Sr. Eileen Boffa, RSM

Sister Eileen Boffa has been connected to Mercy by the Sea (MBTS) for many years in many capacities. She was at MBTS in formation as a Sister of Mercy candidate. She was the Principal at Our Lady of Mercy Academy that was located on the Mercy campus. Her current ministry is with those who are experiencing homelessness in Bridgeport, and she often brings men and women from her ministry for retreats at MBTS. Sister Eileen states, “I will take seriously my commitment to the Board and keep before the Board our critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy.” It is certain that Sister Eileen will continuously advocate with the Board and staff for MBTS programs that embody the critical concerns and core values of Mercy.

Brett Dolan

Brett has worked in the Financial Services Industry for more than 20 years. Currently, he is a Partner at Clearview Wealth Management in Guilford, Connecticut. 

Lydia Forgetta-Sheffield

Chair

Lydia Forgetta-Sheffield was born in Hartford Connecticut and has spent the last 50 years living in Madison and Guilford. Lydia began her teaching career, here, on the property of Mercy by the Sea, at Our Lady of Mercy School. She remained there until her retirement after 45 years as an early childhood educator and Director of the school’s early childhood program. She still is active at the sister school, East Shoreline Catholic Academy where she serves on the Liturgy Committee. Lydia has been a member of many Boards and has served as President of the Connecticut Kindergarten Association, Vice President and Treasurer of the Connecticut Early Childhood Council, President of the Guilford Community Fund, and Treasurer of the Guilford Performing Arts Festival. She has also served on the Sponsor’s Council for the Sisters of Mercy of the Northeast. As a Mercy Associate, Lydia has been a friend of Mercy for over 57 years and teases that she is one of the “bricks” here at Mercy by the Sea. Lydia lives in Guilford and is an active member of St. George Church. She is honored to serve on the Mercy by the Sea board.

Matt Hoey

Matt Hoey is in his second 4-year term as First Selectman of Guilford. Prior to being elected First Selectman, he served 26 years on the Board of Finance, 24 as Chairman. Matt started his professional career with SNET and, was most recently Vice President of Operations for ChimeNet, a subsidiary of the Connecticut Hospital Association. Matt is a past Chairman of the South Central Regional Council of Governments, on the Board of Directors the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and most recent past Chairman of the Tweed New Haven Authority Board of Directors. Having served as a Board Member since 2015, when former Executive Director, Tim Larson, left for a position in the Lamont Administration in early 2019, Matt stepped into the role as Interim Executive Director for eight months.. Matt is proud of a long history of building consensus and helping local officials, staff and residents “get to yes”. In the nearly 7 years together, the Board of Selectman has had less than a handful of votes that weren’t unanimous. He is proud to serve the residents of a truly wonderful community, working alongside dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers. He’s been heard to say that “this job is the most rewarding I have ever had”. Matt graduated from Our Lady of Mercy School, Xavier High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University. He and his wife, Cheryl, have lived in Guilford for 38 years where they raised their three children.

Carol Lyons

Carol Lyons joined the Mercy by the Sea (MBTS) Board on July 1, 2023. Carol has been involved with MBTS for many years and has attended many day and overnight programs. She is a proud graduate of the School for the Second Half of Life. Carol believes “MBTS is a sacred space that not enough people know about. It has provided a safe and nurturing place to grow in my spiritual life and I want others to enjoy the same care and love that is Mercy and I look forward to helping to guide MBTS going forward.” Carol is a retired Yale epidemiologist and a racial justice facilitator. She resides in Guilford with her husband of 48 years and has four children and five grandchildren, all of whom are her “treasured joys.”

Rabbi Stacy Offner

Rabbi Stacy Offner is both the Rabbi Emerita of Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison, Connecticut and the Founding Rabbi Emerita of Shir Tikvah Congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A passionate community builder, Rabbi Offner has worked hard on the shoreline to strengthen the Interfaith Clergy Alliance and to create interfaith opportunities for religious and spiritual expression. Recognized as a pioneer in many ways since her ordination in 1984, Rabbi Offner is acknowledged for her many firsts, including: First female rabbi in the state of Minnesota (1984), First woman to serve on the Reform Pension Board (1986), First rabbi elected as chaplain to the MN State Senate (1998), First female Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism (2008), and First female rabbi of Temple Beth Tikvah (2012). Rabbi Offner currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and on the Jewish Values Investing Committee of the Reform Pension Board. A Magna cum laude graduate of Kenyon College, Rabbi Offner earned both her M.A. and Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Rabbi Offner brings a wealth of experience to the Board and will assist Mercy by the Sea to continue to expand interfaith alliances and programs to welcome all.

Denise Page

Denise joined the Mercy by the Sea (MBTS) Board on July 1, 2023. Denise has been involved with MBTS for many years and has attended many programs. She has also hosted and facilitated retreats and workshops at MBTS throughout her career. Denise brings her experience as a coach in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and recently founded UBUNTU (“I am because we are”), to further that work through story artists who, through the art of oral story, share the personal narrative of walking in their brown and/or black skin. Denise states, “Mercy by the Sea has served a vital role in my life. I believe the spirit of the intent of founding MBTS prevails- healing growth and discernment. I would simply like to give back in service to a tradition that has been so important to renewal in my life.”

Fran M. Rabinowitz

Vice-Chair

Fran M. Rabinowitz is a lifelong resident of Connecticut. She was born and raised in Bridgeport and is still enjoying a long and rewarding career in education. Presently, she serves as the Executive Director for the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). Fran was a former superintendent in Hamden and Bridgeport and Associate Commissioner for the State of Connecticut. Fran spent most of her career in her favorite city, Bridgeport, in a number of positions. Mercy Center has been part of Fran’s life for many years and she is thrilled and humbled to be a member of The Board of Trustees. Fran lives in Branford and has three children and five grandchildren.

Henry “Hank” Sullivan

A close neighbor of Mercy by the Sea, Hank and his wife Gayle moved into the Moran home six years ago. The Moran’s had been devoted Mercy by the Sea groundskeepers and Hank immediately continued the tradition by working with the master gardeners to plant and maintain the vegetable garden! Before moving to Madison, Hank taught history for 32 years in public schools in both Hartford, Connecticut and San Diego, California. His life reflects a desire to improve the condition of others- children, neighbors, veterans, and all who are associated with Mercy by the Sea. Hank says: “I need to look no further than to the simple aspiration that is embedded in the Mercy by the Sea Vision Statement, that is: “to nurture a relationship with the Sacred in self, others, and creation that seeks to foster a just and compassionate world,” in order to find my interest in becoming a board member of this organization. It would be an honor for me to be able to bring my value, commitment, and skills to add to the collective effort to help Mercy by the Sea continue to thrive.”

Dan Taylor Stypa

Dan graduated with BA degree from Salve Regina University, Newport RI. Master’s Degrees in; (Pastoral Ministry) M.A.P.M. and (Sacred Theology) S.T.M.,from Boston College. Doctor of Ministry degree (Feminist Liberation Theologies / Theological Ethics) earned in a collaborative doctoral program inclusive of studies at The Episcopal Divinity School, Harvard Divinity School and Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Dan has been involved in the pastoral ministries of; education (elementary & high school, university professorship [University of St. Joseph, West Hartford, CT.), Director of Faith Formation, Pastoral Associate, hospital chaplain, (Dan is presently a Palliative/Hospice Chaplain with Hartford Healthcare). Community involvements include Co-Founder and board president of Sister Cities Essex Haiti. Board memberships; Essex Music Series, Member of Middlesex Habitat for Humanity land acquisition and home-owner services committees. Facilitator for Expressive Arts Bereavement Support group (Hartford Healthcare @ Home). Dan has received the Most Distinguished Alumni Award for Mission and Service from Salve Regina University. He has chaired several events and committees at Salve Regina. Dan is a Salve Regina Ambassador and actively involved in mission integration and development. Dan is excited to be on the Board of Mercy by the Sea and happy to bring and use his skills and talents as they may fit to fulfill the Mission of MBTS.