Board Members

Executive Committee

Bonnie O'Neill - President

Executive Committee
Bonnie O’Neill
President
St. Denis Parish

Bonnie O’Neill joins the Board as a community resident, philanthropist and activist. Bonnie and her husband John divide their time between Brielle,
New Jersey and Florida as well as family and friends.

Mark Beriault - Treasurer

Executive Committee
Mark Beriault
Executive Vice President
Manasquan Bank

Mark Beriault, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer oversees all residential and business loans for the Bank. Mark joined the Bank of Manasquan in 2004 to expand its lending operations.

Linda Cancro - Secretary

Executive Committee
Linda Cancro
Secretary

Presbyterian Church of Manasquan

Linda Cancro lives in Sea Girt, New Jersey and is a lifetime philanthropist. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the past four years. She is a continuous advocate for educational programs and community development; and is a graduate student at Monmouth University.

Emerita

Ruth C. Harms

Board Member

Ruth C. Harms
Board Member
Emeritus

Presbyterian Church of Manasquan

Ruth Harms is a premier community advocate and is looked to for leadership, guidance and support in a broad spectrum of areas. She is a long-time member and leader of the Manasquan Presbyterian Church. She is an ordained deacon and elder and gives tireless leadership in countless ways and on multiple committees.

Ruth has also been a volunteer and a true ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s Jersey Shore Region. She has served on the Board of Advisors, was Vice President of the Division Board, an Excalibur member and received the National
St. George award. She was also instrumental in bringing Relay for Life to the Jersey Shore Regions.

Ruth also has served on the Board of Directors of the Ocean Medical Center, the Brielle Education Foundation, the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties; the original Board of Trustees for the Algonquin Theater and a Trustee for the Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation. Ruth is also a co-founder, trustee and emeritus of the Samaritan Center at the Jersey Shore.

A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Ruth and her husband George are the proud parents of three children, Rob and his wife Judy have three sons; ages 18, 16 and 15. Kevin and his wife Carolyn have three daughters; ages 17, 16 and 14 and a son 10. Lauren and Mike Kreug have one daughter age 5. Ruth and George are very proud of their entire family.

Advisory Committee and is a tireless contributor to the development committee of the Center. He began serving as President of the Board January 1, 2017.

Directors

Dara Brown

Board Member

Dara Brown
Board Member

Dara Brown is an award-winning journalist and former anchor for MSNBC/NBC News. She joined the network in 2000, pioneering webcasts for msnbc.com and has covered world news and politics for MSNBC, Early Today, First Look, Today, CNBC and TWC’s Wake Up with Al (Roker).
Dara was inducted into Wall High’s Hall of Fame (’01) and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022. She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism and a BS in East Asian Studies from NYU, and studied Shakespeare with Yale Drama School at Oxford University.
At age 10, Dara began working in NYC’s Milliken Show. National tours include “Annie” and “Gypsy” with Angela Lansbury, Broadway showcases, musicals in Japan, commercials, voiceovers. TV shows include ABC Afterschool Specials, Guiding Light, and Law & Order: SVU. Her caricature hangs in Sardi’s.
Dara served on the Board of Directors at Algonquin Arts, and has been a long time Ambassador for The Samaritan Center.
Cathy Carlson

Board Member

Cathy Carlson
Board Member

Cathy Carlson graduated from Rowan University in December 1975. As a former Special Education teacher of 32 years, she has always had a passion for helping children realize their potential. Cathy volunteered for and supported Special Olympics for many years.

Cathy is currently a member of the Manasquan Presbyterian Church, where she is active with several groups. Locally, she participates philanthropically with Just Us Girls and Holiday Express.

After living in the Manasquan/Wall area most of her life, Cathy now resides in Brick. Her family; daughter Suzanne, son in law Ryan and grandchildren Davis andLizzie reside in Manasquan.

Cathy is looking forward to serving on the Board of Directors and giving back to the community where she grew up.

 

Jon Eckert

Board Member

Jon Eckert
Board Member

 

Steven P. Jacobus

Board Member
Steven P. Jacobus
Wall Street Executive, Retired

Steve Jacobus is a retired Wall Street executive, with more than 20 years of experience specializing in options and derivatives. He is a graduate of Northeastern University, majoring in Finance & Accounting.  Steve lives with his wife Jeanne in Brielle, they have three adult children, Austin, Tara, and Steve.  He has been involved in charity work for several decades in our shore communities and remains actively involved with Holiday Express.
Richard Kelly

Executive Committee
Richard Kelly
President

St. Denis Parish

Richard Kelly, with over thirty-five years in the financial services industry, has been a member of the Board of Trustees since its inception. He and his wife, Marybeth live in Brielle, New Jersey. Marybeth Kelly is a Realtor with Diane Turton. Richard represents the Samaritan Center Board of Trustees on the Meridian Community Advisory Committee and is a tireless contributor to the development committee of the Center. He began serving as President of the Board January 1, 2017.

John C. Weaver

Board Member
John C. Weaver, Historian
Superintendent, Wall Public School
Presbyterian Church of Manasquan

John C. Weaver is a community leader who has lived a lifetime of service. John grew up in the church, a son of a minister. A lifelong learner who values education, he received his B.A. degree from Gettysburg College and his M.A. degree from Columbia University. He has attended Seton Hall University and received mediation training from the Rutgers School of Labor Relations.

John served the Wall Township Public Schools, as a teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. John has a deep commitment to students and families and has often found himself in the role of counselor and guide. He has an abiding commitment to providing resources for the health and wellbeing of the community.

A member of the Manasquan Presbyterian Church since 1964, John has served as Elder; as Chairperson of the Long-Range Planning Committee, John shared the dream for developing a counseling center that offers hope, healing and health for the families of the community. The Samaritan Center at the Jersey Shore is the realization of his long-time dream

John’s wife Judy is also a leader in her community and church. Together they have two grown daughters.

Ambassadors

The Samaritan Center Ambassadors are the Volunteer arm of the Board of Directors. The are responsible for the planning, organizing and implementing of Fund Raising Events as authorized by the Board and the Executive Director.

They share with the Board of Directors the passion for the Samaritan Center mission, to provide Individuals, Couples, and Families in the community with Professional Counseling or Clinical Social Work services regardless of their ability to pay. The planning for the events gives the Ambassadors an opportunity to reach out to local businesses, professionals, and other philanthropic organizations and raise their awareness of mental health intervention through education and the counseling available at the Center.

Denise Bertolami – Belmar
Dara Brown – Allenwood
*Linda Cancro – Sea Girt
Cathy Carlson – Brick
Dodi Clark – Spring Lake
Jen Cozzarelli – Spring Lake
Kiernan DiFeo – Spring Lake
Mary Elliott – Sea Girt
Evie Haas – Pt. Pleasant
*Ruth Harms – Brielle
Sarah Hunt – Spring Lake
Christy Langella – Manasquan
MaryAnn Lehrer – Manasquan
Karen Matuch – Spring Lake
Diane Moran – Spring Lake
*Bonnie O’Neill – Brielle
Betsy Orner – Manasquan
Chrissy Rice – Manasquan
Debbie Ruckert – Brielle
Cindy Tufts – Sea Girt
Ellen Visceglia – Brielle
Janice Visceglia – Brielle
Jen Winn – Spring Lake

*Also serve on the Board of Directors