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Our Leadership

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of Colleen’s parents and dedicated people who bring a wide range of skills to the organization. Each member of the board is unpaid and volunteering their time to ensure Colleen’s legacy can continue to expand. We invite you to learn more about our Board of Directors below. 

Peggie Ritzer

President, Director

Thomas Ritzer

Vice President, Clerk, Director

Michael Guilfoyle

Treasurer, Director

Julie Viola

Director

Dwight Feeney

Director

Forever in Our Hearts

Founding Directors

Brian Feeney

Founding Director

Our Initiatives

Memorial Scholarships

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Step Up for Colleen 5K

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Kindness for Colleen

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Pink Daisies & Cacti

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Peggie Ritzer

president, director

As Colleen’s mother, Peggie knows very well that there is no greater loss than the loss of a child. While Colleen’s life is mourned each and every day, Peggie encourages those around her to live by Colleen’s word s and find good in every day. She has also worked tirelessly to ensure Colleen’s legacy is never extinguished and continues to expand.

As a CPA, Peggie brings a diverse skillset to the foundation ranging from financials to organizational management. In addition to her many years of work experience, Peggie has been actively involved in the partnerships with prior organizations, the planning and execution of the Step Up for Colleen 5K Walk/Run and management of the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Scholarship. When Peggie isn’t busy managing her accounting consulting business or spreading Colleen’s legacy, she is spending time with family and friends, whether it be by the beach, on a walk or in a hockey rink.

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Thomas Ritzer

vice president, clerk, director

As Colleen’s father, Thomas will always be dedicated to doing all he can to carry on his daughter’s legacy. With over 40 years of work experience, Thomas brings his agile management and leadership skills to the foundation. Over the past several years, Thomas has been actively involved in the planning of the annual Step Up for Colleen 5K Walk/Run and the selection of the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Scholarship recipients. Thomas has spent countless days at Konjoian’s Greenhouses in Andover working with his close friends to grow the pink daisies and cacti, in which the proceeds are donated in Colleen’s honor.

Thomas also spent many events with his family to support the American Heart Association, initiatives that Colleen helped him get involved in. In his spare time, Thomas enjoys spending time outside working on his home and yard and enjoys spending weekends relaxing on the deck with his family and friends or visiting his hometown in Vermont.

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Michael Guilfoyle

treasurer, director

In addition to Michael’s role as Executive Director of Communications at Assumption, he has been actively involved in a number of organizations from parent councils to Little League and helping the less fortunate. He brings years of experience in media and public relations, digital marketing and organizational management.  When Michael isn’t busy pursuing his career and volunteering his time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, whether it be on the baseball field, traveling through Italy or vacationing on the Outer Banks.

While Michael did not have the pleasure of meeting Colleen, through stories from her friends and family, he has come to know her as an amazing and inspirational individual whose influence is timeless. Her thoughtful messages of kindness and love were not simply words, rather, principles and a way of life she embraced. In Colleen’s memory, we are all reminded of the “good” that encapsulates our lives, good that overcomes darkness. He is honored to be among those who work tirelessly to preserve Colleen’s legacy and disseminate her message of love and kindness.

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Julie Viola

director

As a long-time friend of the Ritzer family, Julie is devoted to ensuring Colleen’s legacy continues to live on and expand. Julie brings a diverse skill set developed during countless hours of consulting and serving community organizations and small businesses. With her impressive talents in financial planning and organizational management, she is excited to join the other board members as they work to continue Colleen’s legacy.

When Julie isn’t working or volunteering on committees including the Step Up for Colleen 5K Walk/Run planning committee, she is enjoying time at home with her energetic children and husband. Like Colleen, Julie greatly enjoys spending time with friends and family, whether it be a milestone or an afternoon outside.

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Dwight Feeney

director

Dwight, a long-time resident of Colleen’s hometown, has joined the Board of Directors with the goal of spreading Colleen’s legacy through continued involvement and growth of the organization in the years to come. In addition to his immense experience gained as Senior Vice President/Commercial Lending Manager for Enterprise Bank & Trust Co., he brings great knowledge around management, mission and fundraising efforts.

Outside of work, you’ll find Dwight spending time with his wife and two children at various activities, on long walks downtown or at the beach. Dwight was raised to lead a life of paying it forward as his parents always put others first, which is why he is so dedicated to joining his fellow board members and help Colleen’s legacy and the organization continue to grow.

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Brian Feeney

founding director

Brian Feeney, Founding Director (1960-2020): Brian was personally committed to the success of the Step Up for Colleen 5K from 2016 through 2020, when he recruited hundreds of Century Bank employees to participate in the annual event. His passion for sustaining Colleen’s legacy was evident in the many weekends he spent with Colleen’s family planting the daisies grown in Colleen’s memory. Brian is a founding director of this organization and was instrumental in the decision to establish a separate entity to sustain and strengthen Colleen’s legacy. Although he never met Colleen, his caring, commitment and passion to honor Colleen’s legacy will always be sustained in our mission and that passion will continue to influence all we do.