Museum Officers and Trustees
The Mahwah Museum runs on the energy of its volunteers. We encourage members to become docents, join committees, and join the Board of Trustees and office-holders. Trustees serve three-year terms and are elected at the annual meeting, usually held in April. If you are interested in learning more about serving on the Board, or want to suggest a member, contact the President.
Officers (elected annually)
President: Diane Stripe
Diane Stripe is a twenty-plus year resident of Mahwah and worked in the Mahwah School District as an art educator for the majority of those years. An avid museum and gallery enthusiast, she works actively as a graphic designer, photographer, and exhibit curator.
Diane also serves as Exhibit Chair.
Current board term: 2021-2024
Vice President: Cathy Moran Hajo
Cathy Moran Hajo has a Ph.D. in History from New York University and is a graduate of Mahwah High School and Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is the editor and director of the Jane Addams Papers Project at Ramapo College and was previously the associate editor of the Margaret Sanger Papers. She was one of the curators of the Herstory Exhibit (2016) and A College Comes to Mahwah (2019). She is a former president of the Museum and serves as Archives Director.
Current board term: 2020-2023.
Secretary: Yvonne Beatrice
Yvonne is a 34 year resident of Mahwah. She is a retired teacher of Social Studies, having taught 17 years at Mahwah High School. Yvonne worked with students on the Mahwah Project, an interactive project that allowed students to experience a deeper understanding of their community. She also serves on the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission.
Current board term: 2021-2024
Board of Trustees (Three year terms)
Diane Adler
Joining in 2005, I have served as a docent, trustee, vice-president, exhibit builder, and Education Chair. Having been a teacher for 37 years, I love to conduct tours for students, scouts, and senior groups, as well as providing support for teachers, scout leaders, and history clubs. I have judged National History Day for over 30 years, and encouraged the formation of a school history club in the Mahwah Schools. Besides partnering with Bob on creating the Donald Cooper Model Railroad, we build a temporary Lionel layout for the children in the Mahwah Library each November.
Current board term: 2020-2023
Robert (Bob) Adler
Bob has been a member of the Mahwah Museum Society since 2005. He has served as the chair of the Old Station Museum and is responsible for bringing the Donald Cooper Model Railroad and Jerome Margolis Lionel Collections to the museum. He is currently the Chair of the Model Railroad Exhibit. Bob is a life-long resident of Mahwah.
Current board term: 2019-2022
Charlie Carreras
Charlie is a retired Ramapo College professor. He is a former president of the Museum.
He also serves as Lectures and Events Chair.
Current board term: 2019-2022
Bill Dator
Current board term: 2020-2023
Wally Dennison
Wallace Edward Dennison 3rd is proud of his Indigenous ancestry, his family has called Mahwah home since time immemorial. He has served as Lieutenant and President of Company 5 Fire Department, located in the Stag Hill section of the township. Wally honorably represented the Ramapough community, serving as wolf clan chief and tribal council member for Ramapough Mountain Indians Inc. In 2003 Wally founded the Ramapough Family Genealogical and Historical Society. He currently works for Mahwah Department of Public Works.
Current board term: 2021-2024
John Edwards
John is a lifelong resident of Mahwah, living in the family home in Cragmere. He joined the museum in 2011, later became president and currently serves as Docent Chair, Buildings and Grounds Chair, Technology Chair and Old Station Chair.
Current board term: 2020-2023
Suzanne Freedman
Suzanne is a member of the Publicity, Website, and Les Paul Committees.
Current board term: 2020-2023
Tom Grissom
As a 40 year plus Township resident, I’m well aware of the desire to be sure that Mahwah keeps its history alive and available for residents to view to help maintain and add their old personal touch to the history of “Maua,” I’m proud to be a trustee of the museum and I hope to contribute in my own way as a trustee.
Current board term: 2020-2023
Hal Keshner
Hal developed and managed home health, child health clinic, and school health education programs for New York City, and community residential programs in New Jersey and Long Island, while also pursuing a musical career. After retirement, he’s worked full-time as a pianist, vocalist, guitarist, and musical director with many jazz, Doo-Wop, and pop vocalists. He currently hosts a popular Facebook Live show “Hal’s Piano Lounge”. The Mahwah Museum and its Les Paul programs are an opportunity to combine his skills in service to the community.
Hal is a member of the Les Paul Committee.
Current board term: 2019-2022
Diane Mateo
Diane moved to Mahwah in 1996; she has a background in Information Technology. She joined the museum in 2011 as the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit was mounted, and has since acted as a Museum Trustee, office administrator and docent. She has served on the Archives, PR, Technology, Les Paul in Mahwah, and Membership committees, and has been involved in the research and mounting of several past exhibits as a member of the Exhibit Committee. Her interests include genealogy, medicinal herbs, gardening, photography, and history. Diane is the Website Committee Chair.
Current board term: 2020-2023
Wade Morgan
Wade also serves as our master of ceremonies for trivia nights.
Current board term: 2021-2024
Ken Pokrowski
Ken has worked for nearly 40 years in higher education administration including 26 years as Assistant Dean at Fordham University School of Law. He also co-directed Fordham Law’s summer program in Ireland and Northern Ireland for nearly 20 years. Ken’s interests include music, history, photography and baseball. Ken is also Les Paul in Mahwah Chair.
Current board term: 2019-2022
Victoria Sciancalepore
Victoria has been a life-long resident of Bergen County and has been working in Mahwah at Ramapo College of New Jersey for the past five years. She has previously volunteered with the Museum’s archive in an effort to transcribe local church records. Victoria particularly enjoys Mahwah’s outdoor excursion areas, especially Darlington County Park.
Victoria is the Publicity Chair.
Current board term: 2021-2024
Emeritus Members of the Board of Trustees
Tom Dunn
Tom Dunn moved to Mahwah in 1968 and shortly thereafter became involved with the Mahwah Historical Society after Governor Hughes landed in a helicopter on Commodore Perry Field and spoke at the dedication of the Old Station Museum. He served for ten years as President of the Mahwah Museum and has frequently presented programs on topics of historical interest including Cragmere, Havemeyer, Mapping Mahwah, Mahwah and Mount Laurel, Stag Hill and Mahwah Inventors.
Carol W. Greene
Carol is Mahwah’s town historian, and author of The Ramapough Chronicles and Mahwah: Images of America. She has been a president and vice-president of the Museum, and chair of the New Jersey Historical Trust.
Barbara Knichel
Barbara was one of the founding members of the Museum, helping with exhibits and serving on the Board for many years. She was also a long-time member of the Mahwah Historical Society that predated the Museum.
