New Hospice Leader

Laurie Mante has been named to run The Community Hospice, where she’ll oversee about 450 employees who care for more than 4,000 hospital patients, nursing home residents and home care patients each year.


Currently Laurie is the Vice President of Residential Services at The Eddy, where she was instrumental in establishing the innovative Eddy Village Green at Cohoes, New York’s first Green House Project community. It’s a novel approach to providing skilled nursing care to our elders, different from the conventional, institutional feel of traditional nursing homes.

Laurie first joined The Eddy in 2002 and spent much of the next decade working in the organization’s well-regarded nursing homes, first as an assistant administrator and then as an administrator. Prior to that, she was Deputy Executive Director of Health Services at Albany’s Center for Disability Services.

After a transition period during which Laurie will work with current CEO Ron Watson, who’s retiring, she’ll officially take The Community Hospice reins on May 14.

Cruising to Success

Using “Hospice Cruise Lines” as its theme, the annual Schenectady Gala set sail for success Saturday evening. By the time the night had ended, more than $57,000 had been raised to support The Community Hospice’s services and programs.


The Gala returned once again to the elegant Mallozzi’s banquet facilities in Rotterdam, with dancing music provided by The Refrigerators. Michael and Amy McParlton placed the highest bid of the evening: $2,200 during the live auction for the Sports Lovers Delight package, which included four tickets to the NFL Hall of Fame dinner at Mallozzi’s and four tickets to any Giants’ home game. In addition to bidding on items, Gala attendees pledged nearly $9,000 to support Hospice’s grief and bereavement services, which are always provided free of charge to the general public.


Thanks to the more than 200 people who turned out, to our sponsors, to Gala co-chairs Deb Gordon and Christine Mallozzi, and to the entire “Dream Team” Gala Committee! Check out the photo album section of our Facebook page.

Featured on CBS News

Here’s an inspirational story for you, in more ways than one. Pitcher Jamie Moyer is trying to re-ignite his career as a Major League baseball pitcher, at age 49!

What’s the connection to Community Hospice? Jamie’s generosity has helped fund our Camp Erin for grieving kids.
He’s a great example of a success story who really believes in giving back.



Click here to watch the recent story CBS News ran on his attempt at a comeback with the Colorado Rockies (by the way, he pitched two innings this past Wednesday, and retired six of seven batters!).

If you’d like to support Camp Erin as well, click here to learn more and make a donation.

Joining Our Board

Joe O’Connor has been selected by Community Hospice’s Board of Directors to fill a vacant position on our board. Currently the Senior Vice President of International Sales for Mohawk Fine Papers in Cohoes, Joe is a member of the family that’s owned and operated Mohawk since 1931. Joe firmly believes in giving back to the community, and has served on the boards of The Ronald McDonald House, The Wildwood School, The YMCA’s Camp Chingachgook and The Addictions Care Center of Albany.

He and his wife Joan live in Loudonville, and are the proud parents of five children. Thanks, Joe, for bringing your knowledge, leadership and passion to The Community Hospice!

Hospice CEO Retiring

Ron Watson, The Community Hospice’s President and CEO, has announced he’ll retire later this spring. Ron’s led Community Hospice for five years, during which time the organization’s grown to where we’re caring for more than 600 hospice patients a day in the greater Capital Region.

Also during his tenure, Community Hospice started providing palliative care consultations to patients at two area hospitals and launched Camp Erin for grieving kids, which was featured on NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News with Brian Williams. A passionate champion of Hospice care, Ron has dedicated much of his career to improving hospice services, long term care, senior living communities and health care in general. His retirement means Ron will get to spend more time with his wife Cathy (his high school sweetheart!) and his five grandkids. Good luck Ron!

New Hospice Physician

A warm welcome to Dr. John Pezzulo, who joined Community Hospice this week to help lead our home care team in Schenectady. Dr. Pezzulo, who's also marking his 20th year with Scotia-Glenville Family Medicine, is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

A Busy January

We admitted more patients in January than we did in any single month last year or the year before. A total of 345 new patients came on our program…some living at home, some living in nursing homes, some who are currently hospital patients. We appreciate the faith and trust they and their families place in our hospice teams. It’s an honor serve them.

Walk Co-Chairs Announced

We’ve got two great new co-chairs for our 2011 Walk for Hospice, and both happen to be graduates of Albany Law School Jodi McGrath is currently general counsel at Digital X-Press Solutions in Albany, and Tara Moffett is an associate with Girvin and Ferlazzo in Albany. They’re bringing fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm to our 11th Annual Walk, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 16 at UAlbany. >>>Register here!

Helping More People

2011 was a record year for us in terms of being able to help more patients than ever before. We were privileged to have provided Hospice services to 4,354 people in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Columbia, Greene and Montgomery Counties. To all the families who counted on us for expertise, guidance and support...thank you!