Board of Directors
Maria DeWald, President
Dorothy Denny, Vice President
Linda Patzner, Treasurer
Kathleen Crowley, Secretary
Rebecca Adams
Debby Glynn
Katherine H. Kerin
Mary Lulu Lamping
Bob Ouimette
Sarah Peacock
Gail Rau
Advisors
Susan Adams
Catherine E. Baer
Nancy Berner
Michael Dupree
Linda Freisitzer
Gail Griffin
Angela G. Henry
Susan Lowry
Diane Hoe Mucci
Frederic C. Rich
Karen Strain Smythe
Nevill Smythe
Anne Cleves Symmes
Judith B. Tankard
Heather Whitefield
Pamela Brown
Executive Director
Pamela brings a varied background in landscape architecture, public education, and non profit management. She holds a BA in Design, MA in Landscape Architecture, and MS in Education / Curriculum Development, thus has insights into the unique mission of a public garden. Having visited dozens of public gardens, she recognizes the opportunity that this garden has to showcase the garden as art, as part of a cultural story, while also leading the way in environmental education. A fine public garden, particularly a historic garden, has the challenge of cherishing the past while also looking toward the future. Finally a well managed public garden can remind the visitors and stewards alike, how essential the connection is between people and the natural world, by providing educational and cultural arts opportunities for the community to relax, learn, enjoy, observe and nurture both nature and human accomplishments.
Karen Waltuch
Horticulturist
Karen came to us in 2018 after four years at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York City where she maintained the 1.8 acre public park and gardens, offering a summer youth Garden Camp and leading many garden education and volunteer workshops throughout the year. She did her professional studies as a John Nally Intern at Wave Hill in the Bronx, with the Horticultural Society of NY as a Rikers Island GreenHouse Program intern, and as a student at the New York Botanical Gardens. Through interning and volunteering Karen found her passion for gardening in public spaces, and she finds it a privilege to teach and spread her enthusiasm for all living things.
In her other life Karen is a professional violist who has a diverse performance career.
Chris Zumtobel
Program Director
Chris brings to BFGA more than 8 years of art programming experience with his organization Think Olio. He has curated more than 1000 classes, including international trips to Cuba and Mexico, and dozens of educational retreats in Ulster and Dutchess County. He is committed to building community through accessible, memorable programming in public spaces. Chris has brought jazz bands to living rooms, poets to parks, and historians to rock climbing gyms, and he is delighted to be gathering people in Beatrix Farrand’s beautiful garden in Hyde Park.
Chris loves to garden and each year he plants as many tree seeds as he can get his hands on.