Heidi Whear, President and Founder

Heidi Whear recently became the Director of Aging Services for the town of Swampscott, a position which grew out of Swampscott’s commitment to become more age-friendly. In fact, the same commitment gave rise to the creation of Seaglass Village. Heidi holds a master's degree in public health from Boston University and has worked developing and running programs serving seniors in home settings, adult day health, affordable housing, and assisted living. Volunteerism has been prominent throughout her life including Peace Corps, Lifebridge, Rotary, and First Church Congregational, to name a few. Heidi was born in Swampscott and is happily married to a Marbleheader, Bruce Whear.  

Joan McCormack, Vice President

Dr. Joan McCormack has many years of experience bringing hearing health care services to older adults as the owner and Director of Atlantic Hearing Care and founder of the North Shore Hearing Foundation. She volunteers with many groups to enhance quality of life and support healthy aging. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, serves on the Board of the Entheos Audiology Cooperative and is active in the Swampscott for All Ages Committee. Joan is delighted to be part of this team to help our neighbors age in place and stay safely in their homes.

Alyce Deveau, Executive Director

Alyce Deveau is the Executive Director of Seaglass Village. Previously she was the Director of the Swampscott Public Library. As Library Director she hosted many programs for senior citizens, including book groups, knitting groups, ukulele groups, and AARP tax help.

Alice is a member of the Swampscott for All Ages Committee and is also a member of the action team to make Swampscott a Dementia Friendly Town.

Doreen Hodgkin, Secretary

Doreen Hodgkin moved to Swampscott in 1986 with her wife, Linda Jones. They raised their son, Andy, who went to Swampscott schools. Doreen recently retired from Khoury College of Computer Science at Northeastern University, where she was the Associate Dean of Students working closely with administration, faculty, and students.

Doreen knows first hand the need and importance of people staying in their homes as she helps care for her 94-year-old mother, who still lives in her home in Maine. Doreen is excited to be a member of this team as we work towards creating a stronger community in the area towns.

Anne Waymouth, Treasurer

Anne Waymouth is originally from in Marblehead. A graduate of Cornell University, she lived and worked as a CPA in Wisconsin for over 30 years and has now returned to Swampscott. She knows first hand the needs of the elderly as she returned to this area to help her 94-year-old father continue to live in his own home in Marblehead.

Anne has been active with not-for-profit agencies in her career and served on the Board of Directors of the Community Action Coalition of South-Central Wisconsin. She currently works as the part-time Accounting Manager for the Jewish Journal. She looks forward to bringing her skills to Seaglass Village to support creating community connections for the elderly to live independent, fulfilling lives.

Izzi Abrams, Director

Izzi Abrams is a librarian at the Swampscott Public Library working with both children and adults. She is also the president of the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore.

Izzi is married to Dr. Howard Abrams and has two children and four grandchildren. She is thrilled to be involved with Seaglass Village and helping to enrich the lives of seniors.

Catherine M. Doherty, Director

Catherine Doherty is a practicing attorney who has volunteered for local non-profits, including the Marblehead-Grasse Sister City Exchange, Salem Cyberspace, teaching English as a Second Language for Mock Trial Participants, and, most recently, Sailing Heals.

A Marblehead resident for more than 25 years, Catherine looks forward to collaborating with the Seaglass community to foster connections for socialization and elder independence.

Linda Garber, Events Coordinator

Linda Garber and her family moved to Massachusetts in 1991. When her kids were young, Linda left her job to be a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. She later went to work at Dow Electronic Materials, where she led a variety of large safety and computer projects for the Company. She received her bachelor’s degree while at Dow.

Linda retired in 2017, and she and Fred bought and renovated a two-family home in Swampscott, which they share with their daughter and young family. Linda is happy now to focus on Seaglass Village to provide seniors (including herself) with opportunities for social interactions and fun. 

Judy Gates, Director

Judy Gates moved to Marblehead in 1965 just out of college. She and her late husband raised their children here. Her involvement in the community began as President of the Gerry School PTA and has branched out in many directions, from Abbot Public Library Trustee to the founding of the Three Voices organization helping seniors address their needs. She is delighted now to be involved in Seaglass Village that will open up new ways to connect to seniors to foster their health as well as their social interactions. 

Betsy Morris, Director

Betsy Morris and her family moved to Marblehead in 1967; her kids attended Marblehead schools, scouts, clubs, camps, and sports teams. During that time, while owning and managing a design/develop/build company with her husband, she returned to school and got an MBA at Simmons. She went to work at Bank of Boston and retired in 1993 as head of Corporate Marketing in order to go sailing. They spent five years sailing from Newfoundland to South America, including most ports in between. Returning in 1998, Betsy has followed the volunteer path at the Peabody Essex Museum, North Shore Medical Center, North Shore Community Mediation, and Explorers Lifelong Learning Institute, where she has been a board member, head of the Curriculum Committee, and head of Development.

Penny Stratton, Director

Penny Stratton, an Ohio native, has been a Swampscott resident since 1984 and has lived in the Greater Boston area since 1972. Before retiring in 2016, she was Publishing Director at New England Historic Genealogical Society (AmericanAncestors.org), capping a 40-plus-year career in the book publishing industry. She is a longtime member of the Church of St. Andrew in Marblehead, where she has held a number of volunteer posts. For many years, Penny has volunteered in support of the performing arts at Swampscott High School, which her children attended. 

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