2008 Advisory Council Members

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Executive Committee:

Chair: Michael Miller

Michael has been involved with the disability community as a member, advocate and worker for twenty years. In the past he worked as a freelance sign-language interpreter and coordinator of services for disabled students at a state college. He serves as the Accessibility Manager for Sound Transit's Mobility Initiative Program where he manages services for seniors and people with disabilities. He also serves on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, and as a member of the Governor’s Council on Disability and Employment Issues and Northwest ADA and Information Technology Center Advisory Council. He is committed to the advocating for appropriate services and support for seniors and people with disabilities.

Vice Chair: Art Mussman

Art has a BA in English literature, a Masters in Counseling and Guidance, and a Masters in Business Administration. He retired from the Air Force after serving 24 years and went on to work at Boeing where he served 13 years. After retiring, he became active in volunteer activities where his special interests are affordable housing, transportation and access to medical services. Art serves on the Evergreen Hospital Community Advisory Council and the St. Jude - Redmond Stewardship Council. He also serves on the Kirkland Senior Council where he is active in promoting the use of Universal Design in the built environment.

Secretary: Barbara Hurst

Ms. Hurst received her education at the University of Texas and Florida Atlantic University. She has been very involved in aging services throughout her career, serving for example as a delegate from the State of Texas to the White House Conference on Aging in 1960. In 1983 she moved to Seattle to become the Pacific Northwest Area Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a position she held until her retirement in 1995. While in that position the AJC sponsored the "Consultation on American Pluralism", bringing together representatives from the state’s ethnic and religious communities, and a "Stamp Out Hate" campaign, in cooperation with local and statewide religious associations and the Mayor's Office. Barbara brings a wealth of experience in community activism and inter-group relations to the Advisory Council, having served on community boards such as the King County Civil Rights Commission, Seattle Human Rights Commission, and the Seattle Community Policing Action Council. She was also involved in the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, Bias and Bigotry Committee of State Human Rights Commission, and Family to Family, a support/educational program of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Seattle. She was awarded the Nordstrom Community Service award in 1995.

Member-at-Large: Silversity Madrazo

Ms. Madrazo lived overseas for many years working with a variety of aid agencies providing assistance to those in need. Upon her return to the United States, she worked for 10 years as an in-home care provider. Silversity also worked five years with Catholic Community Services as a companion to elderly clients. She has a continuing interest in the welfare of older adults and a desire to ensure they are able to access both private and public resources to help maintain their quality of life. She continues to be involved in senior advocacy activities, volunteering with the Bituin Seattle Lions Club, the Filipino-American Educators Association of Washington, the International Drop-In Center, the Pacific Northwest conference of the United Church of Christ, and the Visayan Circle of Washington.

Council Member Assignments by Sponsoring Organization:

City of Seattle

Houston Brown

Houston Brown is the oldest of fourteen siblings. While in the Air Force, Houston, as a single parent, raised his six children - three boys and three girls - seeing them all through college. He retired after 22-years piloting heavy cargo planes as an Air Force Major. Houston earned a degree in Psychology from Hardin Simmons University in Texas and two Culinary Arts Degrees from prestigious institutions: the Culinary Institute of America in New York and the Cordon Bleu Academie de Cuisine in London. He is a Board Certified Chef. Mr. Brown is a longtime member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and serves on the Executive Board of the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans.

Dr. Robert Gross

Dr. Robert Gross served as a US Navy Flight Navigator from 1943-1946. He received degrees in Psychology, Chemistry and Public Health from the University of Washington. He also earned a Doctor of Dental Science (D.D.S.) Degree from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1954. Dr. Gross has a long distinguished professional career including being a Professor at the University of Washington since 1960 and managing a private practice in Seattle for over 50-years. Dr. Gross is a current member of several community organizations including the Washington Geriatrics Society, University Kiwanis, and Greenwood Senior Center Board.

Tim Burgess

Tim was elected to the Seattle City Council in 2007. A former Seattle police officer and detective, he served on the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission from 1989-2001, including five years as chair of this quasi-judicial body responsible for protecting the integrity and transparency of city government. Tim founded and co-owned for 22 years a marketing firm that served nonprofit organizations, chaired the Queen Anne Community Council, and was a founding member of Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth. Tim is Chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Human Services and Education Committee and vice-chair of the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the city’s Domestic Violence Prevention Council and the Family and Education Levy Oversight Committee.

Diane Snell

Ms. Snell received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Washington. Working as a medical social worker in Group Health's Home Health and Hospice Programs, she has been involved in aging issues and services for many years. In her work with the Home Health Program assisting homebound patients, she became aware of local resources and the unmet needs of older adults in our community. Her involvement with issues facing older adults extends to her personal life as well. She recently began a highly successfully “Senior Focus” program at her church to help meet a need among older church members. As a grandparent raising a grandchild she has been active in Grandparents Re-Parenting for many years. Ms. Snell is active with the Leschi Community Council and is editor of the Leschi News. She also serves on the board of the Central Area Senior Center.

Barbara Hurst, Secretary

Ms. Hurst received her education at the University of Texas and Florida Atlantic University. She has been very involved in aging services throughout her career, serving for example as a delegate from the State of Texas to the White House Conference on Aging in 1960. In 1983 she moved to Seattle to become the Pacific Northwest Area Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a position she held until her retirement in 1995. While in that position the AJC sponsored the "Consultation on American Pluralism", bringing together representatives from the state’s ethnic and religious communities, and a "Stamp Out Hate" campaign, in cooperation with local and statewide religious associations and the Mayor's Office. Barbara brings a wealth of experience in community activism and inter-group relations to the Advisory Council, having served on community boards such as the King County Civil Rights Commission, Seattle Human Rights Commission, and the Seattle Community Policing Action Council. She was also involved in the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, Bias and Bigotry Committee of State Human Rights Commission, and Family to Family, a support/educational program of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Seattle. She was awarded the Nordstrom Community Service award in 1995.

Dr. Pierre Lobel

Educated at Oxford University in England, the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists Maudsley Hospital in the United Kingdom, Dr. Loebel has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry for the past 30 years. Upon coming to the United States in 1977, he founded and headed the geriatric psychiatry program at Harborview Medical Center. From 1995 through 2000 he practiced geriatric psychiatry in private long term care settings as Medical Director of Apogee, Inc. and as President and Medical Director of Psychiatric Services for the Elderly, Inc. He is involved in a number of organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatrists, the Washington State Psychiatric Association and the King County Medical Society. Dr. Loebel is particularly interested in improving mental health services available to older adults in our community.

Marie Cook

Ms. Cook has a long history of community involvement. She has been a member of the Foster Children Program, caring for 27 foster children over a twenty-year period. While living in Nebraska, she was appointed by their governor to the State of Nebraska Affirmative Action Committee and Nebraska Women’s Commission. She has served as president of the Nebraska State Parents Without Partners organization, receiving the Mother of The Year award from the organization in 1986. She has actively advocated the passage of a variety of legislation, in particular those related to children, older adults, affordable housing and labor. For the last eight years, she has been a Seattle Housing Commissioner and is Vice President of the local Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). Her interests while serving on the Advisory Council include advocating for housing, affordable medication, and accessible transportation for older adults.

Jacqueline Deerr-Lord

After studying at Stanford University and UC Berkeley, Jacqueline received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. She worked as a Department of Public Works engineer for the City of Los Angeles and held engineering positions with various high tech companies in Southern California and Puget Sound. Jacqueline has long been dedicated to the arts and the non-profit world, having volunteered and performed with Seattle Pro Musica since 1992, recording 6 CDs with the group and served on the board as corporate secretary for two terms during the 1990s. She is the mother of three children, and has passed many hours volunteering in their classrooms as well as in literacy programs within the Seattle Public Schools. In 2002, Jacqueline’s husband suffered injuries that left him quadriplegic and legally blind, giving her first-hand exposure to the many challenges faced by the disabled and their families. She welcomes this opportunity to help address the issues that affect the disabled and those who care for them.

1 Vacant Seat

King County

Rose Finnegan

Rose is a Registered Nurse, who worked for the State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration at Echo Glen Children's Center for 24 years, serving ten of those as nursing supervisor coordinating the mental health program. She is also a parent and caregiver for her 39 year old son who has developmental disabilities. For the past 20 years, she has been involved with other parents of children with developmental disabilities, working to create a community where people with disabilities can enjoy life to the best of their abilities. This led to the formation of the Life Enrichment Options (LEO) a nonprofit organization of which she is president. In 2003 LEO opened its first Adult Family Homes for individuals with developmental disabilities and is in the process of developing its second. She also serves on the King County Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities and the Disability Ministry Network.

Kate Slaminko

Working as a Human Resource professional for many years, Kate has extensive experience with providers of health insurance and health care insurance contracts. She worked at the Hearing Speech and Deafness Center for eight years, and is the Benefits Manager at Seattle Goodwill Industries. She has considerable experience working with immigrant populations and is very aware of issues affecting these populations, in particular the challenges they face communicating with others. Kate was motivated to join the Advisory Council because of her desire to improve her community and services it provides. Besides her work at Goodwill Industries Kate is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.

Art Mussman, Vice Chair

Art has a BA in English literature, a Masters in Counseling and Guidance, and a Masters in Business Administration. He retired from the Air Force after serving 24 years and went on to work at Boeing where he served 13 years. After retiring, he became active in volunteer activities where his special interests are affordable housing, transportation and access to medical services. Art serves on the Evergreen Hospital Community Advisory Council and the St. Jude - Redmond Stewardship Council. He also serves on the Kirkland Senior Council where he is active in promoting the use of Universal Design in the built environment.

Cathy VonWald

Cathy studied at Washington State University in Pullman, receiving a BA in Recreation and Parks Administration. She has served the Bellevue Community as the Community Services Supervisor since 1982, working directly with older adults for the last eight. She has provided recreation programs for older adults and information and referral and other human services. She serves on the Overlake Hospital Connections Senior Advisory Board and is President of the Northwest Region of the U.S. Life Saving Association. Cathy has been a member of the Woodinville City Council since 2000, and serves as Mayor.

Kaylene Moon

Ms. Moon received her BA in Social Welfare/Gerontology at Western Washington University and a Masters degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Whitworth College. She has a long standing interest in issues affecting older adults, working in the field nearly 25 years. During her career, Kaylene was employed with Senior Services as a case manager and later supervisor of case managers for older adults. She is a former employee of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) where she worked as Supervisor in the agency’s Case Management Program for 18 years. Her experience within the Case Management Program gives her a unique perspective on the needs of older adults in King County and the services available to them. Ms. Moon though retired, is active in her community and is a member of the Mayor of Des Moines' Leadership Summit.

Silversity Madrazo, Member-at-Large

Ms. Madrazo lived overseas for many years working with a variety of aid agencies providing assistance to those in need. Upon her return to the United States, she worked for 10 years as an in-home care provider. Silversity also worked five years with Catholic Community Services as a companion to elderly clients. She has a continuing interest in the welfare of older adults and a desire to ensure they are able to access both private and public resources to help maintain their quality of life. She continues to be involved in senior advocacy activities, volunteering with the Bituin Seattle Lions Club, the Filipino-American Educators Association of Washington, the International Drop-In Center, the Pacific Northwest conference of the United Church of Christ, and the Visayan Circle of Washington.

Julie Peterson

Julie Peterson works on behalf of the not-for-profit organization, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging (WAHSA), to advance the housing and services needs of our state’s seniors. She works with Washington’s congressional delegation, state legislators, county planning officials and other housing advocates to raise the level of awareness, and the need, for significant funding for the development of new affordable senior housing units and the renovation or replacement of existing senior housing units.

As the Director of Senior Living and Community Services, Julie also works in the areas of home and community based services and both affordable and subsidized senior housing; researches and analyzes legislative and regulatory policies and initiatives to determine their impact on mission-driven and not-for-profit providers of care and services; and advocates on behalf of these providers at regional, state and federal legislative and regulatory forums.

For the past six years, Julie has been responsible for advancing Assisted Living and Nursing Home policies for WAHSA’s long term care providers, monitoring state and federal regulatory issues in both areas, and lobbying our state and federal agencies and legislators to affect public policy changes.

She has received certification as a Certified Aging Services Professional from the University of North Texas, affiliated with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington, served four years as an elected official on the Kent City Council, and has been active on various boards and with community service organizations.

2 vacant seats

United Way

Amy Astle-Raaen

Amy Astle-Raaen has worked with disadvantaged populations and in public social service programs for a number of years. After graduating from college, she worked in Japan and Jamaica teaching English in rural agricultural communities. Upon returning to the states, she began working for Seattle Works, quickly rising through the ranks to become the Executive Director. Her work there on issues of diversity and inclusion was recognized by City Cares, the national umbrella organization for Seattle Works. She later served as Director of ElderFriends, whose mission is to relieve isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Amy is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children, and serves as a volunteer facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association - Early Stages Memory Loss Support Group. She is enrolled in the Masters Program at the University of Washington, School of Social Work.

Michael Miller, Chair

Michael has been involved with the disability community as a member, advocate and worker for twenty years. In the past he worked as a freelance sign-language interpreter and coordinator of services for disabled students at a state college. He serves as the Accessibility Manager for Sound Transit’s Mobility Initiative Program where he manages services for seniors and people with disabilities. He also serves on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, and as a member of the Governor’s Council on Disability and Employment Issues and Northwest ADA and Information Technology Center Advisory Council. He is committed to the advocating for appropriate services and support for seniors and people with disabilities.

Don Moreland

Don is a founding member of Mature Friends a nonprofit organization serving the gay and lesbian community, who has a desire to meet the special needs of older gays and lesbians and individuals with AIDS related disabilities. Don has served as a member of the Privacy Fund, a lobby and political action committee for the state's lesbian and gay community, as a commissioner on the Seattle Human Rights Commission and national board member of the Human Rights Campaign. He was a member of the Governor’s first AIDS Task Force that led to Washington’s AIDS Omnibus legislation and protection. Don is a board member of Bailey-Boushay House - Virginia Mason Hospital and member of their strategic planning committee.

Midge Levy

Midge Levy retired from the HIV/AIDS program at Group Health Cooperative in 2005. She has been a practicing social worker and administrator for over 45 years, mostly in medical settings with disabled, geriatric and hospice patients. She is active in a number of organizations including the Legislative Action Committee of the Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, also the Seattle/King County Chapter of the Older Women’s League. Midge was a co-founder and subsequent President of the Hemlock Society of WA State which subsequently merged with another organization to become Compassion & Choices of Washington. She is presently the Vice President of Compassion & Choices.

Thelma Pegues

Thelma is a retired nurse who was one of the first African Americans to graduate from the University of Washington School of Nursing. She went on to receive a Masters of Nursing degree and for over twenty-five years taught at Harborview Hospital and Seattle Central Community College. She is an active member of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Association which promotes academic environments enhancing the recruitment and retention of African American students into school and the nursing profession. She volunteers as a coach for recent nursing school graduates who need assistance passing their state boards.

Phil Pitruzello

Phil attended the University of Chicago, receiving a Ph.D. in Social Services Administration. He worked in education for a number of years and was superintendent of public school systems in the states of Connecticut and New York. Serving as Chair of the Department of Organizational and Administrative Studies at New York University for many years, Phil was named Professor Emeritus in 1988. Phil has been self-employed as a Mediator and Arbitrator for courts and employment relations boards. For ten years he has served as an ombudsman, advocating for and protecting the rights of residents in nursing homes, assisted living and adult family homes. Phil is a member of the King County Dispute Resolution Center, American Arbitration Association, and the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, and volunteers with the King County Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. Other organizations Phil has been associated with include the American Historical Association, County Affordable Housing Committee and Citizen's Foster Care Review Panel. Recognizing the impact of the large number of individuals approaching retirement, Phil looks forward to the challenge of assisting in development of plans to accommodate the needs of aging Baby Boomers.

Lorna Stone

Lorna received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago . She serves as the Senior Officer for Grantmaking and the Director of Rural Health at the Washington Health Foundation, and volunteers as a trainer with the Rainbow Train, a cultural competency training program for health and social service workers on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender elder issues. Her experience includes hospice social work, health promotion training, counseling, and work with chronically ill populations. The interactive relationships of institutional change, cross-cultural partnerships, and social justice remain an abiding interest.

Dr. Jonathan Wanagat

Dr. Wanagat received a B.S at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Ph.D. in Cellular & Molecular Biology and M.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Wanagat recently completed a clinical fellowship in geriatric medicine at the University of Washington and is working at Harborview Medical Center, Division of Gerontology. He is the author of several research articles on the biology of aging.

It was while living in Illinois, first volunteering, and later working at a small community hospital that Dr. Wanagat became interested in the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities. Now in his work at Harborview's Geriatric Clinic where the majority of his patients are low-income, non-English speaking racial minorities, he has become convinced of the importance of advocating for improved services for these individuals, not only within the hospital, but also within the larger community.

1 vacant seat

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