Ms. Judy Chriss, Foundation President, has been a resident of Hastings-on-Hudson for 16 years. When her two sons were very young she brought them to the Greenburgh Library on a regular basis and they all still love the library. Additionally, she is the president of Chriss Careers Ltd., a staffing firm in Tarrytown and is an active board member of several community and business organizations.

Mr. Richard Barber, CPA, Foundation Vice President, lived in the Town of Greenburgh for 7 years, married with 4 children all of whom have been or are in the process of going through the Ardsley school system and have been extensive users of the library system both in Ardsley and Greenburgh. He holds membership with various professional organizations including the American Institute of CPAs and the NY State Society of CPAs and has served on a number of committees and Board of Directors both professional and personal in mission.

Ms. Sheila Barnett, Foundation Treasurer recently sold her pension consulting firm of 25 years to travel in Europe and the U.S., and is now largely retired. She has served 2 years on the Library Foundation Board, after having served 7 years on the Board of the White Plains YWCA. She has lived in this area all of her life, and has been a homeowner in White Plains for 30 years. She has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

Mr. Cory Deitchman, Secretary, works for the Greenburgh Public Library as the Secretary to the Library Director. He has worked at the Greenburgh Public Library since February 2005. Mr. Deitchman began working for the Foundation in 2006, becoming the Secretary to the Foundation in November 2006. Mr. Deitchman previously worked in Jewish Communal Service for over 15 years and has worked in the not-for-profit field since 1986 in a variety of positions.

Mr. Jim Lasser has been a fan of libraries since 1958 and a resident of Greenburgh since 1977. He is married, the father of 4 children ranging in age from 32 to 23 and the grandfather of 1. He was elected three times to the Edgemont Board of Education and currently serves on the Board of Education for Union Free School District #11 (Children’s Village). He was one of the founders of the Edgemont School Foundation. His professional background included membership in the New York Society of Security Analysts and running his own technology consulting company until his recent retirement.

Mr. Gary Mastrangelo is the Principal of Highview School in Greenburgh. He has been a resident of Hartsdale for four years and has three children in the Ardsley School system. His wife is a teacher at RJ Bailey School in Greenburgh.

Ms. Regina Morgan-Rodriguez resides in Greenburgh with her husband and their two children. She has a strong interest in supporting her community through her work with the GPL Foundation, with the desire to ensure resources are available for every member of the community to reach his/her greatest potential.

Ms. Marjorie Phillips has been a resident of unincorporated Greenburgh for 55 years and has been involved in community activities for most of those years. She’s been a member of the Board of Trustees of The Child Abuse Prevention Center of NY, The Community Services Board of Westchester County, and the Greenburgh Central 7 Education Foundation.


Ms. Eugenie Contrata (Director, Greenburgh Public Library) was appointed Library Director in November 2007 and has worked at the Greenburgh Public Library for over 15 years, starting as a librarian in 1992 and becoming Assistant Director in September 2001. Ms. Contrata is a life long resident of Westchester County and received her Masters of Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany in May 1990 and her Bachelor of Arts from the College of New Rochelle in May 1988. She began her career in library service as a page at the Harrison Public Library while still in high school and began her professional career as a librarian at the New Rochelle Public Library in July 1990.

Mr. Mel Lipetz (Liaison, Friends of GPL) has worked in the computer industry since 1967 – first with IBM, then with a Business Advisory Service. Now retired for six years, he has been happy to do volunteer work for various civic and religious groups. He has been president of the Friends of the Greenburgh Library for several years and has asked to be the liaison between the "Friends" and both the Foundation's and the Greenburgh Public Library's Board of Trustees. When not volunteering, Mel and his wife, Marion, travel extensively, but mostly to visit their grandchildren in St. Louis, in Phoenix, and in New York City.