BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President (Officer)

Matt Radulski

Vice President (Officer)

Treasurer (Officer)

Josh Russo

Assistant Treasurer (Officer)

Joe Naylor

Recording Secretary (Officer)

Corresponding Secretary (Officer)

Susan Rood

Membership

Mike Russo

Programs

Sue Winkel

House & Grounds

Rick Ninteau

Guides & Tours

Susan Rood

Museum & Accessions

Britt Ryan

Archives & Library

Josh Russo

Preservation

Anthony Solomine

Ways & Means

Robin Comey

Publicity

Robin Comey

Hospitality

Alpha Coiro

Matt Radulski

Matt has been on the Board since 2016, initially serving on the Publicity Committee before becoming President in 2017. Matt was born in Rhode Island and raised in Branford, attending Branford public schools and the University of Virginia. He majored in History and International Relations while participating as a midshipman in the United States Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon graduation, he was commissioned Ensign and entered the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet as an officer on the guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. Richard E. Byrd and then transferred to the destroyer U.S.S. Caron, where he earned designation as a Surface Warfare Officer. During his active-duty period, he visited (in alphabetical, not chronological, order) the countries listed below [1]. As a civilian, he’s also visited a number of other countries/territories [2]; however, his favorite places to explore history and culture are New England and the western states of the U.S. He works for a local firm, coordinating projects and customer service, and is married, with three children in their twenties. He volunteers at Trinity Episcopal Church of Branford and for Parker Memorial Park. His interests include reading and birdwatching. Fun fact: His mother, the late Elizabeth “Tish” Radulski, was active in the Branford Historical Society and was the co-transcriptionist and co-editor (with the late Betty Linsley) of The Diary of Malachi Linsley – the manuscript of which was discovered, forgotten, in the Horace Lanphier house on Harbor Street where Matt grew up and now resides.
[1] Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Chile, Cuba (at Guantanamo Bay), Curacao, Ecuador, Egypt, Grand Cayman, Israel, Italy, Panama, Peru, St. Croix, and Venezuela | [2] Bermuda, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Scotland, and a number of islands in the Caribbean
(Every history enthusiast loves footnotes, right?)

Sue Winkel

Sue joined the Board in 2021, serving as Programs Chair, and then in 2022 also became Vice President. She has lived in Branford for over 30 years, and enjoys learning and sharing information about the town’s rich history. Susan has an MS degree in Educational Technology from CCSU and an MBA from the University of New Haven. Prior to her retirement, she managed workforce development and leadership programs at AVANGRID.

Josh Russo

Josh has been on the Board since 2015, serving as Membership Chair for many years, as well as Treasurer. He is a lifelong Branford resident, and has a deep love of history and passion for his hometown. He attended Liberty University, and was the Director of a 75+ year-old youth camp at a 150-year-old campground association for many years. Josh works at Vista Life Innovations in Madison.

Joe Naylor

Joe has been on the Board since 2013, serving as Guides Chair for the Harrison House Tours, and then as the House & Grounds Chair, before becoming Assistant Treasurer. He is a descendant of William Swaine who was one of the original settlers of Branford in 1644. Joe earned his M.S. degree from the University of New Haven and is a retiree of AT&T.

Kaitlyn Goodwin

Kaitlyn joined the Board in 2022, and currently serves as Recording Secretary. She is also a volunteer tour guide at the Harrison House. Kaitlyn has graduated from Salve Regina University, Quinnipiac University, and Sacred Heart University. She is a high school Social Studies teacher for New Haven Public Schools.

Susan Rood

Susan has been on the Board since 2014, currently serving as Corresponding Secretary and Guides & Tours Chair. She has lived in Branford for 45 years. Before retiring, Susan taught French and Spanish in several Connecticut towns, including Branford, having received her MML from Middlebury College. She has found history intriguing ever since she was a young student.

Mike Russo

Currently, the longest serving member, Mike has been on the Board since 2008, serving as Programs Chair for 14 years, and now as Membership Chair. He was a lifelong resident of Branford until 2017, and currently lives in North Haven. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, and works for Electric Boat in Groton. He loves Branford history and seeks to pass on that interest to others.

Rick Ninteau

Rick has been on the Board since 2017, serving as Hospitality Chair, and now as House & Grounds Chair. Rick has lived in Branford for over 30 years, and loves his hometown, its history, and the many outdoor activities available. Rick earned an MSM degree from Albertus Magnus College and works as a Director of Management at BJM Pumps in Old Saybrook.

Britt Ryan

Britt joined the Board in 2021, serving as Museum & Accessions Chair. She is also a volunteer tour guide of the Harrison House. Britt is a lifelong resident of Connecticut and has lived in Branford since 2018. She went to Salve Regina University and is thrilled to have settled in here and be by the shore again. This is a truly special town!

Anthony Solomine

Anthony has been on the Board since 2011, originally serving as Vice President, and now as Preservation Chair. Mr. Solomine graduated from Boston College cum laude with a B.A. in 1985, where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. He then went on to law school at Suffolk University where he earned his J.D. in 1988. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar later that same year. He is now a Principal in the firm of Parrett, Porto, Parese & Colwell.

Robin Comey

Robin joined the Board in 2020, and currently serves as the Publicity Chair and the Ways & Means Chair . She has lived with her husband and two kids in Short Beach for more than 25 years, and is currently the State Representative for the 102nd district. She and her husband own a small business and she is a non-profit leader helping to improve the quality of life for families. In 2009, she was co-producer with Projects2k, presenting Branford Luminata, a light and sound spectacle projected onto Branford Town Hall, depicting the rich history of Branford and its relationship to the industry and natural resources of the State of CT. Robin has also contributed to the recurring large-scale light, sound and theater outdoor programs held in the Stony Creek Quarry, known as the Terra Series. As a local advocate, she is known for efforts to enact programs and policies that support children and education. She was inducted into the 2019 Branford Education Hall of Fame for her tireless efforts in improving education in Branford and serves in numerous health, education and civic organizations.

Alpha Coiro

Alpha joined the Board in 2021 and is currently serving as Hospitality Chair. She has lived in the historical section of Branford since the seventies, in a dated Victorian house originally owned by Emma Hoadley. Alpha has served on boards of directors for nonprofit community service organizations such as the Branford Rotary Club, The Friends of Blackstone, the Shoreline branch of the AAUW, and GLSEN. She graduated from Southern CT State University with Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees, and the University of New Haven with a Master’s degree. She also did advanced study at the University of Bridgeport. Her career has primarily been in education, but she is currently employed by the Soundview Family YMCA, and also serves as a Justice of the Peace in the town of Branford. Alpha has also been elected to the position of Constable for several terms and is a member of the Branford Democratic Town Committee.

Tony Terry

Tony joined the Board in 2023 as a Member-At-Large.

Virgina Page

Past President

Ginny joined the Board in 2011, serving as Accessions Chair from 2011-2013, and President from 2013-2017. She is a lifelong resident of Branford, graduated from Branford High, received a BSW degree from SCSU, and is currently employed as operations manager at New Haven Moving Equipment in East Haven, CT. Among many other contributions, Ginny helped create the Society’s first website, and was the driving force behind the purchase of the Harrison House in 2016, which saved the historic home for future generations.

Jane Bouley

Past President & Town Historian

Jane was on the Board of the Branford Historical Society for 30 years, and was President from 2011-2013. In 1985, she was appointed as Branford’s ‘Town Historian’, and has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to the study of Branford’s history, including articles, transcriptions, compiling resources, and presenting numerous lectures on Branford history. She is the author of The Civil War Soldiers of Branford, Connecticut; Mill Plain Cemetery; Stony Creek Cemetery; The Stony Creek Theatre; and is co-author of The Supply Pond and Damascus Cemetery. Jane is a recipient of an Award of Merit from the CT League of Historical Societies and was inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in 1999.

Other Past Presidents

Peter Black

Peter has been a member of the Branford Historical Society for many years. He served as President from the mid-2000’s – mid 2010’s.

Joe Chadwick

Joe served as President in the early 2000’s.

Bill Davis

Bill served as President in the late 1990’s.

John Ifkovic

John has been a member of the Branford Historical Society for over 30 years. During that time, he served as Program Chair, President for two terms from the mid-1980’s – mid-1990’s, and as Assistant Treasurer. John was born and raised in Branford, and received degrees in history from Fordham University, Yale University, and the University of Virginia. He was a professor of history at Westfield State University in Massachusetts for 32 years until retiring.

Janet Gaines

Janet was a member of the Branford Historical Society for many years beginning in 1967. She served as President for two terms in the mid-1980’s. She was instrumental in creating an inventory of Branford’s historic buildings leading to the establishment of the four Historic Districts, created the Accessions Committee and procedure for accepting accessions at the Harrison House, initaited the relationship with the Branford Garden Club, gaining their support in the planning and planting of the herb & colonial gardens at the Harrison House, and actively participated in and even served as President of the Connecticut League of History Organizations (CLHO). Her service and leadership in the Historical Society took it to new heights and established much of the expanded foundation that we operate from today.