Gayle Amodio

Food Services

Gayle Amodio is a 40 year veteran of the hospitality industry and came to the Mercy by the Sea in 2016. She works tirelessly to prepare and provide great food for our guests. Every beautiful salad bar has Gayle’s stamp of approval. She has four grandchildren and lives with her husband Rob of 43 years, in East Haven. Gayle loves being in the kitchen and enjoys her one month each year in sunny Aruba.

Robert Amodio

Building and Grounds

Robert Amodio joined Mercy by the Sea in 2012. Robert has been involved in building and grounds work since his part-time employment during high school at New Haven’s Erector Square, where erector set toys were once manufactured. After graduation, he worked there full-time until coming to Mercy by the Sea. Robert, an avid fisherman, says he likes to make people comfortable, tend to their needs and see them smile. He lives with his wife and children in East Haven.

Joe Berg

Food Services

Chef Joe Berg is happy to be on the full-time staff of Mercy by the Sea. A graduate of the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY, Chef Joe is a forty-year veteran and professional chef, educator and culinary instructor. He has served as Executive Chef at Albertus Magnus College, Southern New England Telephone, ARC of Meriden-Wallingford and the University of New Haven. Joe is a Branford resident and a voracious tennis enthusiast.

Terry Birch

Guest Services

Hailing from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to living on the Connecticut shoreline, Terry enjoys many activities in the great outdoors including hiking, kayaking, gardening, and photographing nature. Terry brings to MBTS a life-long commitment to service, crediting her parents as the best of role models. She describes herself as a prayer warrior and gives thanks to God for this labor of love.

Mark Broderick

Building and Grounds

Mark's unassuming, quiet competence makes sure many of the day-to-day issues are taken care of around Mercy by the Sea. You might see him setting up chairs and tables in preparation for a gathering, trimming trees, or moving equipment. His efforts keep our facilities in good shape.

Annie Caserta

Guest Services

Annie moved to Madison over 25 years ago from Larchmont, NY and raised 3 children on the shoreline, where they had a magical childhood. Crabbing, sailing, riding bikes, tennis, and kayaking are just a few gifts received because of moving to Madison. She enjoys gardening, walking on the beach and collecting sea glass and jingle shells. Her children are full grown now. Annie's background for many years was in retail. Most recently, she worked as Concierge and Spa Specialist at Madison Beach Hotel.

Sr. Anne Curtis

Executive Director

Sister Anne, a native of Rochester, NY brings a lifetime of service in Mercy ministries. In addition to her most recent work in Mercy Ecology, Sister Anne brings many years of experience in leadership for the Sisters of Mercy Institute and served as a Lobbyist with Network, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby in Washington, DC. Sister also served in the Mission of the Sisters of Mercy in Chile for several years and holds degrees in both Psychology and Theology. 

Patricia Dowling

Development

Patty’s personal commitment to mission and values-based work that enhances the lives of others is what guides her every day. She served as the Executive Director at The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, Inc. for 14 years and joined Mercy by the Sea as Director of Development in 2017. After taking a sabbatical in 2022, Patty is back and helping make Mercy by the Sea's mission a continued reality.

George Goulet

Security

George Goulet, our Security Manager, came to Mercy by the Sea in 2012 bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the security field. George's number one priority is to make sure that all the guests, who come to visit or stay on these sacred grounds, feel they are in a safe and peaceful community. A resident of Guilford, Connecticut, George is a proud uncle and is very active in his church and community.

Maggie Granado

Finance

Maggie’s gift for finances is exceeded only by her passionate faith. Motivated by a desire to connect with God, she strives to be the hands and mouthpiece of the Divine in all she says and does. Maggie has been married for 29 years and has raised to adulthood, twin sons and a daughter. She lives in Stratford where she has been a part of the St. James parish for over 24 years. She enjoys working out to stay healthy.

Rosemary Jones

Administrative Assistant

Rosemary works closely with the Program Director, amongst other tasks. She is also a graphic designer who uses her expertise to create our print materials. She has been on the staff of MBTS for 13 years. Rosemary lives in Guilford, Connecticut.

Karin Nobile

Programs

Karin is a 2017 graduate of Mercy by the Sea's School for the Second Half of Life. As Program Director, she helps develop onsite and virtual programs that carefully blend experiential and contemplative practices to embody the Mercy Sisters' key Critical Concerns: Earth, Immigration, Nonviolence, Racism and Women. Karin also serves on Mercy by the Sea's Mission Integration Committee and facilitates Mercy's monthly Book Circle discussion group. From 2007 to 2018, Karin was the principal of an international consulting practice she founded that was based on social entrepreneurship values. Nobile Communications International, LLC helped diverse organizations with social responsibility planning; forged strategic community partnerships; and mobilized resources and creative solutions for some of society’s most pressing issues, including homelessness, poverty, health care disparities, veterans’ readjustment challenges, and environmental and social injustices. She has served many community boards and volunteer initiatives; most recently the Greater New Haven Chamber’s Diversity and Inclusion taskforce. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University where she earned a Masters in Humanities and Social Studies.  

Lisa Rogers

Hospitality - Front Desk Receptionist

Originally from Minnesota, Lisa currently lives in Guilford, CT. She loves spending time with her husband, their two young adult children, and dogs Pippa and Topher. Lisa also enjoys traveling, hiking, nature, and pottery. She is so happy to be at Mercy by the Sea!

Mark Scardera

Assistant Chef

Mark Scardera is a lifelong Connecticut resident and is happy to be part of the Mercy by the Sea food service team. Mark is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University and has over 40 years of food service and retail management. Married to his wife Kathleen for 30 years, they have three grown children and two grandchildren with one on the way! Mark is an avid sports fan and memorabilia collector, history buff, gardener and loves the outdoors during the summer.

Megan Shepherd

Director of Spirituality and Retreats

Megan is grateful for the opportunity to share her gifts in creativity, spiritual direction, and ministry in service of all who seek to connect with the divine. Before moving to Connecticut in 2023, Megan spent fourteen years in South Bend, IN directing the Notre Dame Vision program for young people and those who serve them. A certified Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition for over eighteen years, she is a member of the College of Directors at Fairfield University’s Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality. She loves creating and implementing programs that foster spiritual exploration, deepen contemplative dispositions, and cultivate the ability to recognize God’s grace at work. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Megan has a heart for adopting senior dogs with special needs, and currently lives with her dog Wilbur in Milford, CT.

Christine Stackpole

Hospitality - Front Desk Receptionist

Christine began working with Mercy by the Sea in June of 2021. She was born and raised in California, but has lived in Connecticut now for over 36 years. She enjoys spending time with her two granddaughters by taking them to visit Sturbridge Village as well as trips to Amish Country in Lancaster, PA. An interesting detail about Christine is that she worked at Mercy 25 years ago, and she tells us that she is very happy to be back!

Laura Way

Housekeeping

Laura has worn many hats throughout her lifetime as Housekeeping Supervisor, Retreat and Conference Registration, Home Health Care, Medical Assistant, Therapeutic Mentor to name a few. She was born and raised in CT to a family of farmers in Middlefield, with Way Rd being named after the Way Family Farm. Laura is married and lives in Guilford with her husband and she is also an adoptive mom. Laura's passion is being a preservationist breeder of Golden Retrievers. On her down time, she can be found raising a litter, training or showing her dogs.

Marenda Weaver

Hospitality - Front Desk Receptionist

Marenda’s background is in Higher Education. She has lived in Madison for 30 years. She experienced the tranquility of Mercy By the Sea after attending a retreat and fundraisers at the Center. She is thrilled to be part of the Mercy staff.

Bekah Wright

Communications Coordinator

A journalist, Bekah writes for many publications, including Connecticut Magazine and CT Insider. Additionally, she founded a writers’ group in Chester and participates in storytelling events throughout the state. Bekah and her partner, Bob Lee, moved to Chester, CT, three years ago from Los Angeles. Originally a Richmond, Virginia native, UNC-Chapel Hill alumni and an LA resident for most of her life, she’s fallen headfirst in love with Connecticut.

Gail Wyman

Housekeeping

Gail Wyman has had a varied professional career, from teaching to owning a daycare center to serving as office manager for a physician, to name just a few. Mercy by the Sea has also afforded her variety. In her 10 years here, she handled numerous tasks including painting and making repairs as well as running the kitchen for a time before moving on to managing housekeeping. She lives in Westbrook with Katie, a nine-year-old rescue cat.