Governance

Roger Oakes - PRESIDENT


Roger is a retired family physician, who grew up in Port Angeles and practiced in this community for many years. He has an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, then graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine. After serving in Vietnam as a Battalion Surgeon with the 101st Airborne, he returned to the UW to complete his residency training in family medicine. He is thrilled to be a part of Volunteer Hospice and contributing to keeping Rose Crumb's dream alive. Married with two sons who are also family physicians, he strongly believes in community service and the value of all families. Over the years much of his free time has been spent hiking, climbing, and skiing in the Olympics.

Lori Ridgeway - VICE PRESIDENT


Karen McCormick - SECRETARY


Karen McCormick retired in 2009 after 32 years with First Fed Bank in Port Angeles and 13 as its President and CEO. She was recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for her role in promoting community banking and served as chair of one of the Federal Reserve Board's three advisory councils. In 2003, US Banker Magazine named Karen one of the nation's "25 Most Powerful Women in Banking." Post retirement, Karen has continued her long-standing commitment to non-profits. She was the first executive director for the First Fed Foundation and serves on its board. Karen believes that VHOCC is a community treasure and looks forward to contributing to an organization that makes such a profound difference in the lives of so many.

Stuart Koop - TREASURER


Stuart Koop retired after 2 twenty-year careers. The first was in IT Services and the second was in Finance and Administration. Both careers were at several small colleges of 800-2000 students in the Midwest, East and West. He has an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Central College in Iowa and a masters degree in management information systems from University of Illinois-Springfield. He has lived in Sequim just over 4 years.

At Large Directors

Wendy Brown, RN - DIRECTOR


During a 30 year career in nursing at both the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Wendy worked to provide direct patient and to ensure the protection of people who were "subjects" in research studies focused in oncology and HIV/AIDS. She retired in 2014 as the UW Assistant Director for Research Quality and Compliance where she developed the institution's first research education and monitoring program.

Suzanne Lockwood - DIRECTOR


Suzanne brings a wealth of knowledge to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education and a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Nursing. She retired after holding two careers in nursing. Suzanne was a Professor of Nursing at Montana State University – Northern for twenty years and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for twenty-six years first in the Midwestern United States and then for over thirty years in Montana. After retiring in 2021, she and her husband relocated to Port Angeles. Suzanne wanted to connect with the Clallam County community, so she began serving as an office volunteer at VHOCC shortly after moving to the area. She has expanded her volunteer service by joining the VHOCC Board of Directors. She and her husband enjoy hiking, biking, and walking.

Tyrrell Prosser - DIRECTOR


Peter Raiswell - DIRECTOR


Peter's wide-ranging career experience includes finance, medical technology, and a variety of leadership positions. He also serves as Commodore of the Auxiliary for Coast Guard District 13, covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. From 2009 to 2019 Peter served with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a field deployed Chief of Staff in federally declared major disasters.

Ted Ripley - DIRECTOR


Sandra Tatro, M.D., FACS


Sandra J Tatro MD, FACS, is a practicing general surgeon who grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico as a part of a scientific family who learned early to love the outdoors. She spent many years living in many states across the United States during her medical and surgical training. After a short stint in Juneau, Alaska, she permanently relocated to Port Angeles to provide rural general surgery to this relatively remote medical community. This allowed her to pursue her professional career goals while living in a vibrant and diverse community with a close connection to nature.
 

 
Her particular interest in palliative and end of life care and in helping patients and families traverse this significant chapter in their lives, led to her exposure to VHOCC. The truly unique nature of free hospice care for all in the community, which is effectively unheard of outside of this model, provided the incentive to look to the organization for ways to help. She believes strongly in the vision that Rose established and has recently joined the board of directors. She is looking forward to helping sustain the organization's mission. She spends her leisure time with her family, her friends, and her pets, wandering in the wilderness near and far, in search of wildflowers, wildlife, and wisdom.