Friday, October 24, 2025 6 PM

Crest Hollow Country Club

Woodbury, New York

Congratulations to our 2025 Award Honorees

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Veritas Award recipients

The Veritas Award is presented annually by the Congregation to those who personify service and dedication to humankind. The professionals who serve on the Congregational Financial Advisory Board exemplify gifts born of education and used towards a higher purpose.

Eileen Alexanderson

Eileen's Bio:

Eileen Alexanderson is currently a Co-Director of Investment Services at Christian Brothers Services Consulting Solutions. She spent 24 years at Lazard Asset Management, where she held roles including Equity Analyst, Portfolio Manager, and Managing Director/Head of US Equities.

Eileen attended Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, NY, and then St. John's University, earning a B.S. in Finance. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Eileen previously served on the Catholic Charities Board for nine years, including three years as Chair. She is a member of the Diocesan Investment Committee and the Bishop's Finance Council and serves as Chair of the St. Agnes Cathedral Parish Finance Committee.

David Koehler

David's Bio:

David Koehler manages The Koehler Organization, a well-respected presence within Long Island’s construction industry for more than seventy years. A faith-filled upbringing has instilled in David a genuine concern for others, as witnessed by many generous philanthropic commitments. It is precisely this dedication to service that led to an affiliation with the Dominican Sisters of Amityville. The Koehler Organization built Kinder Towne for the Sisters in 2000. David has served on the Financial Advisory Task Force for the Sisters, served on numerous Dominican Gala Committees, and helps support every major giving campaign.

Thomas Dufek

Thomas' Bio:

Thomas N. Dufek, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer of Bradley & Parker. Tom has been advising Bradley & Parker since the mid-1980s and, because of his financial expertise in the insurance industry, has held executive positions and ownership interests in entities with annual revenues ranging from $5MM to $250MM. His career has included both evaluation, insurance programs and related negotiations for hundreds of businesses over several decades. Since 2002, Tom has been president of Dufek & Associates, providing financial consulting and management advisory services to closely held businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and high net worth individuals. An alumnus of Hofstra University, he is passionate about helping educational and philanthropic organizations.

Timothy Lindsay

Timothy's Bio:

Tim is a partner at investment advisory firm Klingenstein Fields based in New York City, where he oversees investment programs for non-profit organizations, individuals, and families. He is the youngest of seven children, all of whom graduated from St. Agnes Elementary School in Rockville Centre. He graduated from Chaminade High School and Fordham University. Tim and his wife Kay, have two boys, Luke and James, who currently attend Chaminade and St. Agnes. He is an active St. Agnes Cathedral parishioner and is part of many Catholic organizations, including the St. Agnes Fathers Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the Friends of Mercy Hospital. He loves and appreciates the Amityville Dominican Sisters and delights in serving on their Financial Advisory Board.

Linda Hincken

Linda's Bio:

Linda Hincken is the retired Chief Financial Officer for the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, NY, a position she held for 21 years. She is currently an active member of the Dominican Associates of Amityville and serves on the Coordinating Committee. Linda graduated with a degree in Accounting from Misericordia University and holds a degree in Elementary Education from Mansfield University. Before switching to a career in accounting, she worked for 14 years for the Child Development Council in Wilkes Barre, PA, as a director of day care centers.

Richard Merzbacher

Richard's Bio:

Richard Merzbacher is the retired President of the State Bank of Long Island. He has previously served as a member of the State Bank Board of Directors and worked as the Senior Lending Officer at State Bank. Additionally, he has held various lending positions at other commercial banks in New York.

Richard is a graduate of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY, and received a Master of Business Administration from Long Island University in Brookville, NY.

Some of his previous affiliations include serving as Past Chairman of the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Long Island Group of New York Bankers Service Corporations, and the Archbishop Molloy High School Board.

Richard is currently serving on the Financial Advisory Task Force for the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville. He is also a member of the Finance Committee at St. Kilian's Church and sits on the Board of Directors for the Donation Center at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.

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St. Catherine of Siena Award recipients

Our Sisters in Financial Services

This year, we are honoring the Amityville Dominican Sisters who have served as Treasurer for the Congregation. As good stewards of the Congregation’s financial resources, their accomplishments go beyond basic financial management and involve taking a proactive approach to ensuring the long-term financial health of the Sisters and our mission.

S. Theresa Gallagher, OP

S. Terry's Bio:

S. Terry has been a member of the Amityville Dominican Sisters for almost 50 years and will celebrate her golden anniversary in the Congregation this September. She is a graduate of both Lehman College in the Bronx and Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. S. Terry has worked as an educator at both elementary and secondary levels, teaching in various schools throughout Queens and Long Island. From 2007 to 2013, she served as the Councilor for Stewardship on the Leadership Team. In addition, she has participated in various Congregational committees and is currently a member of the Support for Ministries Committee. S. Terry now works as a Wellness Advocate for the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville.

S. Kathleen McGinn, OP

S. Kathleen's Bio:

Sister Kathleen has been an Amityville Dominican Sister for 70 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from St. John’s University and a master's degree in business education from Hunter College. Sister Kathleen has taught at both elementary and secondary levels. She began working in the Finance Office in 1982 and served as Treasurer of the Congregation from 2001 to 2007.

For her years of service and contributions to the Church on the Finance Committee of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, she received the Bishop's Council Award. Additionally, Sister Kathleen offered her expertise to the National Religious Resource Center (NRRC) as a consultant to other religious congregations and was a member of the Finance Committee and Board of the Leviticus Fund.

She continued to serve as a volunteer in the Office of Financial Services until her retirement in 2019.

S. Patricia Koehler, OP

S. Pat's Bio:

S. Pat serves as the current Treasurer for the Congregation. She was a Councilor on the Leadership Team of the Amityville Dominican Sisters for two terms. S. Pat began her ministry in education at the elementary and secondary level and, more recently, as a supervisor at Nassau County BOCES. S. Pat holds multiple degrees from St. John’s University, Fordham University, and LIU/CW Post. She is also a member of the Molloy University Board of Trustees.

S. Judy Olsen, OP

S. Judy's Bio:

S. Judy is a CPA and was an accounting teacher at Molloy University for several decades. She served as the Business Department Chairperson, Acting Dean of the Business Division, and MBA Program Director, as well as serving on many committees until her retirement in 2020.

S. Judy was bestowed several awards while there, including the Faculty Leadership Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the Faculty Recognition Award, which she received three times. Her previous ministries in education include serving as principal at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Glendale. S. Judy served as the Director of Finance and Treasurer for the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville from 1989-1995 and is now a member of the Financial Advisory Board. She also serves on the election committee for the Congregation and plans to continue with these volunteer ministries.