Meet NVN’s Board Members

The Board of Governors provides ongoing oversight and management of NVN. Responsibilities include operational and strategic planning, financial review, and coordination and oversight of committees.

The Board is made up of members elected at the Annual Meeting for three-year terms, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. The members of the Board of Governors are listed below.

Executive Committee:

President:       Barbara Adolphe     

Vice President:      Merle Savedow      

Interim Treasurer:     Paul Savedow   

Secretary:      Andrea Parry      

Board Members:

Carol Aronoff

Margie DuBrow

Barbara Hoffman

Gary Murphy

Claire Robinson

Linda Stern

Sue Sussman

Barbara Torday

Julia Turner Lowe

Andrea Watson

Annie Wilson

Administrative Coordinator:

Kim Massare

Board Member Bios:

Barbara Adolphe moved to Mt Airy in 2016, upon retirement from a career in NJ as the Executive Director of a non-profit agency. In 2018, she detoured for a year in North Carolina with her daughter’s family after which they all moved to Chestnut Hill. Barbara’s focus is on family here and in NYC. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer and is taking piano lessons and tap dancing classes. Other interests include vegetarian cooking, contra dancing and hiking. 

Carol Aronoff grew up in Hillside NJ, lived most of her adult life (and raised 2 daughters) in NYC, and moved to Chestnut Hill in 2003. She was one of 7 women to graduate in the Penn Law class of ‘66, and worked in DC for the Civil Rights Division of DOJ 1967-69. For 25 years she was an in-house attorney for an international commodities company. Carol moved to Cathedral Village in Nov 2022. She has 4 grandkids aged 17-23, and an antisocial senior dog named Bebe.

Margie DuBrow was the director of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) at Bryn Mawr College for 14 years before retiring in 2023. NELI offered intensive professional programs for leaders in local and regional nonprofits. Before that, Margie was an independent consultant for 11 years to nonprofit and government organizations, working on leadership development, supervisory training, strategic planning, and outcomes-based evaluation. At an earlier stage in her career, she also worked for an organization in Harrisburg that provided training in capacity building and technical assistance to nonprofits and government agencies that worked together to create and maintain prevention initiatives for families.

Barbara Hoffman moved to Philadelphia in 1986, and in 1993 became a Faculty Member at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University where she was engaged in cancer research and education. After switching to a half-time appointment in 2018, she took a more active role in NVN, chairing the Membership Committee, and joined the Board in 2023. Barbara is an advocate for various political causes, enjoys film, theater, dining out, and most importantly, hanging out with friends and meeting new people. She shares her home with her senior dog Sweet Pea and visits often with her daughter’s family.

Gary Murphy is a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University with a degree in Theatre. He segued into his passion for cooking working as a chef till being recruited to teach Culinary Arts. Between the Philadelphia School District and the Art Institute, plus a stint in Arizona, he retired from teaching after 35 years and returned to his hometown in 2016. He has a son living here and a daughter in California. Gary is a member of the Montgomery County Human Relations Council. With interest in wood working, travel and, of course, food, life stays full.

Andrea Parry is a Philadelphia native who started as a social worker and went to law school when her children were little. She spent most of her legal career in the litigation group in a global pharmaceutical company. She enjoys walking, dancing, and any other movement that doesn't hurt her joints. She has 4 grandchildren and a granddog.  

Claire Robinson is originally from Connecticut with most of her schooling in New England. She first came to Philadelphia in 1975 for medical school and remained, becoming a physician of obstetrics and gynecology until retirement in 2018. She has lived in Germantown and Mt Airy for almost her entire time in Philadelphia. Her enthusiasms include cooking (eating), gardening, technological ventures. Her time is also devoted to her work for the community, which now includes being on the Board of Planned Parenthood as well as, most recently, the NVN Board. 

Merle Savedow is a life-long Philadelphia resident and has lived in Mt. Airy her whole adult life. Merle is a 40-year veteran of teaching reading and elementary grades in both private and public schools in Philadelphia and the suburbs. Her primary interests are her two young granddaughters and family, NVN, exercising, and socializing.  

Paul Savedow is a life-long Philadelphian and a U.S. Army veteran. He worked at the Free Library of Philadelphia for 38 years as a librarian and supervisor. During His career Paul developed a deep appreciation for the diverse communities and income levels of the city’s neighborhoods. He joined NVN shortly after retiring in 2015. Paul is active in the Photography and Film Discussion groups. His favorite role is being a grandfather to Leah and Rosie.

Linda Stern grew up in Brooklyn, New York but has made Philadelphia her home since 1976. She graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1988. Most of her career was serving patients at the VA Medical Center in West Philly. Linda and her wife have 2 sons, 3 grandchildren and a dog named Ginger. She loves to hike, run and makes ice cream to share with friends.

Sue Sussman is a seasoned executive coach and coach trainer with clients in business and government.

Barbara Torday, originally from Boston, moved to East Falls to be close to her children and grandchildren. She spent most of her career in education, teaching and working for a publishing company. She loves walking, reading and connecting with friends.

Julia Turner Lowe is originally from Hattiesburg, MS but has spent most of her adult life in the Northeast. She moved to West Mt. Airy from Cambridge, MA after retiring in 2016 as a Finance Director of a nonprofit in Boston. MA. Julia enjoys gardening, long walks while listening to audio books; but most of all, creating textile art pieces.

Andrea Watson resides in the Cedarbrook section of Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Hahnemann University and a retired Medical Technologist. She was active in Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild (POWER) and belongs to a founding congregation of POWER. Andrea continues to support social, economic and environmental causes. Currently, her focus is combining traditional senior care practices with emerging strategies and technologies to enhance positive aging.

Annie Wilson moved to West Mount Airy to be closer to family in 2024 after enjoying several bucolic post-retirement years in Western Massachusetts. She joined NVN within a month of her move to Philadelphia, and cannot imagine making a home here without the support and friendships she has found. Before retirement, she was a senior executive in the nonprofit sector, overseeing national and international programs focused on refugees, migration, capacity-building and development. Annie loves hiking, reading, cooking and knitting, and is hoping to revive her photography habit.