Officers (Executive Council)

President Vice-President

IRA MORRISON – Bristol

OLLI President Ira Morrison joined OLLI in 2018 and helped establish the Fundraising Innovation Team (FIT) while serving on the Leadership Council. A freelance writer, he brings extensive communications experience from roles with Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations, and universities. Since launching his business in 2006, he has supported clients across a variety of industries. Ira enjoys hiking, travel, music, photography, cooking, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

DIANE GABORC – Waterbury

Diane grew up on Long Island, NY, and moved to Waterbury in 1992. She earned a Biology degree from Wilson College and worked in Human Resources at Saint Mary’s Hospital for 14.5 years before retiring in 2019.

An OLLI member since 2019, Diane has served on several committees and currently chairs the Member Services Committee. She enjoys lifelong learning, art, volunteering, travel, and the lasting friendships and community connections she has found through OLLI.

President-Elect Secretary

DIANE STONE – Milford

FRED KRUG – Watertown

Fred grew up in Pennsylvania and earned degrees from Columbia College and Columbia Law School. He and his wife, Pat, served in the Peace Corps in Uganda before settling in Waterbury, where Fred practiced law for more than 40 years and co-founded the firm Matzkin, Krug & Danen.

A dedicated advocate for civil liberties, Fred served as chairman of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union from 1989 to 1995. In retirement, he enjoys travel, cycling, singing with the Waterbury Chorale, and writing; in 2022, he published a collection of short stories, Unexpected Events.

Committee Chairs (Leadership Council)

Marketing and Community Outreach Committee Chair

DIANE STONE – Milford

Member Services Committee Chair

JOANNE SMARDIN – Cheshire

Nominating Committee Chair

VICKIE NARDELLO – Prospect

Program Development Committee Co-Chairs

JULIE FERNANDEZ – Naugatuck

Julie grew up in Waterbury and has lived in Naugatuck for over 50 years. After careers in retail and advertising, she earned her college degrees and teaching certifications while raising her family, going on to teach Social Studies and English for 18 years. Since retiring in 2013, she has enjoyed travel, gardening, community service, and co-hosting The Music Museum on WATR radio. An active OLLI member since 2014, Julie has served on the Café Committee, participated in the Greening of Waterbury project, and values the friendships and lifelong learning OLLI provides.

ROSALIE GRIFFIN – Waterbury

Rosalie has been an OLLI member since 2007 and has shared her love of mathematics through several courses. She holds degrees in Mathematics and Counseling and spent more than 40 years in education, including 35 years teaching math at Crosby High School and 19 years as an adjunct instructor at local colleges. A longtime volunteer with the Thresholds program, she taught decision-making skills to inmates for nearly four decades. Rosalie and her husband, Mike, live in Waterbury and enjoy spending time with their five children and six grandchildren.

MARION VARANELLI – Waterbury

DONNA OBAROWSKI – Woodbury

Publications Committee Chair

MARY FITZPATRICK-PEITLER – Meriden

Mary has been an active OLLI member for more than 11 years, currently serving as Chair of the Publications Committee and as a member of the Nominating Committee. She has also contributed poetry, prose, and newsletter articles and helped lead OLLI’s 15th Anniversary celebration.

A New York City native, Mary holds degrees in Psychology and Theology and spent 25 years working for New Milford Visiting Nurse and Hospice before retiring in 2015. She enjoys reading, genealogy, travel, museums, theater, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Above all, Mary loves the friendships and lifelong learning she has found through OLLI.

Special Interest Groups Committee Chair

NANCY VIA – Prospect

Nancy is a retired Southern Connecticut State University librarian and faculty member who spent 38 years in higher education. An active community volunteer, she has served with the Prospect Public Library and Prospect Historical Society.

A dedicated OLLI member, Nancy has served on the Leadership Council, chaired the Guidelines and Nominating Committees, and co-chaired the Membership Committee. She is passionate about lifelong learning and the partnerships and opportunities OLLI provides.

Technology Committee Co-Chairs

ELIA BIANCARDI – Sandy Hook

Elia was born in Avella, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1969. He earned a degree in Computer Science from St. Peter’s University and spent 34 years with IBM, retiring as Senior Manager of Strategy and Architecture.

After retirement, Elia earned a certification in Digital Arts from Naugatuck Valley Community College and serves on its Alumni Advisory Board. An OLLI member for 10 years, he currently serves on the Leadership Council as Co-chair of the Technology Team.

CHARLES (CHUCK) LASKY – Middlebury

Chuck is a retired computer technology professor from Naugatuck Valley Community College with a background in psychology, administration, and more than 30 years in the computer industry. An active OLLI member, he serves on the Leadership Council, chairs the Technology Team, and supports members and presenters with Zoom technology.

Chuck lives in Middlebury with his wife, Chayne, and enjoys creating fine art, particularly metal sculpture. One of his works was featured in the Mattatuck Museum’s 2019 Mix Master Show.

Members-At-Large

LYNN CURLESS – Watertown

GENEVIEVE DELKESCAMP – Waterbury

Gen spent her early years in New York and Rhode Island before settling in Waterbury with her husband, Kenneth, where they raised three sons. After working in legal, industrial, and banking roles, she spent 25 years in human resources at a local bank.

Following retirement, Gen earned a degree in Business and Management and now enjoys lifelong learning, volunteering, and travel.

BOB GRADY – Litchfield

MICHAEL GRIFFIN – Waterbury

ELAINE LAU – Cheshire

Elaine joined OLLI in 2021 after retiring from a 23-year career as a clinical social worker at Connecticut Valley Hospital. Her varied professional background includes work in publishing, education, bookkeeping, and social work, supported by degrees in English, Education, and Social Work.

A longtime Cheshire resident, Elaine enjoys dancing, writing, reading, travel, and participating in her faith community and book clubs. She values lifelong learning and the opportunities for connection and growth that OLLI provides.

MILA LIMSON – Middlebury

Mila is a retired town planner from West Hartford with degrees from UConn and the University of New Haven. Since retiring, she has been active in civic and cultural organizations, including Literacy Volunteers, Foodshare, and the Connecticut Community Foundation.

An OLLI member since 2013, Mila has served as both Vice President and President of the Leadership Council. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her three granddaughters.

RAY LYNCH – Waterbury

Liaison for the OLLI Garden

MEG LUDDY – Thomaston

Meg recently retired from the Palace Theater after serving in several roles since its 2004 reopening. Prior to that, she completed a 33-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring as Postmaster of Bantam.

A lifelong crafter, Meg creates polymer, felted wool, and paper crafts through her small business, GPC Designs, featured at Market Street Creatives in Torrington. She also enjoys movies, books, travel, coffee, dogs, and true crime.

GINA PRIEST – Cheshire

Born in Oakville, Connecticut, and a longtime Cheshire resident, I am a lifelong learner and active participant in UConn OLLI. My career included owning and operating specialty food and catering businesses, where I combined my passion for hospitality, entrepreneurship, and mentoring others. I also developed expertise in bookkeeping and business management. Today, I stay engaged through volunteer work with the OLLI Garden at Fulton Park and the Cheshire Food Pantry, while pursuing interests in the arts, reading, theater, and community involvement.

John & Joyce DeCesare Renaissance Fund

JOYCE DeCESARE – Waterbury

Joyce is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Professional Counselor, Board Certified PTSD Counselor and achieved Diplomat and Fellow status from the American Psychotherapy Association. She is in private practice in Middlebury, Connecticut. She received her BA Degree in Education from Anna Maria College in Paxton Massachusetts, MS Degree in Counseling from the University of Bridgeport, 6th year Degree in Advanced Study in Counseling and State Certification in Administration and Supervision from Southern Connecticut State University.

Prior to opening her office in 2000, she retired from the Waterbury Board of Education holding the position of Department Chairwoman of the Crosby High School Guidance Department. Joyce also taught in the Waterbury Public School System and worked as a Resource Teacher for Project Concern in Litchfield, Connecticut.

As a native of Waterbury and a Crosby High School Graduate, Joyce has served on many Boards and Committees throughout the region. She is presently a member of the Palace Theater Board, Waterbury Greenway Advisory Committee and the Holy Cross High School “John DeCesare Make a Difference Dinner Committee.”

She has been the recipient of many awards including, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury Distinguished Service Award, the Reverend John P. Blanchfield Community Service Award, United Way Community Service Award, Waterbury Neighborhood Council Community Service Award and the Waterbury Youth Service” Shining Star Award” and the Waterbury Beautification Award in memory of John A. DeCesare.

Joyce was named to the National Distinguished Service Registry sponsored by the American Association for Counseling and Development, listed in Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who among American Teachers. She was also the recipient of the University of Connecticut Alumni Award in Teaching/ Counseling and the Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation Program (CONNCAP) Community Award.

Joyce was married to the late John A. DeCesare, one of the founding members of OLLI. His goal and vision were to not only to make the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University recognized throughout the region and country but to also be the recipient of the one million dollar grant (the latter has been accomplished). His passion was to make OLLI a household topic as it was in our home. Because of his love for the program, a fund at the University of Connecticut Foundation in his memory has been developed for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

UConn Faculty Liaison

LAURA DONORFIO, Ph.D – Watertown

Laura Donorfio was born in Waterbury and raised in Watertown, CT. She received an A.S. from Mattatuck Community College in business and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in Family Studies and Aging. Before beginning her career at UConn in 2004, she worked for six years for The Hartford Financial Services Group and AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) as a Qualitative Research Director and Corporate Gerontology Liaison. Now an Associate Professor in the School of Family Studies, Laura’s teaching and research interests are in the areas of innovative teaching and pedagogical approaches, gerontological education, intergenerational and lifelong learning, and later life dependency issues.

Laura most recently was named a UConn CETL Teaching Fellow (2018) and was chosen for the CLAS Excellence in Teaching Award (Behavioral & Life Sciences, 2018). She also received the “Distinguished Teacher Award” (2009), an international teaching award from the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education – recognizing individuals for an outstanding gerontological teaching record accompanied with innovated pedagogy. Laura has been instrumental in developing a solid intergenerational service learning program at UConn’s Waterbury Campus with OLLI. She is excited because she recently turned 50 and can become an OLLI member and take classes!