In our Meet the Boards & Commissions series, MyRye.com will introduce readers to the boards and commissions of the City of Rye and the residents who run them. All volunteers, these residents give their time and expertise to keep our city running. The series is intended to bring visibility to what each board and commission does, its priorities and what might prompt a resident or another person or company to interact with the group.
We have made our best efforts to reach out to each board and commission chairperson directly or via City officials. If you are a board or commission chair and have not been contacted, or if you are a reader with feedback on this series, please get in touch with MyRye.com.
Meet the Senior Advisory Committee and its Co-Chairs Nancy Haneman and Michele Thomas
Your Name: Nancy Haneman and Michele Thomas
Board or Commission: Rye Senior Advocacy Committee
Your role: Co-Chairs
MyRye.com: What is the charter for your Committee?
Haneman and Thomas: The mission of the City of Rye Senior Advocacy Committee is to support the concerns of Rye’s elder adults, to advocate for their needs, and to seek new models and opportunities to better accommodate Rye’s older population in order to develop and maintain a healthy, diverse populace in which citizens of all ages have the opportunity to contribute to the strength of the Rye community.
Looking at 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
Haneman and Thomas:
- Distribute lanterns to Rye seniors
- Prepare for The Senior Summit in fall 2026
- Maintain the Senior Directory
Would you be supportive of your meetings being broadcast and recorded by the City for public viewing?
Haneman and Thomas: Absolutely! The small but mighty committee is well supported by local and state officials acting on behalf of Rye seniors.
Are written agendas and written meeting minutes available?
Haneman and Thomas: Yes
Are your meetings currently recorded?
Haneman and Thomas: No
What are your key performance indicators (KPIs)?
Haneman and Thomas: We believe our largest impact and key performance indicator is identifying needs and offering practical solutions through the lens of a senior resident in Rye. While the committee cannot make large-scale change, the small contributions we make are meaningful and have real impact.
Who is the City Council liaison to your committee for 2026?
Haneman and Thomas: The mayor.
Tell us about the residents or others you interact with at your Committee.
Haneman and Thomas: Most of our interaction with residents is working with Rye’s underserved seniors living in senior housing or independently living in their own home.
When was your Committee chartered by the City of Rye?
Haneman and Thomas: The committee started with concerned Rye citizens who were involved with local organizations supporting older adults and wanted to raise awareness within the city about the needs and concerns of this sector of the community.
Looking back across 2025, what were your committee’s top achievements?
- Lantern Project – With a grant from the Rye Professional Firefighters Local 2029 the committee was able to purchase battery-operated emergency lanterns to be distributed to older adults in Rye. Many individuals and larger senior housing do not have generators or backup power which can leave them vulnerable, isolated and at risk. This initiative will ensure they have a safe and dependable source of light during power outages, peace of mind and will give first responders and caregivers a simple way to check on them and provide aid quickly.
- Emergency preparedness kits for homebound seniors. The committee assembled backpack kits to be used in case of an emergency. The backpacks distribution was completed the end of 2025
- Senior Directory – Keeping the directory of services and business that would pertain to seniors living in Rye current and updated. The directory can be located on the city website.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Who appointed you to this position, and what year were you appointed?
Haneman and Thomas: Both were appointed by Mayor Josh Cohn
Nancy Haneman – Many years
Michele Thomas – since 2016
Besides yourself, who is the longest serving person on your committee?
Haneman and Thomas: Barbara Hughes
When does your current appointed term expire?
Haneman and Thomas: Both expire in 2027
What is your day job?
Haneman: Retired founder of SPRYE and still actively involved
Thomas: Osborn Home Care
How much time does your role require in a typical month?
Haneman and Thomas: 4-15 hours per month depending on projects and initiatives.
Preparing for events such as the summit, keeping the directory up-to-date, researching, backpack assembly and distribution, grant research, meetings and phone calls.
If I took you to Jerry’s or Oakland Beach Deli for lunch this week, what would you order?
Haneman: Lobster Roll
Thomas: Chili – and a quart of milk
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Haneman: Milton point since 1984
Thomas: I sadly do not live in Rye
Thanks Nancy and Michele!
Learn More:
2024 Profile
Main Senior Advisory Committee page on the City website
LinkedIn (Nancy Haneman)
LinkedIn (Michele Thomas)
Members of the Committee:
Nancy Haneman, Co-Chair 12-31-26 (term expires)
Barbara Brunner 12-31-27
Kathleen McGuire 12-31-27
Linda Ritacco 12-31-27
Michele Thomas, Co-Chair 12-31-26
Brenda Wilkin 12-31-26
Elisabeth Wolfe 12-31-27
