Tom Casey, President
Retired English teacher Tom Casey has hiked on Long Island for over forty years and considers Quogue Wildlife Refuge to be one of the crown jewels of Long Island’s protected open spaces. He has been a board member, newsletter editor and a hike leader for the L.I. Greenbelt Trail Conference for over thirty years. He also serves on the board of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, is Secretary for the New York State Trails Council, chairs the Central Pine Barrens Commission’s Protected Lands Council, and is a member of the Pine Barrens Advisory Committee and the Long Island Environmental Voters Forum.
Alan E. Lazarescu, Vice President
Alan Lazarescu has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge since July 2015. He is presently serving in his second elected four year term as Quogue Village Justice. He has held positions in Quogue as Village Prosecuting Attorney, Chairperson of the Design Review Board and as Alternate Member of the Planning Board. He is an attorney admitted to practice in New York State, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Tax Court and various other federal courts. During his thirty-five year career at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the litigation, insurance, corporate, labor relations and compliance attorneys reported to him. He was chairperson of the Board of two Metlife subsidiaries with substantial real estate assets, for example, Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town. For twenty-seven years he was the General Counsel (Pro Bono) of the Society of Actuaries. For thirteen years he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s University School of Law. Also, for many years he served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Mac Highet, Treasurer
Mac, a New Zealander, retired from a career in finance and operations management and is now a year-round resident in Quogue. Prior to settling in Quogue he had a home in Quiogue for 20+ years. As a CPA, Mac started his career in New Zealand, then moving to London and finally the US. He spent the majority of his US career with Reed Elsevier, a British/Dutch corporation engaged in the global publishing and information sector, and latterly served as CFO of Reuters, America. He has also been active in several not-for-profit organizations including Bergen Volunteers, The NY/NJ Trail Conference and more recently The Quogue Association. An active outdoor enthusiast Mac can frequently be found enjoying the trails at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge with his wife Carroll, family and friends. He and Carroll have three daughters, Christine, Emily and Gillian.
Anthony Bonner
Anthony Bonner is a lifelong resident of East Quogue and Westhampton…he was born, raised and educated in our own backyard. After graduating from Westhampton Beach High School in 1982, he embarked on his dream to have his own business. Anthony has owned and operated Sea Level Construction for over 30 years. Anthony is one of nine brothers and sisters, most of whom still live locally, and therefore has deep and meaningful roots in the community. Anthony was a volunteer firefighter for 23 years. In addition to responding to calls, both large and small, he helped fight the Sunrise Wildfire of 1995. He has been a patron of the wildlife refuge with his wife, Sandy of almost 30 years. Together with their 3 children, Robin, Patrick and Kirsten, they have enjoyed many occasions at the refuge. He has been on the board of directors at WHBPAC for 5 years.
Bob Murray
A third generation resident of Quogue, Bob spent his pre-teen years wandering the meadow behind Mrs. Tuttle’s farm on Quogue Street, looking for muskrats, raccoons and other wildlife. An avid bird-watcher and member of both the Eastern LI Audubon Society and the Group for the East End, he is currently a Director of the Quogue Historical Society, Treasurer of the Westhampton Historical Society, and a full time Associate Real Estate Broker with the Corcoran Group, where he and his wife Meredith are known as The Murray Team. A graduate of Yale University and a Vietnam vet, Bob spent 20 years as a Procter & Gamble manager before becoming president of RCP, a property management company in Princeton, NJ. He is a former instructor with the Institute of Real Estate Management, past president of the Westhampton Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Westhampton Historical Society. Married now for 50 years, he and Meredith have three daughters, one of whom, Amanda Murray, also lives in Quogue with two of their six grandchildren.
Edward Necarsulmer III,
Ted Necarsulmer is a year-round Quogue resident. He is actively involved in the Quogue Fire Department, serves as President of the Quogue Firefighters Benevolent Association, and is a Trustee of the Village of Quogue. He has spent the majority of his career with the investment firm of C.J. Lawrence Inc., and at successor firms in New York City. Ted was also the head of the US equity business for Deutsche Bank Securities, and subsequently joined the firm of Wasserstein Perella as CEO of the equities business. In addition, Ted served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the William George Agency for Children in Freeville, and is past president of the Board of Trustees of Saint David’s School in New York City. He has been married to his wife, Terry, for 48 years, and together, they have one son, Edward, who is a literary agent in New York City.
Linda Schoeck
Linda has been a year round resident of Quogue and a patron of the Wildlife Refuge for over 20 years. Linda lives just minutes from the Refuge and has been involved as a benefit planning committee member, auction donor, volunteer, and long time camp parent. She is also the owner of local business John’s Pools and Spas in Westhampton Beach. Linda is so proud of the work that the Refuge does for the community, families, children, and local environment through its many enrichment programs, camps, and fundraising efforts.
Gigi Spates
Through the years Gigi has been part of the Refuge in many capacities: volunteer, naturalist/educator, assistant director, director and Refuge board member. Thus, she has well-rounded knowledge of and experience with the programming and management of the Refuge. Gigi has her New York State teaching certification and a master’s degree from Stony Brook University. She lives on the North Fork, with her husband Don, who himself volunteers his time and ideas to the Refuge. Because the Refuge lies within the still-developing East End community, Gigi realizes the great value of this nature preserve to the the public, as it provides a place of peacefulness and learning to all.
Evelyn Voulgarelis
Evelyn has been involved with the QWR since the 1970’s when her children were in the Summer Ecology Program. She has been a volunteer and paid employee, and is now a board member (and still volunteers). She is a resident of Flanders and is a retired librarian.
