Officers
PRESIDENT
Susan Groo
Susan and her husband, Richard, moved to Wilton in 1968 where they raised their two sons, John and Jim. Susan was a stay at home mom until Jim was in middle school. Both she and her husband were EMT’s with the Wilton Ambulance Corps and Susan also became a Realtor. After the boys graduated from high school, Susan worked for 31 years as a Relocation Counselor in Stamford and later an administrator for William Pitt Sotheby’s in New Canaan. When her husband passed, she decided to re-acquaint herself with her town. A good friend introduced her to the Encore Club and she is very grateful for renewing and making new friendships in the club. Susan is active in various volunteer activities and is also a member of the Garden Club and PEO.
CO-VICE-PRESIDENT
Patricia Vezendy
Pat is new to Wilton, having come from Westport where she and her husband resided for 45 years. Pat worked for a Marketing/Buying Group firm for 30 years where she had the opportunity to travel extensively in both the US and Europe. She is an active member of the Westport Woman’s Club and participates in many of their philanthropic endeavors. She has worked in their Curio Cottage, Food Closet, Yankee Doodle Fair and co-chaired the Book Club. Pat enjoys ballet, theatre, walking on the beach and spending as much time as possible with her niece, nephew, family and friends. The Encore club warmly welcomed Pat and she looks forward to co-sharing her Vice President position.
CO-VICE-PRESIDENT
Karen Thomas
Karen and her husband, David, moved from Wheaton, Il to Wilton in August 2017. They have one son living in Stamford, CT who has identical twin boys. Karen worked as an elementary school teacher, resident services coordinator at a retirement community and as a patient services coordinator at a low vision clinic. She served as executive president at the Central DuPage Hospital women’s auxiliary board and as president of the Board of Directors at Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. Karen has been a member of the Encore Club for two years.
ADDENDUM – Our dear Karen unexpectedly passed away October, 2023. She will be dearly missed.
SECRETARY
Carol Comiskey
Carol and her husband, John, have lived in Wilton for over thirty years. After retirement from IBM, Carol started her own website business selling women’s clothing. Although thoroughly enjoying this new endeavor for ten years, Carol decided to really retire! She has been an active member of Encore for over ten years and enjoys their many activities and creating many meaningful friendships with the wonderful women in Encore. Carol also enjoys traveling, food pantry volunteering and her four grandchildren whom she is grateful that all live close by. She is a firm believer in that life is what you make it!
TREASURER
Karen Birck
Karen and her husband, Paul Burnham, have been Wilton residents since 1991. Prior to moving to Wilton, Karen practiced real estate law in the Hartford area. In Wilton, Karen has been an active volunteer serving on various PTA boards, on the Board of Education and on several school renovation building committees. She enjoys reading, gardening, movies and playing bridge. Paul and Karen travel to several North American bridge tournaments each year. Currently, Karen is on the Board of Directors of Stay at Home Wilton, is an active member of the Wilton League of Women Voters and works as one of Wilton’s Registrars of Voters. Karen is a past Vice-President and President of Encore. She is Encore’s current treasurer and co-chair of the book group.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Gail Nielsen
Gail was born and attended school in Connecticut. After returning to CT from the Boston area, she has resided in Wilton for 40 years. Gail practiced physical therapy in a variety of settings. She eventually opened her own physical therapy practice in Wilton, with a second office to follow, enjoying 20 years of providing health care to the greater Wilton community. Since retirement, Gail has enjoyed travel, art appreciation, photography and volunteering for Minks to Sinks that benefits Norwalk Family and Children’s Services. She enjoys her two children’s families in New Hampshire. “As a member of the Board of Directors of Encore, editing the monthly newsletter and attending many wonderful activities with this welcoming group of ladies, life is never dull!”