Get to Know Your Board Members

By Steph DePascal

With the start of a new year for the Windsor Square Special Planning District, I thought it might be helpful if you knew a little bit about each of the hardworking individuals who volunteer their time to benefit our neighborhood. If you should ever want to contact one of your board members, please go to the Windsor Square Web Site, www.windsorsquarephoenix.org, and click on board members!

Vicki Hersh, President

Vicki has been a Windsor Square resident for over 12 years, and feels fortunate to be living someplace where one can actually get to know their neighbors. She likes to refer to the neighborhood as the “Mayberry of Central Phoenix,” complete with the charm, small-town feel, and interesting residents. She was drawn to her house because, with few exceptions, it is in original condition and had not been through an extensive remodel. Vicki is optimistic about a positive year for the board, and hopes to increase communication and volunteerism among Windsor Square neighbors. This is Vicki’s fourth term on the board; she has previously served as secretary and member at large. She has also served on a home tour committee and helped with block party planning.

Noelle Baker, Vice President

Noelle is among the newer residents of Windsor Square, having purchased her home in September, 2010. Although she knew her home had been extensively remodeled, it was apparent that great care was given to the preservation of this 1939 structure. Noelle’s career has been in marketing and advertising, split between Phoenix, where she was born and raised, and Honolulu. She recently returned to Phoenix to make a home for her daughter and two granddaughters. From 1979 to 1994, Noelle lived in a small north Phoenix community where she was instrumental in organizing that neighborhood to address key issues including moving the neighborhood into the Madison School District, preserving the desert environment and noise abatement. We are fortunate indeed, to have Noelle on the WS Board.

Stephanie DePascal, Secretary

Stephanie and her daughter, Susan Myers, moved into Windsor Square in 2003 and are currently well known for having their two Labradors, Oscar and Gracie, hold court in their front yard on Orange Drive. Steph is retired after thirty years as an executive assistant in Tucson, first for the Arizona Children’s Home and then with Northwest Hospital & Medical Center. She worked closely with the Boards of Trustees for both organizations, and also with the CEOs and CFOs. Steph was born and raised in Neenah, Wisconsin, spent ten years in Boulder, Colorado and moved to Tucson in 1967. She and her second husband married in 1972, creating a blended family of nine children which has now grown to 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to volunteering to show their home on the 2006 Windsor Square Home Tour, Steph has volunteered many hours on the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Home Tour Committees.

Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer

Sean and his wife Amy relocated to the Valley in 2000 and moved to Windsor Square in 2004. He was born and raised in New Orleans, lived in Fort Worth, TX while attending Texas Christian University, then moved to Denver where he met Amy and attended grad school at the University of Colorado. After seven years working in the finance department of America West/US Airways in Phoenix, Sean recently began a career in financial services. Sean and Amy can be seen on frequent walks in the neighborhood with their Boston Terrier, Finn McCool. They love urban living and the walking distance to shops and restaurants that our neighborhood offers. The Board is very glad to have someone with Sean’s credentials serving as Treasurer.

Sean Cunningham, Member at Large

Sean is originally from Long Island. He met his wife Tammy in 1985 while at the University of Arizona. They moved to Phoenix in 1991 and into Windsor Square in 1998. Their daughter Katie came along in 2007. The Cunningham family and their two dogs, Lucy and Swiper (his real name is Sam … he swipes socks) can often be seen on walks through the neighborhood. Sean enjoys golfing, would like to start running again, and has generously served on the Windsor Square Board for two years.

Liz Eells, Member at Large

Liz and her husband, Jim, have lived in Windsor Square for over 11 years. Most recently, they welcomed daughter Mia to the family and will celebrate her first birthday in just a few months. In the early 2000s, Liz served as Treasurer for the Board and has volunteered her time and energy on every Home Tour Committee since 2002. Over these past five tours, she provided very valuable leadership with ticket booth sales and management of the entire setup and tear down for “day of” the tour! Liz has also participated in the past with planning of Windsor Square’s Fall Block Party. Both Liz and Jim are committed to our neighborhood and are among the amazing people who make up the community of Windsor Square.

Tom Fitsimones – Member at Large

A third term board member Tom Fitsimones, along with wife Julia and son Scott, moved to Windsor Square in August of 2003. The balance of the family includes two dogs, Daisy and Cleveland and two cats, Ziggy and Felix. They bought their house at 20 E. Orange Drive from the original owners, the Fernandez family. Tom has had a lifelong career in sales including the medical industry, financial services and is currently managing a north Scottsdale women’s boutique. With an undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans he also has a recent Masters Degree from the University of Arizona. A graduate of Texas A&M, Julia’s career path has been focused in the computer software technology arena. Scott is an 8th grader at Arizona School for the Arts and a budding technology entrepreneur. They love their house, the convenient Windsor Square location and great neighbors.

Blake Hastings, Member at Large

A transplant from California, Blake moved to Arizona seven years ago and has lived in Windsor Square for the past five years. He owned a townhome in Mammoth Lakes, California, and served on the homeowners association for 15 years, ten of which he was the president. In all those years, they completed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of projects with no special assessments, a near impossible feat. With this background, Blake brings valuable experience to the Windsor Square Board. Blake’s home was featured in the 2010 Home Tour as a “garden only” featuring a unique landscape, all designed and planted by Blake who is passionate about design, color and construction. He is currently in sales and works for Garage Floor Coating here in the Valley.

Maureen Mackey, Member at Large

Maureen, better known as “Mo,” has lived in Windsor Square for the last ten years. She and her husband, Mike, have two college-aged children and are now empty nesters. Mo has worked as a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital for the past 25 years. She will tell you that her hobbies include reading and tile mosaics. However, if you were fortunate enough to see the mosaic artistry displayed in her charming home during the 2010 Windsor Square Home Tour, you would think it was a professional calling! Mo has served on a variety of school boards: Weekday, Saint Francis, Brophy and West Point Parent’s Club. In addition she has volunteered for years at Saint Vincent DePaul. Mo has lived in the Central Phoenix area all of her life and certainly has a vested interest in keeping our neighborhood a viable, desirable and safe community.