Board Members

Delight came to the Bainbridge Public Library Board through her involvement with Field's End, which is a committee of the BPL Board.  Prior to her retirement as Professor Emerita at Seattle University, she taught first in the doctoral program in Educational Leadership, and then set up and worked in the Master's Degrees in Adult Education and in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  Prior to moving to Seattle University, she worked for sixteen years as an administrator at Renton Technical College.  She began her teaching as a junior high school teacher in Ottawa, Canada.  Besides the library, Delight spends time with her horses and other animals and with many books.

Pat became involved with the Library in 1997, shortly after she moved to the Island.  She facilitated the BPL Book Discussion Group, and volunteered to work with the Friends of the Library.  She has served as President of the Friends Board and currently is the board's Vice President. She has also served on the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation Board.  During her pre-Island life, she benefited from the travel that was a major part of her husband's career, raised a family, and taught school.  Pat considers her service on the Bainbridge Public Library Board both a challenge and a pleasure.

Lois became involved with BPL in 2008 when she volunteered both at the Library and with the Friends of the Library.  She became a Board member of FOL in 2008 and a Board member of BPL in 2009.  She currently serves as Treasurer.  Lois moved to BainbridgeIsland in 2006 from New YorkState to marry her husband, Richard Storch, an over 30 year resident of BainbridgeIsland.  Prior to leaving New York, Lois retired from her long-time position as law clerk to a judge.  Lois has taught college-level courses, and before obtaining her law degree from Syracuse University, she taught first grade.  As a voracious reader, Lois has been a life-long supporter of libraries.  In addition to reading, she and her husband enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Heidi moved to the island when she was four.  As a child who loved reading, she spent many happy mornings and afternoons searching the children's section of the library.  She even remembers as a teenager going to a program at the library about how to apply makeup! - although she never gave it a try after that.  These days she's happy to be back in the children's section once again, but this time with any of her five boys.  The Bainbridge Public Library is one of her island loves.

After 35 years as an expatriate business executive, primarily in emerging Latin American and Asian markets, Charlie retired to Bainbridge. He has been active in the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library, serving on their Board in the past as Treasurer and later as President. Prior to retirement, his last posting was as Chairman and President of DuPont in China. During the years in Shanghai, he was active in the American Chamber of Commerce, and was elected to serve a term as Chairman. In 2004 he was conferred the Magnolia Award for contributions to Shanghai's development by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. He and his wife are amateur gardeners.

Kim is a life-long learner, inveterate educator, global citizen and human rights activist.  He has taught high school Humanities most recently at West Sound Academy in Poulsbo, also in California and in an international school in Ecuador.  Kim was Education Officer with the U.N. High Commission for Refugees in Thailand. He chaired the Kitsap County Human Rights Council for 3 years.  Among his activist work was a year-long stint as an accompanier for genocide survivors in the highlands of Guatemala, and a 7-month journey through east Africa working with peace builders.  In 2007, Kim and his wife Judy received the 'Lifetime Achievement' award in human rights from the HR Council.  As the son of a high school librarian, Kim is very pleased to be able to serve on the BPL Board.

Ruth Coates, AIA, has been an island resident since 1998 and is a Principal with The Miller|Hull Partnership in Seattle.  As an architect focusing on library projects for the past 10+ years, she brings a working knowledge of library facilities--as well as an avid interest in service trends and patron experience.  When not at work, Ruth enjoys an early morning run, preparation of a shared meal, or time spent with husband Matthew & dog Henri.

Kevin joined the Bainbridge Public Library Board in 2004, recruited by Ann Lovejoy after they worked together at the first local Home & Garden show that Kevin helped produce with the Chamber.  Kevin has been an active community volunteer his entire life.  Locally he has served as a board member for the Housing Resources Board, appointed to the City’s Affordable Housing Task Force, and has been active with both Little League and Parks and Recreation, coaching baseball, basketball and soccer.  His wife, Kyanne, and their two sons, Korey and Kolin, are all voracious readers and library patrons.

Pamela is an attorney at Foster Pepper PLLC.  Her practice focuses on estate planning with an emphasis on family business planning.  Pamela has served on the boards of Cancer Lifeline and Humanities Washington, as well as on the University of Washington Estate Planning Board.  Pamela has been a resident of Bainbridge Island since 2005 and can be seen bicycling around the island with her husband, Don, when they aren’t tending to their small vineyard.  She also enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren and other extended family members.

Brian writes for a local marketing firm. He taught at UW and the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle, has done public service work for Boys and Girls Clubs, Campfire Boys and Girls, First Place and United Way and has a wife named Terry and a dog named Archie.

Linda graduated from UW, has a M.Ed., and taught in the Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Community College.  For 23 years she was the owner of Frame it on Broadway/Linda Meier Gallery.  Linda has served on many community organizations in leadership positions including the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Diplomats, Broadway Business Association, Seattle Women Business Owners, and the NW AIDS Foundation.  She was awarded the Capitol Hill Community Lifetime Recognition Award in 1998.  Currently she is serving on the Boards of the Bainbridge Friends of the Library, the Bainbridge Public Library, Squeaky Wheels, and PAWS.  She volunteers at PAWS where she is a cat adoption counselor.  "I have lived on Bainbridge Island since 2001 on a small farm we call Chateau Poulet.  We raise chickens, ducks, peacocks, sheep and 3 spoiled indoor cats.  I grow most of our own vegetables and my husband grows most of our fruits and berries.  I am a step-mother to 6 grown “children” and  7 grandchildren, thanks to my husband, Dr. Stephen Hubbard, a cardiologist at Harborview Medical Center."

George began his professional work with children in 1973.  After experience as a children’s librarian and professional storyteller, his first children’s book, LIZARD’S SONG, was accepted by Greenwillow in 1979. Since then he has had 38 books published including 27 picture books (among them DANCE AWAY, CLIMBING KANSAS MOUNTAINS, WHITE IS FOR BLUEBERRY, THE SECRET CHICKEKN CLUB and BUSY IN THE GARDEN).  TIPPY-TOE CHICK, GO! was selected as a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book for picture book writing in 2003.  2008 brought both the Washington State Book Award and the Worzalla/Burr Award for RABBIT'S GIFT, and the "Life time Achievement Award" from PNWA.  He has also published essays on various aspects of children’s literature, and continues to work with children around the world on their own creative writing.  Conferences, workshops, and author visits have taken him to schools from the Arctic Circle to Jakarta, and Kuwait to Japan.   www.georgeshannon.org

Jan began her volunteer life on Bainbridge with the BPL Field's End committee shortly after moving from the Washington, DC area in 2004.   She was elected to the BPL board  in December 2008.  A University of Maryland graduate, her 25 year career as an accredited public relations generalist and manager or director included positions in the corporate and non-profit worlds of Maryland.  Now retired, she also serves on the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association board as the Design Committee chair, and as residents' representative on The Winslow Condo board.   She enjoys her grandchildren, travel, book club, and the arts.  Her love of the arts and belief in the great value of the all the arts - literary, visual and dramatic – are reinforced by the rich culture of Bainbridge.

Elaine has over 30 years experience in education and health care public policy.  Currently, she is a consultant in early learning policy and strategies for connecting birth to five programs and K-3 education.  She has a special interest in early literacy and school readiness.  Before focusing on education, Elaine was vice-president of public policy and strategic planning for Group Health Cooperative and Kaiser-Group Health.  Elaine’s community service includes two terms on the Bainbridge Island School Board and being a founding member of the League of Education Voters.  In addition to being on the Library board, she is on the boards of the Bainbridge Community Foundation and the Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network.