Meet the Board of Directors
Robert Aaronson, Block Party Coordinator
Bob has lived at 312 W. 103rd St. since 1979 with his wife Nancy Gropper. They have raised two sons (public and independent schools, youth soccer, basketball, baseball, ....) and numerous dogs and cats. Nancy continues to work in the neighborhood and Bob is retired. They have no plans to move (ever). Bob was elected to the Block Association board in 2011 where his primary responsibility is to coordinate the annual Yard Sale and recruit volunteers to help run it. Contact Bob.
Hedy Campbell, Newsletter Editor, Solstice Caroling Coordinator
Hedy moved into the neighborhood (W. 102nd Street) in 1984 and joined the Block Association soon thereafter. Since then she's served as co-chair, co-editor of the newsletter, editor of the newsletter, treasurer, and secretary. For many years she organized the annual Halloween parade, and continues to oversee the annual holiday caroling event. In the past few years, she's interviewed our Residents of Long-Standing, helped launch e-waste recycling, and initiated an annual blood drive. Contact Hedy.
Cynthia Doty, Chair
Cynthia has lived in her apartment at 305 Riverside Drive for 34 years, moving in after living a few years in Brooklyn. In the late 1980’s, she became active in her building’s tenant association and, shortly after that, started participating in Block Association activities. She officially joined the Board in the early 1990’s and for the past twenty years has helped with various Block Association activities and events. In recent years, she helped plan and moderated the Block Association’s annual meetings. Since Cynthia also serves as the Democratic District Leader for our area, she frequently acts as a liaison to our elected officials or various government agencies. Contact Cynthia.
Nancy Gropper
Nancy has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 55 years and on West 103rd Street for 42 years. She and her husband, Bob Aaronson, raised their two sons on the block. A dog lover, she walks her current dog, Joey, almost every morning and afternoon in Riverside Park. Nancy retired in 2015 from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. She joined the Block Association board in 2019, writes a column for the Block Association newsletter, and is the Zoom host for our Block Association meetings.
Jane Hopkins, Newsletter Advertising Manager, Halloween Event Coordinator
Jane has lived in our neighborhood since 1983. She and her husband started their family on West 103rd Street and moved to West 102nd Street for a larger apartment to raise their two children. About a year ago Jane responded to our call for assistance in reaching out to local businesses to place ads in our Newsletter. She joined the Board in 2013. Jane has other volunteer experience working for several years with the Visiting Nurse Service in their hospice program to spend time with patients and bereaved relatives. She also volunteered with the Youth Hostel near West 103rd Street as a tour guide. Jane completed her master’s degree in business administration at New York University and works for Cornell University-Weill Medical College in Human Resources. She also teaches at Baruch College in the Continuing & Professional Studies Program. Contact Jane.
Celia Knight, Recording Secretary
Celia has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years, enjoyed a career in publishing, and is working now to learn new software applications and discover new ways to reach out to the community. She sings with the Voices of New York, a choral group that performs four to six concerts a year at health care centers and other venues. Contact Celia.
Ginger Lief, Archivist, WSFED Representative
Ginger has been a resident of the Master Apartments since August 1969 on Riverside Drive and W. 103rd Street. She joined the W. 102nd & 103rd Streets Block Association board in 1982 and shortly afterwards became the editor of the then monthly BA newsletter and head of the Street Fair Publicity Committee. She resigned these positions in 1986 when she returned to school for graduate work and rejoined the BA Board in 2002. Since then, Ginger has served as the BA archivist, and more recently as the BA representative to the West Side Federation of Neighborhood and Block Associations. She serves, as well, on the Park West Neighborhood History Group board and is actively engaged locally with community outreach at St. Michael's Church. Contact Ginger.
Alexis Lillie, Block Party Committee Member
Alexis has lived on the Upper West Side since she moved to the neighborhood to attend Seminary in 2012 (minus a brief stint in Nashville, before she realized her mistake and returned to NYC!). She, her husband, and their toddler moved into 305 Riverside Drive in 2018, and she joined the Board in 2019. Alexis is an ordained minister serving at Broadway Presbyterian Church, and working at a educationally-focused interfaith non-profit. Her favorite thing about the neighborhood is how it feels like a small town, where you always run into someone you know. She assists with the Spring Block Party as well as with marketing and writing needs. Contact Alexis.
Susan Maderer, Co-Treasurer
After working in the garment district for more than 35 years, Sue Maderer changed directions and became a professional organizer specializing in financials and bookkeeping. Sue operated her own business and was bookkeeper and office manager for a small law firm. She has been the treasurer for two nonprofit organizations so we’re fortunate to have her expertise on the board. In addition to serving with Dorothy O'Hanlon as Block Association co-treasurers, she will manage the Quicken and Access databases. A neighborhood resident for 32 years, Sue enjoys traveling, playing bridge, exercising, and reading. Contact Sue.
Komal Rathi, Co-Treasurer
Komal and her husband are residents of Alexandria House on West 103rd Street. She has lived in New York city since 2008, and moved to the neighborhood in 2013. Her favorite part about living on the block is the proximity to Riverside Park. While pursuing a management career in financial services, she serves as the co-treasurer of the block association. Contact Komal.
Mark Schneiderman, Head of the Ecology Committee & Guard Service Liaison
Mark is an enthusiastic member of the Block Association, with many decades of residence in the neighborhood ahead of him. He frequents Riverside Park with his two daughters and has enjoyed being involved in the wonderfully active community on the block. Mark received his JD from UC Berkeley and made his way to New York in 2005. He likes to ride a CitiBike along the Hudson River Greenway to and from his office in Midtown, where he works on unconventional investments as a reformed corporate lawyer. Mark is very happy to have gotten his hands dirty, taking over planning for the semiannual Block Association planting days, a few years ago when the planting days were in danger of being cancelled for lack of volunteers. He hopes to continually increase participation, with a goal of planting and mulching all area tree wells in the fall and spring of each year. He thanks the team of neighbors who come out to beautify our sidewalks. He also oversees our relationship with the agency that provides our guard service. Contact Mark.
Non-Board
Caitlin Hawke, Block Association Blogger & Webmaster
Caitlin has been blogging at our site since early 2014. An active member of our community, she created the TriBloomingdale Initiative which organizes activities to bridge this block association with the W. 104th Street Block Association and Bloomingdale Aging in Place. She also served as a director of Bloomingdale Aging in Place where she currently co-chairs BAiP's activities committee overseeing nearly 100 volunteers who produce 1300 activities annually. She is a lover of local urban history. Contact Caitlin.
Bob has lived at 312 W. 103rd St. since 1979 with his wife Nancy Gropper. They have raised two sons (public and independent schools, youth soccer, basketball, baseball, ....) and numerous dogs and cats. Nancy continues to work in the neighborhood and Bob is retired. They have no plans to move (ever). Bob was elected to the Block Association board in 2011 where his primary responsibility is to coordinate the annual Yard Sale and recruit volunteers to help run it. Contact Bob.
Hedy Campbell, Newsletter Editor, Solstice Caroling Coordinator
Hedy moved into the neighborhood (W. 102nd Street) in 1984 and joined the Block Association soon thereafter. Since then she's served as co-chair, co-editor of the newsletter, editor of the newsletter, treasurer, and secretary. For many years she organized the annual Halloween parade, and continues to oversee the annual holiday caroling event. In the past few years, she's interviewed our Residents of Long-Standing, helped launch e-waste recycling, and initiated an annual blood drive. Contact Hedy.
Cynthia Doty, Chair
Cynthia has lived in her apartment at 305 Riverside Drive for 34 years, moving in after living a few years in Brooklyn. In the late 1980’s, she became active in her building’s tenant association and, shortly after that, started participating in Block Association activities. She officially joined the Board in the early 1990’s and for the past twenty years has helped with various Block Association activities and events. In recent years, she helped plan and moderated the Block Association’s annual meetings. Since Cynthia also serves as the Democratic District Leader for our area, she frequently acts as a liaison to our elected officials or various government agencies. Contact Cynthia.
Nancy Gropper
Nancy has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 55 years and on West 103rd Street for 42 years. She and her husband, Bob Aaronson, raised their two sons on the block. A dog lover, she walks her current dog, Joey, almost every morning and afternoon in Riverside Park. Nancy retired in 2015 from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. She joined the Block Association board in 2019, writes a column for the Block Association newsletter, and is the Zoom host for our Block Association meetings.
Jane Hopkins, Newsletter Advertising Manager, Halloween Event Coordinator
Jane has lived in our neighborhood since 1983. She and her husband started their family on West 103rd Street and moved to West 102nd Street for a larger apartment to raise their two children. About a year ago Jane responded to our call for assistance in reaching out to local businesses to place ads in our Newsletter. She joined the Board in 2013. Jane has other volunteer experience working for several years with the Visiting Nurse Service in their hospice program to spend time with patients and bereaved relatives. She also volunteered with the Youth Hostel near West 103rd Street as a tour guide. Jane completed her master’s degree in business administration at New York University and works for Cornell University-Weill Medical College in Human Resources. She also teaches at Baruch College in the Continuing & Professional Studies Program. Contact Jane.
Celia Knight, Recording Secretary
Celia has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years, enjoyed a career in publishing, and is working now to learn new software applications and discover new ways to reach out to the community. She sings with the Voices of New York, a choral group that performs four to six concerts a year at health care centers and other venues. Contact Celia.
Ginger Lief, Archivist, WSFED Representative
Ginger has been a resident of the Master Apartments since August 1969 on Riverside Drive and W. 103rd Street. She joined the W. 102nd & 103rd Streets Block Association board in 1982 and shortly afterwards became the editor of the then monthly BA newsletter and head of the Street Fair Publicity Committee. She resigned these positions in 1986 when she returned to school for graduate work and rejoined the BA Board in 2002. Since then, Ginger has served as the BA archivist, and more recently as the BA representative to the West Side Federation of Neighborhood and Block Associations. She serves, as well, on the Park West Neighborhood History Group board and is actively engaged locally with community outreach at St. Michael's Church. Contact Ginger.
Alexis Lillie, Block Party Committee Member
Alexis has lived on the Upper West Side since she moved to the neighborhood to attend Seminary in 2012 (minus a brief stint in Nashville, before she realized her mistake and returned to NYC!). She, her husband, and their toddler moved into 305 Riverside Drive in 2018, and she joined the Board in 2019. Alexis is an ordained minister serving at Broadway Presbyterian Church, and working at a educationally-focused interfaith non-profit. Her favorite thing about the neighborhood is how it feels like a small town, where you always run into someone you know. She assists with the Spring Block Party as well as with marketing and writing needs. Contact Alexis.
Susan Maderer, Co-Treasurer
After working in the garment district for more than 35 years, Sue Maderer changed directions and became a professional organizer specializing in financials and bookkeeping. Sue operated her own business and was bookkeeper and office manager for a small law firm. She has been the treasurer for two nonprofit organizations so we’re fortunate to have her expertise on the board. In addition to serving with Dorothy O'Hanlon as Block Association co-treasurers, she will manage the Quicken and Access databases. A neighborhood resident for 32 years, Sue enjoys traveling, playing bridge, exercising, and reading. Contact Sue.
Komal Rathi, Co-Treasurer
Komal and her husband are residents of Alexandria House on West 103rd Street. She has lived in New York city since 2008, and moved to the neighborhood in 2013. Her favorite part about living on the block is the proximity to Riverside Park. While pursuing a management career in financial services, she serves as the co-treasurer of the block association. Contact Komal.
Mark Schneiderman, Head of the Ecology Committee & Guard Service Liaison
Mark is an enthusiastic member of the Block Association, with many decades of residence in the neighborhood ahead of him. He frequents Riverside Park with his two daughters and has enjoyed being involved in the wonderfully active community on the block. Mark received his JD from UC Berkeley and made his way to New York in 2005. He likes to ride a CitiBike along the Hudson River Greenway to and from his office in Midtown, where he works on unconventional investments as a reformed corporate lawyer. Mark is very happy to have gotten his hands dirty, taking over planning for the semiannual Block Association planting days, a few years ago when the planting days were in danger of being cancelled for lack of volunteers. He hopes to continually increase participation, with a goal of planting and mulching all area tree wells in the fall and spring of each year. He thanks the team of neighbors who come out to beautify our sidewalks. He also oversees our relationship with the agency that provides our guard service. Contact Mark.
Non-Board
Caitlin Hawke, Block Association Blogger & Webmaster
Caitlin has been blogging at our site since early 2014. An active member of our community, she created the TriBloomingdale Initiative which organizes activities to bridge this block association with the W. 104th Street Block Association and Bloomingdale Aging in Place. She also served as a director of Bloomingdale Aging in Place where she currently co-chairs BAiP's activities committee overseeing nearly 100 volunteers who produce 1300 activities annually. She is a lover of local urban history. Contact Caitlin.
