GODFREY MEMORIAL LIBRARY

BOARD AND STAFF






CAROL ANSEL - Library Director

Carol joined the library in July 2018 as the Reference Librarian. At the start of 2019, she was appointed Library Director. Carol has over 34 years of experience at various libraries in Connecticut and served for six years on the Connecticut Library Consortium board. A summa cum laude graduate of Connecticut College, she also holds an MLIS degree from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies and has earned a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. At the Godfrey, she oversees a staff of experienced researchers and volunteers, including other graduates of the Boston University program.

MICHAEL STEFFMAN – Assistant Library Director

Michael joined the library in 2019 upon completion of the MLIS program at Syracuse University. He also holds a BA degree from Trinity College in Hartford. He is responsible for the Ed Laput Cemetery Collection, all customer accounts and also handles book sales at the Library’s bookstore on eBay.

ALBERT E. FIACRE - Board Chair

Staff member since 2009 and Board member since 2015, Al is a retired financial executive with a BA degree from Middlebury College and an MBA degree from New York University. In 2018, he was the winner of the National Genealogical Society’s competition: “Award for Excellence: Genealogy and Family History Book.” He also was the winner of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists Certificate of Achievement for the best genealogy in 2019. Al earned his Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in 2016.

PATRICIA A. BURKE - Board Vice Chair

Pat is a retired emergency room nurse and nursing educational executive at Middlesex Hospital, where she worked for 43 years. She holds a Diploma in Nursing, as well as BA and MS degrees. She was a volunteer at the library for several years before joining the Board in 2014, and she served as Chair for many years.

LAURA HOBBS - Secretary

Laura joined the Board in January 2017 and is a member of many genealogical organizations, including the Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants where she serves as secretary. She holds BS and Pharm.D degrees, and works as a pharmacist at Hartford Hospital.

AUGUST DEFRANCE - Treasurer

Augie is a long-serving Board member, having joined the Board in 1997. He holds BS and MS degrees, and is a retired executive from Northeast Utilities where he was Manager of Benefits. He is active in various cemetery associations in Connecticut.

DORIAN HILL

Dorian worked for over 35 years at Northeast Utilities as a civil engineer prior to his retirement. He currently works as an independent consultant in civil engineering matters. He joined the Board in 2015 and has traveled extensively in his genealogical pursuits, including research trips to Barbados. He has a BS degree in civil engineering.

CAROL R. WHITMER CG®

Carol is a professional genealogist and founding partner of “Come Home to Connecticut,” a genealogical research and consulting firm. She is a past President of the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists and a past Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Historical Society. Her genealogical pursuits include teaching and lecturing on various topics and she has served as a consultant for the Travel Channel and Ancestry.com. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and received her Certified Genealogist designation in 2021. Prior to pursuing genealogical work full-time, she worked as an engineer and holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.

ANGELA LESHAK

Angela is an Executive Director with CVS Health in Hartford. Prior to the acquisition of Aetna by CVS, she had a variety of positions at Aetna since 1994 in Information Technology, Operations and Marketing. Her current position is Executive Director of Marketing Technology Operations at CVS. She has volunteered at Godfrey since 2020 as a staff genealogist responsible for selected major research projects. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. A native of Italy and fluent in Italian, she is a 1994 graduate, magna cum laude, of Bryn Mawr College.

KATHERINE T. LOVE

Kathy has been a very active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to having been Regent (and other positions) of her local chapter, she has served as Treasurer of the Connecticut State DAR and is currently the Lineage Committee Chair. She has also been active with the National DAR, having served on various committees, and is currently a member of the Insignia Team. In addition, Kathy belongs to the Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century, where she serves as the CT Chapter Registrar, Daughters of 1812, Daughters of the Union and the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she works for the Town of Greenwich.

JESSE NASTA, Ph.D.

Jesse is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in the African American Studies Department at Wesleyan University. He is also the Executive Director of the Middlesex County Historical Society in Middletown. He has lectured widely and written extensively on African American history which is his field of expertise. He earned his BA degree in History with High Honors from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. In addition to his academic work, he has held committee assignments at the Connecticut River Museum and the Connecticut Freedom Trail.





134 Newfield Street (Route 3), Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-4375       Email refdesk@godfrey.org
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