
860-231-9443, ext 101

Garmany Visitor Center Manager
Susan Peters

Garmany Visitor Center Gift Shop Manager
Stephanie Webb

Garmany Visitor Center Staff
Barbara Ally, Joan Bonetti, Monica Fay, Janet Schloss, Lynne Tarantino, David Wilson

Elizabeth Park Conservancy Consultants

2025-2026 Robert A. Prill Annual Garden Designer
Karen Powell

2025-2026 Robert A. Prill Tulip Garden Designer
Jacqueline van der Kloet

Graphic Designer
Cindie Cagenello

Horticulturist Emeritus

Robert A. Prill*

Rosarian Emeritus

Stephen Scanniello

*deceased

Elizabeth Park Conservancy Board of Directors

Current Directors

Chair Edward Samorajczyk
Vice Chair Nancy Porter
Vice Chair Avery Buell
Treasurer Christopher McCarron
Secretary Bradley Harper
Immediate Past Chair Marian Kellner

Francine Christiansen
Joanne Eudy
Ben Flynn
Diana Jepsen
Mary Martin
Charlie Ortiz
Lewis Robinson
Rosemarie Tate
M. Laurie Wasserstein

Honorary Lifetime Directors

Tina Collias *
Michelle Drain
Mike Fuss
Joanna Gerber, MD*
Paul Grimmeisen
Victor Jarm *
Louis Lista
Marianne Lorenzo
Nancy Mixter*
John Balf Morgan
Levette Perkins
Dave Peterson
Sali Riege *
Eve Silvester *
Lisa Silvestri
William Turull
Lina Wagner *
Kim Yarum
* deceased

Former Presidents/Chairs

Laura Berman
Benedict Flynn
Mike Fuss
Garnette Johnson *
Helen S Kaman *
Marian Kellner
Kathy Kraczkowsky
Charlie Ortiz
Dave Peterson
Anne Pinto *
Lisa Silvestri
Lina Wagner *
Milton Young *
* deceased

Elizabeth Park Conservancy Ambassadors

Angela Allen-Peck
Beverly Baker
David & Sandra Bobowski
Eileen Buell
Kimberly Byrd
Susan Clemow
Adam Cohen
Halsey & Michele Cook
Julie Corroon
Bria Day
Clare Edwards
David Ellovich
Ellen Flynn
Al Gatti
Bill Gleason
Violette Haldane
William Howard & Liz Kaplan
Karen Huhtanen
Susan Izard
Louise Kaufman
Kitty & Jack Keane
Sylvia Kelly
Rob Kret
Katherine Lambert
Paddi LeShane
Penny Lisi
Kathy Marr
Tina McCary
Carole Mucha
Eileen & Elliot Pollack
Nat Reeves
Marisela Sener
Kirsten Shea
Lisa Silvestri
Michelle Souza
Jessie Stasulis
Donna Stout
Elizabeth (Lisa) Stout
Connie Williams