Board of Directors

Beth Walter, Chair, Sacramento, CA, partner in a real estate development company and a civic leader, lost her husband and four of his family members to FTD/ALS. Ms. Walter has established the Walter Charitable Fund to raise resources to further FTD research and share knowledge about the diseases.

Francine Laden, ScD, Vice Chair, Boston, MA, is assistant Professor of Environmental Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Laden lost her father to FTD in January 2009, and her family has donated generously to AFTD to fund research and a fellowship. She is particularly interested in furthering the research and education portions of AFTD’s mission.

Darlene Ryan, Treasurer, Fort Worth, TX, is a nonprofit executive currently facing the challenges of FTD with her husband, who received his diagnosis in 2003. They have a teenage son.

Susan Eissler, MBA, Secretary,  Georgetown, TX, is a pension actuary with audit experience. It took 10 years to get a diagnosis for her husband, who died of FTD/corticobasal degeneration at the age of 60. Three of his siblings, his mother, a cousin, two uncles and a grandfather also developed the disease. In her husband’s spirit of turning problems into opportunities, Ms. Eissler focuses on educating healthcare professionals for better diagnosis and care. She chairs AFTD’s Caregiver Respite committee.

Earl Comstock, Esq., Washington, DC, has a law degree from George Mason University and worked as a legislative director before joining a law firm in Washington. He continues to work in Washington where he started his own consulting business. Mr. Comstock, whose father had FTD, is the son of Helen-Ann Comstock, the founder of AFTD and past chair of the board of directors. Mr. Comstock is particularly interested in advocacy and public policy.

Bryan Dalesandro, Wynnewood, PA , is a client relationship manager at CMS Companies, a financial services firm just outside of Philadelphia . A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Chartered Financial Consultant^®, Mr. Dalesandro is especially interested in AFTD fund development and finance. His mother has been diagnosed with CBD.

Jary Larsen, PhD, San Francisco, CA, is a research psychologist at the East Bay Institute for Research and Education. In addition to his professional interest in FTD research, Dr. Larsen is committed to research on a personal level. He has a brother who has been diagnosed with FTLD.

Emily Levy, MBA, Brookline, MA, is a principal at Synergy Partners, a biotech consulting company. Ms. Levy co-founded the first support group for caregivers in the Boston area, and organized the first FTD Caregivers Education Day in New England. She is part of Team Alice, a group that organized to help a friend diagnosed in 2007 with FTD. Ms. Levy is particularly interested in caregiver issues, research, and fund development.

Philip H. Lovett, MBA, New York, NY, is a Founding Partner of Millennium Partners, a national development company. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Mr. Lovett has a family member with Semantic Dementia. He serves as Research Liaison for the AFTD Board.

Sylvia Mackey, Baltimore, MD, is a nationally known speaker on behalf of the dementia community. Founder of the Mackey Fund nonprofit organization, Ms. Mackey lives with her husband, former National Football League player and Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who has FTD. She is a recognized advocacy leader and was particularly effective in advocating with the NFL for the “88 Plan,” which provides coverage for the care needs of former players with dementia.

 Zbyslaw J. Petryka, PhD, Los Angeles, CA,  is a retired chemist who graduated from the University of London with a doctorate in organic chemistry. Dr. Petryka dedicated his career to medical and biochemical research. His wife was diagnosed with FTD in 2006. Dr. Petryka is especially interested in advocacy and research.

Colleen Quinn, MPT, Washington, DC, is a physical therapist, treating adults and children in hospitals and in outpatient settings. Ms. Quinn lost her father to Pick’s disease. She chairs AFTD’s Development Committee.

Bruce L. Richardson, Boulder, CO, was a caregiver for his wife, who died of FTD in 2006. After launching his career with Coopers & Lybrand, Mr. Richardson spent about 30 years in land development and homebuilding. Also a woodworker specializing in furniture, Mr. Richardson remains active in the Denver/Boulder area.

Joanne Sackheim, MSW, LCSW, Los Angeles, CA, lost her husband, a noted Emmy Award-winning producer, to Pick’s disease in 2004. Ms. Sackheim converts her clinical and supervisory expertise in social work practice into counseling families coping with FTD and Alzheimer’s-related diseases.