Tom Eakin
Born from a deeply rooted, local family, Tom has lived and raised his family here. As the President of MTC for over four decades he grew a successful local business. Tom has served this non-profit community in various leadership positions and has proudly served as President of the Community Hospice & Health Services Board of Directors. During his tenure on the Board he was integrally involved in the planning, fundraising and building of the Alexander Cohen Hospice House and the Haig & Isabell Berberian Patient Services Center. Tom is a man of action!
He is again stepping up to lead our Mission Possible Now & Forever strategic initiative as our Campaign Chairman. Tom is passionate about ensuring access to quality care for those in our communities, regardless of people’s circumstances.
Janice Lucero
Janice worked for the Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office for 37 years. When she retired in 2008, she decided she wanted to be more involved in her volunteer activities. Not only is she involved with Community Hospice & Health Services, but she also serves as a member of Salvation Army Woman’s Auxiliary. Janice just finished serving eight years on the McHenry Mansion Board of Trustees and she is also active on the fellowship Board at Grace Lutheran Church.
Community Hospice & Health Services is her passion! She was first introduced to the organization when her mother was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1991. She was on hospice care from January until she passed away in June of that year. She states “Community Hospice & Health Services was with us every step of the way. I know from this experience that I wanted to volunteer with this very special organization”.
In 1992, she joined Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services and later worked on the capital campaign to build the Alexander Cohen Hospice House. In 2005, she joined the Foundation Board and has been happily serving since. She is now honored to be an “Agent for Good” on the Mission Possible Campaign!
Christine Stewart
Christine Stewart was an oncology, hospice and palliative nurse working in our community for over 33 years, 30 of those years with Community Hospice & Health Services. She retired from Community Hospice & Health Services as a member of the Senior Leadership team. Although she is retired, you won’t find her sitting around. Christine spends her time volunteering at her church, mentoring women, caring for her mom and spending time with the light of her life, her two-year old granddaughter Addison.
Christine shares, “I believe in the philosophy of hospice for all ages 0–100. It takes special people to perform this work. I had a calling to work with people at end-of-life. God has blessed me richly and I want to pass on blessings to others. It is very spiritual for me. I am a fan of Community Hospice & Health Services for so many reasons and chief among them was their commitment to develop a formal Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care Program for our youngest patients. I was honored to be asked to lead these efforts starting in 1998. For quite a while we served between 3-5 pediatric patients each year. A few years ago, the strategic plan called for expanding these efforts so we began to partner with UCSF, Valley Children’s Hospital and others to support families living here in the Central Valley. Today, there are over 30 children on services.”
Kathy Olivera
Born and raised in Oregon until the age of 12, Kathy was the only girl among five children. The family then moved to Modesto. As a young adult Kathy joined the Air Force as a Medical Materials Specialist. She came back to Modesto to assist her parents in running the family business and helped to raise her brothers. Later, she joined the workforce at MTC where she held several positions and rose to hold the role of HR Director for a number of years. Now retired, Kathy enjoys her furry, four-legged family members out on 23 acres of almonds.
As an Agent for Good, Kathy shared, “Over 35 years ago, I found myself overwhelmed and devastated. My mother was receiving hospice care, and only seven months later, my 19-year-old son was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. During this time, I was a single mom and full-time employee with no paid family leave, another minor son at home and a mortgage to manage. Community Hospice & Health Services came in and provided a bed, bathed my son, and administered his medications while I was at work. They also educated me on what to expect in the coming weeks and what to do. Hospice was our lifeline. The compassionate care and support were invaluable.”
Kathy went on to say, “The need for hospice and palliative care services for pediatric patients and their families, and a dedicated counseling and bereavement center in our community is critical. These resources offer essential support for families like mine when needed most.”
Mike B. Ijams
Mike was born and raised in Modesto. He is an attorney, and a partner of Berliner Cohen, LLP, managing the Modesto office. Mike served multiple terms on the Community Hospice & Health Services Board of Directors, and was a member of Modesto Rotary for over 25 years. He and wife Anne are parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima Church.
“Over a 22-year span Community Hospice & Health Services cared for my father, my mother, and one of my younger brothers. My brother’s care was especially challenging because he was in a skilled nursing facility during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. His Community Hospice & Health Services nurses were both courageous and compassionate in caring for him at risk to their own health.
Community Hospice & Health Services non-profit mission to care for all in need, regardless of their ability to pay, is what sets it apart from other hospice providers, and what makes it such an important resource for our entire community.”
Dave Benn
I was born at the original Memorial Hospital in Ceres. I am the youngest of four sons and my parents were both trained in medical care. My dad was a general practitioner in Ripon before later joining the Gould Medical Group and my mother was a Stanford-trained Registered Nurse. Both were highly active in the Ripon and Modesto communities. They instilled in their sons the expectation to be contributing members of society and to “give back” to your local community. They were also long-time supporters of the concept and reality of a community hospital—Memorial.
When I began my professional career, I was lucky enough to work at Memorial and learn about the interconnection of patient-focused care and a community-focused, not-for-profit healthcare structure. Over time, I began to share my energy and skills with other local not-for-profit organizations. I volunteered and became a member of various boards. I was happy to have spent my entire healthcare career in my “hometown.” I worked in healthcare executive positions for four decades here in Stanislaus County. In 1988, I joined the Community Hospice & Health Services Board and served for nine years, including two as the Board President. Now retired, I was pleased to re-join the Community Hospice & Health Services Board in 2023 and am focused to continue to support its mission in supporting our community.
Monica & Sam Ojcius
Monica and Sam Ojcius both grew up in Stanislaus County and have worked their adult lives in the non-profit and education sectors respectively. Monica has been part of the leadership team at Community Hospice & Health Services for nine years, serving time as the Executive Director of the Foundation and Director of Strategic Initiatives. Sam has been with Modesto City Schools since 1997 and his teaching career spans over three decades. Together they have three sons.
There are many good non-profits in our area providing needed services to support our community. We are impressed with the way that Community Hospice & Health Services has remained true to its original mission of providing end-of life care with compassion and dignity, and still evolving to add to the continuum of care that people need by investing in programs that support those living here in critical and meaningful ways. We are honored to participate in the Leadership of Mission Possible!
Dr. Malavalli & Jyothi Seetharam
The Seetharam’s have devoted much of their efforts to their community. Dr. Malavalli Seetharam, now a retired Pediatric Neurologist, has been impacted by every patient he has met and treated in his lifetime. His life’s work has left a huge mark on his heart.
Jyothi Seetharam, a full-time homemaker, has filled her soul by volunteering for various social service causes. It is second nature to her to serve her community and she believes when we all work together, we can make a difference in so many lives. She has participated as an organizer and supporter of the Stanislaus Medical Society Association’s Hearts and Flowers event for several years.
Their involvement continues with Community Hospice & Health Services with Jyothi now serving her third term as a Board member on the Foundation Board. They regularly sponsor and attend various fundraising events and act as ambassadors to the community on our behalf.
Nancy & Gordon Berg
Nancy and Gordon Berg first became acquainted with Community Hospice & Health Services during the last year of Nancy’s mothers’ life when she utilized hospice services.
Nancy, a retired Tracy School Counselor and Gordon, a retired local Highway and Bridge Contractor, have lived in Modesto since 1965. They have been involved with several local charities and Community Hospice & Health Services is one that they hold dear to their heart. Some time ago they began to donate a one week stay at Nepenthe, a resort in Costa Rica to help raise funds for the Foundation’s annual Gala auction. Nepenthe is from the Greek mythology meaning “A place of no sorrow”.
Nancy and Gordon have hosted fundraisers, called “Chefs in Paradise”. These exclusive donor events bring together local chefs to Nepenthe where they would prepare several cooking demonstrations and a final grand five course dinner. Nancy and Gordon shared, “We enjoy sharing our “Little Piece of Paradise” in the jungle of Costa Rica with our fellow Community Hospice & Health Services donors and look forward to keeping the tradition going.”
Sharon & Michael Jackson
Mike was a dedicated State Farm Insurance Broker for 34 years, now retired. Sharon, also now retired, was a Manager over purchasing and satellite communication systems. They found their forever home in Oakdale, where they have lived happily for over a decade. Sharon currently serves as President of our Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services group dedicated to fundraising for the Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care programs. They can be seen attending most of the special events hosted by Community Hospice & Health Services.
Their commitment to supporting Community Hospice & Health Services has grown out of personal experiences wherein Mike’s stepfather passed on hospice services followed by Sharon’s dad. We are grateful for their participation as Mission Possible Campaign Cabinet Members.
Evan & Leia Porges
Evan and Leia Porges are proud to call Stanislaus County home. Leia was born and raised in Modesto while Evan relocated to the area at age fifteen. Both have enjoyed fulfilled lives in the Central Valley including raising two children and operating successful businesses.
Additionally, Evan and Leia have found being involved and giving back to the community a vital part of their life in Stanislaus County. Leia has been associated with The American Heart Association, served on the Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and is a proud member of Modesto Rotary (MORO) including serving on their board of directors. Evan has served on the boards of The State Theatre, The Central Valley Professional Exchange, Crime Stoppers, Gallo Center for the Arts, Del Rio Country Club, and the Stanislaus Community Foundation. Evan is a graduate of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Leadership Modesto as well as The American Leadership Forum, Great Valley Chapter. In 2023, Evan was honored to receive an honorary doctorate degree from California State University for his efforts in giving back to the community as well as recognized as Citizen of the Year by the American Legion Post 74. Together Evan and Leia have been a team who has supported each other’s efforts and contributions to enhance the lives of those who choose Stanislaus County to be their home.
Community Hospice & Health Services has touched both Evan and Leia’s life in very personal ways. Ten years ago, Leia had a dear friend lose a courageous battle to cancer. Lisa’s final days were spent comfortably in the serene beauty of the Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Evan lost his mother in November 2022. Although she was able to stay at home, it was the care and compassion of Community Hospice & Health Services that provided his mother with twenty-four-hour care for the last two weeks of her life. Evan’s mom was comfortable and peaceful at her passing because the incredible angels from Community Hospice & Health Services were by her side.
Mel & Barbara Bradley
Mel was born at Modesto City Hospital in March 1948. Mel grew up on a 3rd generation peach ranch in Modesto. He ran track at Downey and MJC. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from UC Davis in 1970 and joined the National Guard as a crew chief on CH47 helicopters for six years. Mel retired from PG&E as an executive after 33 years, and in 2004 he obtained an electrical contractor’s license and started his own electrical contracting business which is still going today.
Mel married his high school sweetheart Nancy in 1969 and they had a daughter Cheryle in 1971. Nancy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1996 and battled for years; and finally, Leukemia took her in 2005. In 2006, he started riding a bicycle around Lake Tahoe to raise money for Leukemia research. He is still riding 19 years later. Mel has personally raised over $1 million and he has trained over 600 others to ride around Tahoe for LLS, raising almost $3 million.
His current wife Barbara and he were neighbors in Oakdale who had both lost their spouses in the early 2000’s and got married in 2009. Their family instantly expanded to 7 kids, 9 grandkids and now 9 great grandkids. To ensure they traveled during their golden years, Barbara and Mel renew their wedding vows in a different country every year. They have been all over the world! Barbara loves movies, actors and the performing arts.
Mel shares, “Community Hospice & Health Services provided services for my father in 2008 and 2009 and for my father-in-law at the hospice house in 2010. I joined the Foundation Board in 2015, one of the best decisions I ever made. In 2019, one of my granddaughters very suddenly lost her father. She was very close to her father and she was not dealing with the loss very well. I wanted her to go to Camp Erin, now known as Camp Wokini. She refused, so I bribed her to go. I told her I would put $500 in her hand if she went and came back feeling it was not helpful to her… She went and never asked me to pay her. I truly believe it saved her life. I have been a part of Community Hospice & Health Services for nine years and I hope to remain for years to come. The services we provide are critical to people when they are in some of their darkest moments, which are invaluable.”
Robert Roberts
Robert was adopted at birth by Clifford and Joan Roberts, growing up in Modesto with his brother and sister. He has cherished memories of summers by the sea in Mendocino. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and served for four years. Initially, he planned to become a plastic surgeon, working as a surgical scrub nurse at Memorial Medical Center, but soon realized that this path wasn’t his true calling. This led him to attend design school.
A few years later, Robert founded Robert James Designs Inc., where he has spent over 30 years designing homes internationally. His connection with Community Hospice & Health Services began when he designed a space for the “Designer Showcase House,” a fundraiser organized by Friends of Community Hospice & Health Services.
When Robert’s father was diagnosed with ALS, they embarked on a months-long Bucket List trip together. Afterward, hospice care supported the family through his father’s final moments. A few years later, Robert’s sister, at just 45 years of age, passed away following a brief illness. Nurse Christine Stewart helped get her admitted to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, allowing her five children to say their goodbyes.
Most recently, in Spring 2023, Community Hospice & Health Services cared for Robert’s mother, the creative force behind his passion for design. Reflecting on his experience, Robert expressed immense gratitude for Community Hospice & Health Services, describing the staff’s rare ability to bring warmth, love, and comfort during his loved ones’ final moments. He shared, “I would transport my family across the country to be cared for by this hospice.”
John & June Rogers
June was born and raised here in Modesto, while John’s family moved to Modesto in his middle school years as he attended Roosevelt Jr. High. The two were married in 1962 and John graduated college in 1963, after which he joined the Air Force. They welcomed their daughter Janet in 1963 and son Jeffrey in 1965. As they moved to several states and various Air Force bases, John was moving up the military ladder of leadership. June put her mark on each of the bases they lived at as a willing volunteer. She still gives of her time today as a volunteer supporting area non-profits. John holds the positions of President of the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, Samaritan Village Board of Director’s President and United Samaritan’s Board of Director’s President.
When asked why these two support Community Hospice & Health Services they shared that each of them had their mother served by our end-of-life care when they needed us. It was after each of their moms had passed that John happened to see the signage for our organization, then located at 601 McHenry Ave. He entered and found then President/CEO Harold Peterson III who gave him an overview of the pressing needs we had at the time. John had a sense that he was called to help and be of service, so the next day he stopped by in his overalls with a check that would make a big impact.
At this time the idea of Samaritan Village and a hospice house was just a dream. When Harold and John met to discuss the hospice house, they then went to the Board of Directors to bring this dream into fruition. June and John donated the land where the Alexander Cohen Hospice House now sits. They have continued their support of our non-profit organization and have since had friends and relatives make use of our hospice house where they were gently cared for.
We are ever grateful for their support and their willingness to join Mission Possible as Agents for Good!
Dr. Bob LeFevre
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and was fortunate to return there for medical school at Case Western Reserve and Urology training at the Cleveland Clinic. In 1973, my wife Robin & I migrated to a small multi-specialty clinic in Modesto-The Gould Medical Group. I wanted to be part of a diverse team of physicians all working under the same roof. As hard as it is to believe, at that time this method of delivering medical care was anathema to the majority of Docs in our country.
We became good friends with Darrell and Cathy Oberg. Robin was intensely interested in Cathy’s project to start a hospice in Modesto. When Robin died unexpectedly, a fund was set up in her honor. It was a fund to establish a hospice in Modesto. It was, in fact, the first Community Hospice & Health Services Endowment and lives on as the LeFevre Family Endowment to provide education scholarships for our employees.
I, then, volunteered to be the first Medical Director. To be honest, no one else wanted the job. I was voted to be first Chairman of the Board, likely for the same reason. What I was seeking in a medical group practice, I found ten times over in the melding of an incredible multidisciplinary hospice team.
Along the way I had eight great years on the Stanislaus Planning Commission. I was blessed to take a sabbatical to sail from San Francisco through the Panama Canal and fulfill a childhood dream of dropping anchor in Deep Cove, Nova Scotia where I had spent summers as a kid with my grandfather and cousins.
Now with our therapy dog, Watson, I return like I started–a hospice volunteer. This time as the dog handler. It really does not get any better than this.
Mary LeFevre
I was born & raised in Modesto and have a strong sense of pride in a community that is home to generations of my Italian family. My childhood consisted of church, equestrian competitions, music, large family gatherings, more church and playing for hours in Dry Creek.
As a young adult, my husband Bill and I founded a concert promotion company (Rock’n Chair Productions) that produced 15 years of music events throughout California, including the annual “Mountain Aire Festivals” in Angels Camp. Subsequently, I continued on in event planning for the Modesto Centre Plaza. After 10 years there, I became the Director of Promotions and Public Relations at KAT Country Radio.
I am currently a certified Therapy Dog Handler with our Brittany Spaniel, Watson.
Losing my father in 1981 was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. Dr. Robert Levy was his Oncologist and at Dad’s end stages of life, he introduced me to a woman that had a small office on the 5th floor of Memorial Hospital. It was Mary Jean Coeur Baron who, at that time, was a student nurse. I will never forget the compassion and knowledge she showed as she helped navigate our devastated family though the dying process.
Many years later, in 1996, I had another major loss of my young brother. Dr. Rob D’Aquisto referred us to Community Hospice & Health Services and that began my passion for end-of-life care. I began as a Community Hospice & Health Services family visitor and subsequently was hired as a Volunteer Coordinator. Later, I continued on as a volunteer with the Foundation. I met Dr. Bob LeFevre 25 years ago. To this day we remain active in Community Hospice & Health Services.
Laurie Foster Wesenberg
Laurie was born and raised here in Modesto. She attended University of Southern California and is the proud mother of three adult children. For thirty-two years she has been the Manager of Salon Salon in McHenry Village. Her talented staff numbering in the fifties welcomes more than 125 clients a day. She enjoys networking within the community she calls home, spending time with both family and friends. Her sporting outings include golfing and skiing.
Laurie recalls her first hospice experience was when her grandfather was preparing to pass. He had voiced a desire to remain at home rather then be taken to a hospital for his final days. She recalled nurses and other hospice staff coming into the home to care for him and educate his family on what was happening and to understand the next steps in the process. It was both comforting and reduced the fear of losing her beloved grandfather. He got his wish and was surrounded by family until the end.
She also watched how hospice cared for her stepfather when he was taken too soon by lung cancer in 2000. Hospice has a special place in her heart, and she was instrumental in Co-hosting the Mission Possible Kick-off event for the Leadership Cabinet this past April.
Jeff Burrow
Jeff Burrow is the founder of investment advisory firm Sierra Ocean, LLC. He improves the lives of the families he works with through investment management, retirement planning, tax strategizing and estate planning. Jeff began his career after being exposed to finance at a young age. His father passed away when he was just 16 years old, leaving Jeff and his newly widowed mother to navigate the complex world of financial advice. As a bright student with a growing interest in business and finance, Jeff accompanied his mother to meet with financial advisors, only to realize that many were simply salespeople pushing products rather than offering genuine advice. This shaped his future aspirations.
After graduating magna cum laude from UC Santa Barbara, Jeff set his sights on a career in financial planning. Starting his career at Morgan Stanley in the late 1990s, Jeff eventually co-founded Valley Wealth, an independent advisory firm, in 2008. In 2014, Valley Wealth merged with United Capital Financial Advisors, which later became part of Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management. However, in 2021, Jeff decided to leave “Wall Street” and again establish his own independent advisory company, driven by his passion for providing conflict-free, personalized financial advice.
Jeff is a member of the Stanislaus County Estate Planning Council, a founding member of the Transfer of Wealth Technical Advisory Committee for the Stanislaus Community Foundation and is a founding board member for the Modesto Children’s Museum.
Born and raised in the Central Valley of California, Jeff is happy to live in the same area where he grew up. He has two children in college and one in high school, and in his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking and going to the beach.
After several years of working with Community Hospice & Health Services to help manage and build their Foundation Endowment, I learned about what was then known as “Camp Erin” (now called Camp Wokini), one of the unique services the organization offers to children. Camp Wokini is an overnight grief camp for any child or teen, ages 6-17, who has experienced the death of someone significant. Camp is offered free of charge to all campers. This touched my heart that a service was available to children and teenagers who have had the same unfortunate experience that I had as a teen, when I lost my father. When I discovered that resources were available (at no cost) to help young people with this traumatic time, I wanted to help however I could. Donating money specifically to this cause seemed like a good start. But in 2023 when I found out that the camp needed a new lead sponsor, I was happy to offer my assistance. I’m honored to be the lead underwriter of this incredibly valuable camp through my firm Sierra Ocean, LLC. It has been a rewarding “full circle” experience partnering with Community Hospice & Health Services to provide to children what I desperately needed when I was in their same situation more than 30 years ago.