They have served a total of twenty-five years on staff at Vermont Dismas House, Burlington. Richard Gagné helped open Vermont Dismas House in 1986 and recently received his 15th anniversary as director. He enjoys his three school age children and gardening at Dismas House. Richard is an artist, creating fine wooden cabinets and woodworking. Kimberly Parsons, who joined us early in 1991 recently celebrated her 10th anniversary with Vermont Dismas House. Kim is the mother of two children and has a passion for horses. She creates beautiful garments from yarn that she has spun.
Terese joined the Rutland staff as House Director in February 2004 after 18 years as a classroom teacher, most recently at Mount St Joseph Academy. She has been a Friend of Dismas since its early days in Rutland, first as volunteer cook, later as President of the Rutland Board of Directors and eventually as the first President of the DOV Board. She and her husband Rob, a faithful member of the Dismas Maintenance Committee and renovation crew, live in Rutland with their two children Rachel and Jimmy who have grown up around the Dismas table.
Valerie has been the Assistant Director of Rutland Dismas House since August 2003 after working as a para-legal in Boston for 18 years. She first became involved with Dismas as a volunteer in the Thresholds/Decisions program and later as a Board Member. Valerie and her husband Steve live in Rutland with their teenage son Britt, and enjoy visits from their two adult children. Valerie treasures time at home with her family and her cats.
Rita has been a community organizer for Dismas since 1985, as a founder of the Vermont and Rutland Dismas Houses. She has been involved with prisoners and former prisoners since 1974 with the Decisions Program. Rita has four grown children and enjoys music and gardening.
