About KOH: Board of Directors

The Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation is pleased to announce changes to its board leadership in 2024. Lynn Franklin and Lynn Stahl have decided to step down from their roles as President and Vice President. We are grateful for their dedicated service to the KOH mission and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. The foundation will continue its work with the help of Mary Castle, Bob Fagella, Felicia Castle, Michele Collins, Anthony Romano, and Karen MacNeil, who will remain as board members. In 2023, KOH welcomed three new board members: Sue Falco, Kate Bielitz and Emily DeNapoli. With Lynn and Lynn’s departure from the board at the end of 2023, the three new members took on leadership positions. Sue and Emily will serve as Co-Presidents, and Kate will be the Vice President. With the support of the board, we are excited to continue the KOH mission and bring some new perspective and updates to the organization.

The Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation is pleased to announce changes to its board leadership in 2024. Lynn Franklin and Lynn Stahl have decided to step down from their roles as President and Vice President. We are grateful for their dedicated service to the KOH mission and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. The foundation will continue its work with the help of Mary Castle, Bob Fagella, Felicia Castle, Michele Collins, Anthony Romano, and Karen Macneil, who will remain as board members. In 2023, KOH welcomed three new board members: Sue Falco, Kate Bielitz and Emily DeNapoli. With Lynn and Lynn's departure from the board at the end of 2023, the three new members took on leadership positions. Sue and Emily will serve as Co-Presidents, and Kate will be the Vice President. With the support of the board, we are excited to continue the KOH mission and bring some new perspective and updates to the organization.

KOH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Biographies

Emily Smith DeNapoli

Emily has been involved with KOH since 2004 when her mother was diagnosed and Team Linda was formed in her honor  Her involvement with KOH through the years has given her a sense of community, strength, comfort and purpose that she hopes to help bring to others in their experience with ovarian cancer.  She lives in Edison with her family, 2 wonderful daughters who now walk in Grandma Linda’s memory.  Emily has a professional background in finance and has worked for companies in IT, manufacturing and construction industries. She loves spending time with her children, getting lost in books and doing fun workouts!

Sue Falco

Sue joined KOH in the spring of 2024 where she currently serves as Co-President. Sue is an Ovarian Cancer Survivor who believes in living your life to the fullest and stop sweating the small things. Sue spends a lot of her time volunteering wherever she can, whether its her local high school or her sons sport’s teams. You can always find Sue at the soccer fields where she enjoys watching her sons Nicky & Robert playing.

Kate Bielitz

Kate became a member of the Board last Spring, and now serves as KOH’s new Vice President. Kate is a kindergarten teacher at Lacordaire Academy in Montclair, NJ. She holds NJ State certification in Pre-K through sixth grade in elementary teaching, as well as a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Caldwell University.  Kate’s mother, Theresa, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018, and again October 2022. Kate is a strong supporter of early detection for ovarian cancer. As VP of KOH, Kate hopes to bring more awareness to ovarian cancer and extend support to those who are battling cancer or those who have family members undergoing treatments or loss.

Mary Castle

Mary Castle is a middle school teacher from Cranford, New Jersey.  She lost her sister-in-law, Diane Castle, to ovarian cancer in July 2000.  Ever since then, she has been involved with Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation.  She began volunteering at the walk in Morristown, and in 2004, along with the rest of the Castle family, started an annual walk in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, in memory of Diane.   She has been a KOH board member since December, 2017 and continues to support KOH in its endeavors to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and awareness.

Robert Fagella

Robert Fagella is an attorney and the managing partner of the law firm Zazzali, Fagella, Nowak, Kleinbaum and Friedman in Newark.  He has been a member of the KOH board for three years, and currently serves as its Treasurer.  Like so many, he had not previously heard of ovarian cancer until his wife, Carole, was unexpectedly diagnosed in 2007.  Carole was an inspirational speaker who became a KOH board member, and ultimately president, until her death in 2016.  Bob promised her that he would follow in her footsteps and carry on her fight to cure this dreadful disease. 

Felicia Castle

Felicia has been a Board member since December of 2017.  She has been involved with Kaleidoscope of Hope since its inception.  She attended the first walk in Morristown in support of her sister-in-law who was hospitalized at the time with ovarian cancer.  As a supporter of KOH, she has volunteered with walks, golf outings and various fundraising activities.  Her vision is to promote ovarian cancer awareness.

Michele E. Collins

Michele was diagnosed with Stage 2B high grade serous ovarian cancer on February 13, 2015.  After a radical hysterectomy and six cycles of IV/IP chemotherapy, she was fortunate to be declared “in remission.”  She wanted to do something locally to celebrate, spread awareness and raise money for this insidious, “rarer” cancer.  In September of 2015, she participated in her first Kaleidoscope of Hope Walk in Avon, NJ.  It has since become an annual tradition as her team, “Michele’s Cartel,” walks every year.  When she was asked if she had any interest in becoming a KOH board member, she accepted without hesitation.  “What a great way for me to become more involved with this wonderful organization that raises much needed funds to advance research for better treatments for other survivors like me” Michele said. Michele is honored to be on the Board of Directors and feels it’s a great way to give back and help her fellow “teal sisters.”

Karen MacNeil

Karen is a registered nurse in Asheville, North Carolina with a master’s degree in public health. Her mother, Gail MacNeil, is a co-founder of the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation. Karen is honored to be part of continuing her mom’s legacy by supporting the women who are fighting ovarian cancer and the work of Kaleidoscope to find a cure.

Anthony Romano

Anthony’s commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer started with his wife, Mary’s, diagnosis ten years ago in 2009.  Shortly after her diagnosis, his family was reeling and seeking current and accurate information about ovarian cancer.  Kaleidoscope of Hope offered them the answers they were looking for but also provided them with tremendous support as well. Throughout her surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, their mission to spread the word about this disease so that one less woman would have to receive this diagnosis became stronger than ever.  In February, 2011, Mary lost her battle with the disease after turning 58 just one month earlier.  Their battle, however, continues so that this horrific disease can be eliminated.  Anthony was honored to become a member of the Board in February, 2016.

Matthew Pericone

Hello! My name is Matthew Pericone. I’m 26 years old. I’m super excited to a part of an amazing team, I joined kaleidoscope of hope because my sister sadly passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 26. And I want to help spread awareness about this cancer. I’m excited to meet all of you