New England Deaconess Association
Board of Directors
Iris Werbalowsky Barten, LMFT:
Iris has thirty years of experience as a skilled counselor and therapist working with people who are living with challenging physical and emotional issues, complex medical needs, and developmental disabilities. Her work with seniors has spanned her entire career. Iris was the Director of the Lynn Day Activity Center, a Social Worker and Unit Manager at the Perkins School for the Blind. She has also served as the Special Projects Coordinator of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association. She has a part-time practice as a counselor and consultant focusing on Life Cycles, Transitions, Loss, and Renewal. She consults with non-profit organizations regarding Team Building, Working More Effectively with Families, and Change. Iris graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Oneonta with a B.A. degree in Psychology and Sociology. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College and is a licensed social worker and counselor. She is an active volunteer and member of Hadassah as well as a member of the Deaconess Development Committee
Glenn D. Burlamachi:
Glenn is a licensed funeral director and purchased the MacRae-Tunnicliffe Concord Funeral Home in Concord in 2004 which he operates with his wife, Beth. He earned a B.S. Degree in Accounting and Business Management from Green Mt. College and an A.S. Degree from FINE Mortuary College where he continues to teach business and accounting. Prior to attending FINE Mortuary College, Glenn owned an electrical contracting business and a national lighting supply company for twelve years.
Robert S. Cummings:
Bob received his undergraduate degree from Brown University/Tufts University and an LL.B. from Harvard University. He was a Managing Partner of Nixon & Peabody and the Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. Bob served in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps, is a former Chairman of the Reading Board of Selectmen and currently Chairman of the Reading Commissioners of Trusts’ Funds. He is former chairman and currently a member of the board of Trustees for Hallmark Healthcare, a former member of Edison Electric Institute Legal Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Director and Treasurer of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and Secretary and member of the board of Directors of Massbank.
Phyllis Rogde Gleason:
Phyllis received a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Wheaton College in Norton and a M ED in Early Childhood/Curriculum and Development from Lesley University. She has taught pre-school, kindergarten and elementary grade students as well as being an at-home teacher. Phyllis has held leadership roles in The Winton Club, The EnKaSociety, The Vincent Club and the Duxbury Yacht Club. She has been married to her husband Paul for 41 years and is the mother of two sons and the grandmother of two grandsons.
Donna Grinnell:
Donna graduated from Colby Junior College (now Colby Sawyer College) and Wheelock College and was an elementary school teacher for seven years before her two children were born. She and her husband Ken have lived in Acton for the past 33 y3ars. She volunteers at the Acton schools, Saint Matthews United Methodist Church, and Emerson Hospital. She is past President of the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary and served two years on the board of the Mass Hospital Association as state volunteer chairman. At Saint Matthews she has been a member of the Chancel Choir for 28 years and has served on various committees, including the recent building committee. From 1994 to 2001, Donna was the Assistant Director of Community Services at Emerson Hospital, responsible for the scheduling and training of over 500 adult and student volunteers. Since retiring from her Emerson position, she has made a four-year commitment as an associate at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, as well as volunteering at Emerson and her church.
Earl H. Hutt:
A life-long resident of the town of Westborough, MA, Earl earned a B.S. Degree in Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and is a Corporator of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. He is the past President and owner of Winchester Drug Company and served in the US Navy Medical Corp. as a Pharmacist during WWII. He then earned an MBA from Northeastern University and is a Massachusetts Notary Republic. Earl has served as: Board of Directors and Treasurer of Bay State Abrasive Products Company, Treasurer of Alden Self-Transit Systems Corporation, Board of Directors Integrated Systems Technology, Inc., President and Treasurer of Westborough Realty Corporation, Treasurer of American Society of Insurance Management, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Worcester Area American Heart Association, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bridge, a halfway home for Boys, Chairman Town of Westborough Finance and Advisory Commit-tee, Commissioner of Trust Funds of Town of Westborough, Member of Westborough Area YWCA Advisory Council, Chairman Audit Committee Westborough Financial Services Inc. and Westborough Bank, and a Member of the Board of Directors and Corporator of Westborough Bank. Earl is an active member of his local United Methodist Church and has served for 33 years as Lay Member to the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, has been President of its Council of Finance and Administration for 10 years, a member of numerous committees.
Claire Lawton:
Claire is a Concord resident who has been a clinical and administrative nurse since 1961, practiced on both the east and west coasts and recently retired as Nursing Director of Bullock’s Nursing Service of Concord. She hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Boston College and is a past member of the concord board of Health, past member of the concord Council on Aging and the Friends of the Acton Nursing Service, and pat President of the Walden Unit of the American Cancer Society. Currently Claire is a member of the Board of Directors of the New England Deaconess Association, President of the Board of Directors of Cooperative Elder Services, Inc., and a corporator of the Belknap House of Concord. Claire is a choir member at Holy Family Church in Concord and services on its Finance Council, as well as the Social Justice and Action Commission. She is also a member of Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee of Concord and a member of the Concord Lions Club.
Phyllis S. Maurer:
Phyllis graduated from the American Institute of Banking and was the A.V.P. and Branch Administrator of the Hudson National Bank, retiring in 1975 She is married to Bruce D. Maurer of Concord and have two girls, ages 25 and 27 (their children are 5th generation Concordians) and two grandsons. Phyllis continued working for the family business, “The Frank Maurer Co., Inc. (earth moving, development and landscape design and installation) which has been in business since 1953. In the 1980’s the company grew to include custom home building. Phyllis has been a realtor in the Concord area since then and is currently employed at the Carlson GMAC Real Estate as a broker and focuses on the wide Metro West area real estate market. She is a member of the Concord Lions Club, President elect of the Rotary Club of Concord, MA, Advisory board member of the Concord Recreation Dept.’s annual Golf Tournament, Past President of the Quota Club of Concord (women’s professional organization), and Past President of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Council.
Rev. Robert A. Moore:
A native of Massachusetts and a third generation pastor in the New England Conference, of the United Methodist Church, bob is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology and has served churches in East Greenwich, RI; Saugus, MA; Williamstown, MA; Plymouth, MA; Providence, RI; and, Niantic, CT. Through his family history, he has a deep connection with and appreciation for the elder ministries of the Conference. With his appointment to St. Matthew’s UMC in Acton, he continues to be an active participant of the New England Deaconess Association.
Rev. Dr. Michael R. Stotts:
“Rev. Mike” is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has served as Pastor in several communities throughout New England and Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania he was also the Director of Communications and editor of the conference newspaper. He is currently the pastor of Christ UMC in Northampton. Mike and his wife, Peggy, enjoy being actively involved in their communities and focus their ministry on people with disabilities. They have worked with hospice and outreach programs. Mike received several degrees from Boston University: an A.B. Degree in Sociology, a ThM Degree from the School of Theology and a Doctor of Theology. He continues to write for denominational publications and is the President of the Board of The Progressive Christian magazine.
Herbert Taylor:
Rev. Herbert B. Taylor is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Abundant Life Communities (Deaconess). Rev. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bates College (magna cum laude) and an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s of Divinity from Boston University (summa cum laude). His business experience is in management consulting where he worked for Arthur D. Little, Inc., in Cambridge, MA. While at Arthur D. Little, Inc., he became a Senior Consultant involved in strategic planning, organizational development, merger and acquisition advice, and marketing direction for major U.S. and multinational corporations. As a pastor his most recent appointment was at the Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, MA. This church grew by 300 in average attendance during the seven years Rev. Taylor served as its pastor. Rev. Taylor chaired the Visioning Task Force for the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church to develop a vision for ministry for its 600 churches and a plan for implementation. He has also taught Pastoral Leadership at Boston University. During the last fifteen years, Herb has led mission trips to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Haiti, Kentucky, New York City and Maine. Rev. Taylor is the President of MassAging and an active member of Rotary Club of Concord.
