The local nonprofit Wainwright House will honor local leaders on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at its annual benefit. Honorees include local leaders who have made meaningful contributions to community life, wellness, and environmental stewardship including Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker and Chairperson of the City of Rye’s Conservation Commission Advisory Council Tracy Stora. Last year, MyRye.com publisher Jay Sears received the group’s Ripple Of Change Award. Wainwright House, on Rye’s Milton Point overlooking the harbor, is the oldest nonprofit holistic learning center in the United States.
“We are pleased to honor these champions of our community,” says Lexy Tomaino, president of the Board of Trustees for Wainwright House. “Their commitment inspires us all to engage more deeply.”
Here are the awardees, along with their awards and biographies:
Catherine Parker, Legacy of Leadership Award
Catherine Parker has proudly represented Westchester’s 7th Legislative District since 2013, following six years on the Rye City Council. Known for her thoughtful and pragmatic leadership, she combines fiscal responsibility with a deep commitment to social progress, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.
Over the past decade, Catherine has championed sustainability and environmental protection. She has led efforts to strengthen flood mitigation, rehabilitate infrastructure, expand food scrap recycling, and phase out toxic heating oils and polystyrene containers. Working with state and federal partners, she advanced long-awaited flood control projects in Mamaroneck and Rye, tackling some of the region’s most persistent challenges. She has also been a strong voice for public health, co-sponsoring the law to raise the age for tobacco sales to 21, expanding access to mental health specialists in emergency response, and helping to fund a clinic for Rye High School students.
Catherine has worked to ensure that Westchester’s budgets are both responsible and forward-looking—delivering tax levy reductions, restoring the County’s AAA bond rating, and securing record investments in housing, small business development, and nonprofit services, all while increasing reserve funds and avoiding short-term gimmicks.
Her dedication to equity and opportunity has guided her work to pass paid sick leave, strengthen worker protections, address wage discrimination, and expand access to childcare. She has supported measures to extend veterans’ benefits, guarantee legal counsel for tenants facing eviction, and increase government transparency. Among her most impactful achievements is her nationally recognized digital equity initiative, which ensures access to technology for all Westchester residents.
Catherine has always been a champion of community-based organizations, helping secure funding for groups such as The Community Resource Center, Emelin Theatre, Rye Free Reading Room, STEM Alliance of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, and the Westchester Children’s Museum. Her local leadership includes serving as President of the Rye Chamber of Commerce, Co-President of the Rye Lions Club, and President of the League of Women Voters of Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester, as well as advisory roles with the Rye Arts Center and Knapp House. Many also remember her travel store, Parker’s, which she ran on Purchase Street for nearly 23 years.
A fourth-generation Westchester resident, Catherine is admired for her collaborative spirit, her ability to listen and lead with empathy, and her dedication to building a healthier, more equitable future for all who call Westchester home. Grateful to raise her children in the community she loves, she thanks her husband, David Walker, for his steadfast support throughout her years of public service.
Tracy Stora, Rooted Stewardship Award
Tracy Stora currently serves as Chair of the City of Rye Conservation Commission/Advisory Council (CC/AC), where she works to reduce water pollution to help safeguard people and wildlife (including egrets, herons, and bunker, a foundation species for the LIS fishery).
To engage high school students, she established the Junior Commissioner position. This was the first official junior government volunteer position in the history of Rye’s city government.
As a board member of the Rye Sustainability Foundation, Tracy focuses on simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers that enter Milton Harbor and Rye’s waterways. She advocates for healthy yard care and promotes the planting of native trees and plants through the Foundation’s Pollinator Pathway and Healthy Yard Program.
She is a member of The Little Garden Club of Rye and is co-chair of the Conservation, National Affairs, and Legislation committee.
While raising a family in New York City and Rye, she built a successful career as an art director for Elle, Family Life, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Business Week, Consumer Reports, and Spy Magazine.
Tracy attended Syracuse University and has lived in Rye since 2001 with her husband, John Mayo-Smith. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, sailing, backcountry skiing, and walking her dog Penny.
Dr. David Olarsch, Cultivating Connection Award
David Olarsch has dedicated his life to promoting wellness, sustainability, and community. A pioneer in the holistic health field, he is an accomplished naturopathic physician and the founder of the largest holistic health clinic in New England. Since retiring and relocating to Rye three years ago, David has remained committed to serving others. He played a vital role in establishing the Rye Picklers, a local pickleball community, and became the Rye YMCA Derby’s first volunteer safety coordinator. Additionally, he has successfully raised sponsorship dollars and auction donations and actively participates in various volunteer committees.
David continues to engage with naturopathic medicine, chairing an annual medical conference and co-chairing a state medical board. Passionate about healthy eating, he enjoys creating delicious dishes using fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets. An avid walker and lover of all four seasons, he champions the sport of pickleball and appreciates everything Westchester County has to offer. David also aspires to complete his book on living a healthy life sometime this decade!
Susan Romeo-Riordan, Cultivating Connection Award
Susan is a lifelong advocate of mentorship. As an influential leader with a dynamic background, she provides guidance and counsel in the professional arena, mission-driven sector, and personal sphere. Susan holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and had a successful career in the fashion industry, holding key positions at prominent retail and wholesale organizations. Her roles encompassed buying, store management, and sales before she transitioned to her passion for talent development in human resources. As Vice President of Human Resources at Bloomingdale’s, she guided the C-suite and numerous executives through their career progression.
Upon retirement, Susan dedicated her energy to creating a vibrant life with her husband, Jay, in her beloved Rye, NY. Grateful for raising her children, Nicole and Luke, there for 25 years, she sought ways to connect and contribute to the community. Susan continues to provide counsel to her network and has added volunteerism for several local non-profit organizations to her repertoire. Additionally, Susan practices holistic wellness through enjoying time with loved ones, connecting with her spirituality, culinary creation, engaging in performing arts activities, and exercising, especially playing pickleball!.
Tammy Newell, The Path of Transformation Award
Tammy (Tamara) Newell is a retired Nurse Practitioner with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare field, beginning her career as a nurse’s aide before advancing her education to become a Nurse Practitioner. Alongside her professional journey, Tammy pursued personal development, becoming a certified Life Coach and a Master Firewalk Instructor.
After relocating to New York from Delaware to join her partner, Susan, Tammy discovered a vibrant community at Wainwright, where she has become actively involved in maintaining the labyrinth and promoting its benefits over the past two years. Following her retirement, she embraced new opportunities for personal growth, rediscovering her passion for fitness and spirituality while developing friendships through activities such as watercolor painting classes.
In her personal life, Tammy enjoys gardening, birding, walking in the woods, and practicing yoga and exercise. She values a philosophy of living and letting live, believing that life is not random but guided, and she emphasizes the importance of making choices for one’s highest good. With a commitment to helping others, her volunteer work at Wainwright remains her primary avenue for community involvement.
Ben Laschever, Young Changemaker Award
Ben Laschever is a passionate storyteller, dedicated to championing underrepresented narratives through film. Growing up in Rye, he developed a deep appreciation for the environment and that early connection to place shaped his sense of storytelling. At Colorado College, Ben is pursuing a double major in Environmental Studies and Film & Media Studies, where he explores the intersections of environment, policy, identity, and queer studies.
His work bridges creative practice and critical inquiry, weaving together themes of environmental justice and representation. Beyond the classroom, Ben has always held a profound appreciation for the Rye community and its immediate environment. He is deeply grateful to be recognized by the historic Wainwright House.
For Ben, this honor reaffirms his belief that film and community are powerful tools for fostering environmental appreciation and empathy.
