Board of Directors
Beacon Hill Village is a member-driven organization governed by a dedicated board of directors. Not only are our board directors active members of Beacon Hill Village, they are also engaged in the community at large participating in a variety of other civic activities.In addition, the Village Council, our staff, strategic partners and volunteers collaborate to achieve our mutual goal of growing older better in the homes and neighborhoods we love.
Allan Hodges, President
Allan completed a 50-year career in urban planning and environmental impact analysis in 2014 when he retired. The last 34 years were with Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Boston office as Director of Planning. With that global engineering and planning firm he planned transportation infrastructure projects throughout the U.S., including the Big Dig in Boston for which he was Environmental Documentation Manager. Allan is active in community and professional groups in Boston and Newport, RI. He has a B. Sc. Degree in Community Development from Southern Illinois University and a Master in Urban Planning Degree from Michigan State University. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners of the American Planning Association.
Allan completed a 50-year career in urban planning and environmental impact analysis in 2014 when he retired. The last 34 years were with Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Boston office as Director of Planning. With that global engineering and planning firm he planned transportation infrastructure projects throughout the U.S., including the Big Dig in Boston for which he was Environmental Documentation Manager. Allan is active in community and professional groups in Boston and Newport, RI. He has a B. Sc. Degree in Community Development from Southern Illinois University and a Master in Urban Planning Degree from Michigan State University. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners of the American Planning Association.
Jan Beaven, Vice President
Jan joined Beacon Hill Village in 2013. Jan has extensive experience in both the business and nonprofit sectors. As a consultant with two firms, Cambridge Technology Partners and Symmetrix, Inc., she led corporate change efforts within mutual funds, insurance companies and banks. Jan concluded her business career as a vice president at State Street Corporation. In the past, Jan served on the boards of First Night Boston, Beacon Hill Seminars, and two retirement communities. Today, she is active on the board of Trinity Connects. Jan holds an M.Ed from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and a BA from Western College at Miami University.
Jan joined Beacon Hill Village in 2013. Jan has extensive experience in both the business and nonprofit sectors. As a consultant with two firms, Cambridge Technology Partners and Symmetrix, Inc., she led corporate change efforts within mutual funds, insurance companies and banks. Jan concluded her business career as a vice president at State Street Corporation. In the past, Jan served on the boards of First Night Boston, Beacon Hill Seminars, and two retirement communities. Today, she is active on the board of Trinity Connects. Jan holds an M.Ed from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and a BA from Western College at Miami University.
John Besser, Treasurer
John moved to Beacon Hill in 1998 to practice corporate law at Skadden Arps. Prior to moving to Boston, he held various senior positions with Barnes Group Inc., the last being Senior Vice President, Finance and Law. After retiring from Skadden Arps, he spent several years as a volunteer attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services. He holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.
John moved to Beacon Hill in 1998 to practice corporate law at Skadden Arps. Prior to moving to Boston, he held various senior positions with Barnes Group Inc., the last being Senior Vice President, Finance and Law. After retiring from Skadden Arps, he spent several years as a volunteer attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services. He holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.
Elisabeth Peterson, Clerk
Betsy was an administrator at Phillips Academy, Andover, and an assistant dean of Yale College during its first six years of undergraduate coeducation, before going to law school. She came to Beacon Hill in 1978 and served on the legal staff of Houghton Mifflin Company for twenty years. She is the author/editor of Voices of Alzheimer's, published in 2004. Her community roles have included the boards of Beacon Hill Seminars and King's Chapel. She holds a B.A. from Radcliffe, an Ed.M from Harvard, and a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley.
Betsy was an administrator at Phillips Academy, Andover, and an assistant dean of Yale College during its first six years of undergraduate coeducation, before going to law school. She came to Beacon Hill in 1978 and served on the legal staff of Houghton Mifflin Company for twenty years. She is the author/editor of Voices of Alzheimer's, published in 2004. Her community roles have included the boards of Beacon Hill Seminars and King's Chapel. She holds a B.A. from Radcliffe, an Ed.M from Harvard, and a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley.
Barbara Berkman
Barbara is a retired research professor at Boston College School of Social Work and the Rehr/Fizdale Professor Emerita at Columbia University School of Social Work. She has directed 23 federally and foundation supported research projects focused on issues in geriatrics and health care and is a former president of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research. She has a DSW/PhD from Columbia University, a MA from the University of Chicago and a BA from the University of Michigan. She is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and of the Gerontological Society of America.
Sally Brewster
A resident since 1967, Sally is one of Beacon Hill’s best-known and most respected real estate agents. She raised her three children on Pinckney Street, and now has ten grandchildren. Active on nearly all Beacon Hill Village committees, she has also served throughout the community on the Boards of Hill House, the Mass Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and on the BHCA Zoning and Licensing committee. Sally holds a B.A. from Mt. Holyoke College.
A resident since 1967, Sally is one of Beacon Hill’s best-known and most respected real estate agents. She raised her three children on Pinckney Street, and now has ten grandchildren. Active on nearly all Beacon Hill Village committees, she has also served throughout the community on the Boards of Hill House, the Mass Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and on the BHCA Zoning and Licensing committee. Sally holds a B.A. from Mt. Holyoke College.
Charley Davidson
Charley Davidson and his wife Elaine have been BHV members since 2009. He began his career in Cleveland at Ohio Bell when it was the “Phone Company” and moved to Beacon Hill after meeting his wife, a lifelong Bostonian, at an AT&T training course. Since his retirement from Verizon in 2003, Charley has been an active volunteer, including Massachusetts General Hospital and providing computer support to various organizations, including BHV members.
Charley Davidson and his wife Elaine have been BHV members since 2009. He began his career in Cleveland at Ohio Bell when it was the “Phone Company” and moved to Beacon Hill after meeting his wife, a lifelong Bostonian, at an AT&T training course. Since his retirement from Verizon in 2003, Charley has been an active volunteer, including Massachusetts General Hospital and providing computer support to various organizations, including BHV members.
Michael Grogan
Michael is the President of Grogan & Company, a Boston-based firm specializing in Fine Art Auctions and Appraisals, which he founded in 1987. A graduate of Boston College where he majored in Art History, Mr. Grogan began his career in the art business at Sotheby’s in New York. He is recognized as an expert of the auction and appraisal process and is frequently called on by collectors, dealers, museums, and trust and estate bankers and lawyers for advice and guidance. A resident of Boston, Mr. Grogan appears as a regular appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow.
Michael is the President of Grogan & Company, a Boston-based firm specializing in Fine Art Auctions and Appraisals, which he founded in 1987. A graduate of Boston College where he majored in Art History, Mr. Grogan began his career in the art business at Sotheby’s in New York. He is recognized as an expert of the auction and appraisal process and is frequently called on by collectors, dealers, museums, and trust and estate bankers and lawyers for advice and guidance. A resident of Boston, Mr. Grogan appears as a regular appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow.
Susan McWhinney-Morse
Susan was director of product research for two major advertising agencies and director of development at the Beaver Country Day School. A resident of Beacon Hill since 1964, she is a driver behind the Village movement and a founding director of Beacon Hill Village. Susan has been president and chair of the BHV board, president and chair of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, and is the current president of 250 Cambridge Street, a small philanthropic organization serving the needs of the neighborhood.
Susan was director of product research for two major advertising agencies and director of development at the Beaver Country Day School. A resident of Beacon Hill since 1964, she is a driver behind the Village movement and a founding director of Beacon Hill Village. Susan has been president and chair of the BHV board, president and chair of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, and is the current president of 250 Cambridge Street, a small philanthropic organization serving the needs of the neighborhood.
Franklin B. Mead III
An architect and management consultant in design and construction, Frank is a founding director of Beacon Hill Village, former president and chair of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, co-founder of Beacon Hill Seminars and a Beacon Hill resident since 1961. He currently serves on the Boards of The Friends of the Public Garden and Light Boston. He formerly chaired the Designer Selection Board of Massachusetts and served as Consul for Sweden in New England for over 12 years. Mr. Mead has a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and holds a Master of Architecture and a Master of Urban Design from Harvard University.
An architect and management consultant in design and construction, Frank is a founding director of Beacon Hill Village, former president and chair of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, co-founder of Beacon Hill Seminars and a Beacon Hill resident since 1961. He currently serves on the Boards of The Friends of the Public Garden and Light Boston. He formerly chaired the Designer Selection Board of Massachusetts and served as Consul for Sweden in New England for over 12 years. Mr. Mead has a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and holds a Master of Architecture and a Master of Urban Design from Harvard University.
Atheline Nixon
A resident of Beacon Hill since 1987, Atheline worked as a project manager and administrator for the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and ran the Private Bar Volunteer Program for South Middlesex Legal Service. She served two terms as chair of the Grants Committee of the Hestia Fund, an organization that invests in after-school programs in the Greater Boston area. Atheline holds a B.A. from Connecticut College.
A resident of Beacon Hill since 1987, Atheline worked as a project manager and administrator for the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and ran the Private Bar Volunteer Program for South Middlesex Legal Service. She served two terms as chair of the Grants Committee of the Hestia Fund, an organization that invests in after-school programs in the Greater Boston area. Atheline holds a B.A. from Connecticut College.
Stephen R. Roop
Stephen is a BHV past-president (2006 -2011) and chair (2011-2012). He has served on or chaired several major BHV committees, though his heart is with the program committee. Stephen also played a major role in the 2008-2009 Village to Village Network startup and in its transition to a freestanding charitable institution in 2016. Steve attended Boston College and Harvard; served in several senior positions in the second administration of Governor Michael Dukakis; was for six years vice president of the environmental affairs subsidiary of the Boston law firm Rackemann, Sawyer and Brewster; and served on the boards and executive committees of several Boston-area arts philanthropies, including the Boston Chamber Music Society, Music at Eden’s Edge and the Huntington Theater Company. Stephen and his wife Barbara live on Beacon Hill and in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts with their dog Sam.
Stephen is a BHV past-president (2006 -2011) and chair (2011-2012). He has served on or chaired several major BHV committees, though his heart is with the program committee. Stephen also played a major role in the 2008-2009 Village to Village Network startup and in its transition to a freestanding charitable institution in 2016. Steve attended Boston College and Harvard; served in several senior positions in the second administration of Governor Michael Dukakis; was for six years vice president of the environmental affairs subsidiary of the Boston law firm Rackemann, Sawyer and Brewster; and served on the boards and executive committees of several Boston-area arts philanthropies, including the Boston Chamber Music Society, Music at Eden’s Edge and the Huntington Theater Company. Stephen and his wife Barbara live on Beacon Hill and in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts with their dog Sam.
Ken Scott
Ken has been a long-time resident of Beacon Hill and a member of Beacon Hill Village since nearly the beginning. He has served on nearly all Village committees, including Member Services, and Governance/Nominating, and chairs the Member Engagement Committee.
Ken has been a long-time resident of Beacon Hill and a member of Beacon Hill Village since nearly the beginning. He has served on nearly all Village committees, including Member Services, and Governance/Nominating, and chairs the Member Engagement Committee.
Beacon Hill Village Founding Directors
David B. Arnold, Jr.
(1922-2015)
Sally Brewster
Susan Bridge
Rachel Claflin
J. Atwood Ives
Frank Mead
Susan McWhinney-Morse
Nancy Myers Coolidge
Elizabeth Owens
Robert Owens
Robert Perriello