Elizabeth Zambuto, President
Social Committee,
Activities Committee

I have lived at the Lake since 2008, with my son (Jason) daughter (Jenna), and two grandchildren.

Originally from the Bronx, I lived in the Newburgh area for over 20 years. I work full-time as an Associate Broker with Stepping Stone Realty, having retired from a corporate career with Avon Products.

My passion is the health of the lake in conjunction with our flora and fauna. I enjoy planning multiple events for the YLPA community and meeting everyone.

I currently have four dogs, three cats, a 38-year-old Parrot, one hamster, multiple aquarium fish, plus the latest addition of two beautiful Ferrets.

I love gardening, nature and travel.

Rob Rogers, Vice-President
Finance and Insurance Committee,
Legal Committee

Rob first was introduced to Yankee Lake when he met his future wife, Kim, in 1992. Kim spent summers growing up on the South side of the lake at the Patterson Camp.

Rob fell in love with with Yankee Lake the first time he visited, and often chose it over his family’s Long Island beach house to spend summer weekends. In 2009, Rob and Kim had the opportunity to buy their own lakefront home next door to the Patterson Camp; there wasn’t even a question in their minds that they had to purchase the house.

Rob has always had an interest in helping Yankee Lake, and was inspired to do so from stories about his wife’s grandfather, Don Patterson’s, involvement. Rob and Kim helped with the YLPA’s purchase of the 45 acres, and the dissolution of the Yankee Lake Company in 2003.

Rob joined the YLPA Board of Directors in 2009 and has served as President and Vice President previously and is currently serving a two-year term as President once again.

Rob is a New York CPA, and has over 30 years experience servicing clients and working for companies in the sports and entertainment, fashion, consumer products, and non-profit industries. Currently, he is a senior financial executive of a construction company in New York City.

Rob is part of the group that founded the Ridgetop Lakes Conservancy, a 501(c)3 with the mission to protect and preserve the lakes along the Shawangunk and Mount Prosper ridge tops and surrounding areas by land acquisition, and by promoting conservation through educational programs and seminars.

Rob and Kim reside in Stamford, CT with their Toy Yorkie, Wrigley. When not at Yankee Lake, Rob can be found at a race track improving his driving skills to go as fast as possible.

Cathy MacGowan Dawkins, Secretary
Membership Committee,
Deed Research, Water Testing

Cathy has never known a time that Yankee Lake wasn’t part of her life. Family photos at Yankee Lake go back for generations. Her family settled in Sullivan and Orange County prior to and during the US Revolution, discovering Yankee Lake as a local gem. In 2005, Cathy and her husband, Brad, built a new home on the old family property, starting their retirement years at Yankee Lake and enjoying the year-round peacefulness, four seasons out-of-doors, and space for visits from her family, who all share her love of “The Lake.” Cathy’s passions about Yankee Lake are the cool underwater springs, the blueberries, the white birches, dragonflies, stumps, and the rocks.

Cathy’s work on the YLPA Board of Directors includes serving as the Board Secretary, as well as helping with Membership, Deed Research, CSLAP Water Testing, and Environmental Advocacy. She works to balance the sometimes-competing interests of our natural habitat (water, flora, and fauna) and the interests of property owners.

Cathy’s retirement follows a career as a private consultant, specializing in complex contract strategy for multi-million and multi-billion-dollar government and international contracts, in areas as varied as healthcare, IT, systems development and management, International-tendering, technical services, weapons systems, and automobile manufacturing. Her advisory insights, strategic design of large and complex contracts, and dispute resolution services were sought out by US and foreign Governments as well as private business entities.

Cathy has an active retirement life. She served as a member of the Town of Mamakating Zoning Board of Appeals from 2014-2021, she is a member of the Basha Kill Area Association (BKAA), Friends of the Mamakating Library, and is President of the Sullivan County Quilting Guild (The Calico Geese). She has completed multiple Sullivan Renaissance Grants in the Town of Mamakating, in collaboration with the BKAA, and has provided volunteer services to the Catskill Regional Medical Center, offering guidance and training on application of electronic tools to administrative requirements. She is an active citizen, participating, attending and voicing her opinions at Town of Mamakating Board meetings, advocating for protecting the lands and waters that impact Yankee Lake.

Joan O’Keefe, Treasurer
Finance and Insurance Committee

I have been a summer resident of Yankee Lake since I was 6 months old, and to this day continue to enjoy our beautiful pristine lake. I always look forward to my trips to the country house to sit back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet the country offers.

My grandparents purchased the property back in the 1930's and had houses built for themselves and their 3 daughters. I live on the South side of the lake, and the original houses are all still family-owned.

We have Yankee Lake to thank for keeping our family close. For this reason, among others, I wanted to give back to the community.

When I was asked in 2004 to join the Board of the YLPA, I did so without hesitation. I have held the position of Treasurer for almost 19 years now. I, along with all the other Board members, work hard to keep Yankee Lake private and pristine, and to make sure that it is maintained as it should be.

In October of 2018, I retired from a major international law firm in Manhattan, where I worked for 46 years, and ended my career there as their world-wide Telecommunications Manager.

I have since sold my home in Pearl River, New York and now reside on Hutchinson Island in Jensen Beach, Florida. I return to New York for 5 months of the year.

Spending the summer and fall seasons at the lake, I continue to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness that the lake has to offer, and to spend quality time with family and friends, making everlasting memories.

Kevin Armistead
Clubhouse and Property Committee

Kevin is a graduate of Southern Vermont College, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management. Currently the Chief Operating Officer of Armistead Mechanical, Inc., Kevin started working there in 1980 as part of the third generation of his family’s mechanical contracting business.

A resident of Goshen, New York for going on thirty years, Kevin has served as his town’s Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 15 of those years. He and his wife, Susan, were honored at the 2012 Annual Gala of the Goshen Chamber of Commerce for being among those who have made a significant impact on the quality of life for their community. The couple has three children – one son and two daughters.

Kevin has been coming to Yankee Lake for his whole life as his parents had a home there since before he was born. He has served on the Yankee Lake Board of Directors since 2002.

Galen Booth
Legal Committee

Galen Westbrook Booth’s family roots in Sullivan County date back to the mid-1700s in what is now known as the village of Westbrookville, New York. Galen’s grandparents, Galen Otis Booth and wife Minerva, were born and raised in Westbrookville. In 1922, they built a bungalow and stone garage on Old Westbrookville Road at Yankee Lake. The home has been razed, but the garage still stands.

The very best of times growing up were spent at Yankee Lake and at the nearby Highview, New York dairy farm of Galen’s god-parents, Ben and Eleanor Horton. If home was in urban Elizabeth, New Jersey, happiness was at rural Yankee Lake. It was like living “off the grid.” It was a place of kerosene lamps, a kerosene cook stove, wood stove, and glass gallon jugs filled with pure water from a now-gone pipe spring along the Pine Kill Road in Westbrookville. And who can forget the outhouse.

Galen graduated with honors from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and completed his law degree at Rutgers Law School, Newark, New Jersey, as an evening student while working full time. He has been licensed as a New Jersey attorney for forty years. After fourteen satisfying years with a firm, in 1997 Galen established a solo law practice which flourished for just under twenty five years, until his retirement in the fall of 2021. His law practice focused on Workers’ Compensation defense with the privilege of representing major insurance carriers and large self-insureds.

In 2015, however, Galen took on the representation of a female volunteer firefighter who suffered serious injuries in a multi-alarm office building fire. In 2019, Galen had the rare opportunity of arguing before New Jersey’s highest court, the seven-Judge New Jersey Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court summarily overturned four lower court Judges. The case of Kocanowski vs. Township of Bridgewater is a landmark court decision that forever changed New Jersey law in favor of volunteer first responders.

If winning a New Jersey Supreme Court case is a high honor, it is made doubly so by permanently expanding the case law on behalf of the volunteer first responder community.

Galen met his wife-to-be, Pamela Smaron, in 1995. With a BA from the Miami University and an MA from the University of Illinois, Pam enjoyed a successful career as a Human Resources executive for large corporations in the newspaper and healthcare industries. Pam and Galen were married in October 1997. In 2000, their son Eric was born and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at Rutgers University.

Home has been in Central Jersey in Hillsborough. In 2010, Pam, Eric, and Galen had the good fortune of returning to Yankee Lake as part-time homeowners. Eric has become an avid fisherman. The family has been warmly welcomed by a neighborly Yankee Lake community. They love it here!

Galen’s assessment of Yankee Lake paraphrases a former popular President: If it’s not Heaven, it must be in the same zip code!

Alex Goodman
Engineering Committee

Alex and his wife, Adrienne, moved to the area in the mid 80’s. It wasn’t until 2000 that they purchased a home at the lake, to enjoy the gem that was in their backyard.

Alex enlists his background in the Fine Arts and construction to the YLPA projects such as the ‘We’re Hooked’ campaign and the patio and rain garden projects.

With the desire to have an impact on the future of the community, he has been involved in a Town of Mamakating planning panel in the past and is currently seeking a position of the Town Planning Board.

Steven Langseder
Engineering Committee,
Dam Committee

Steve is a lifelong Yankee Laker. His great-grandparents purchased the first Langseder property at Yankee Lake in 1923 and it’s still in the family 100 years later. Since then, several generations of his family have served on the YLPA and its predecessor organization’s Board of Directors. Steve served on the original YLPA Board of Directors during its first several years of existence and was happy to re-join the Board in 2016.

Steve has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and has enjoyed a career spanning over 30 years as an Environmental Consultant. He provides engineering and technical services to diverse clients including Fortune 500 companies, aerospace and automotive manufacturers, telecom, electric utilities, real estate developers, and construction contractors, as well as federal, state, and local government agencies.

Steve and his wife, Meghan, are the parents of Jack, Katherine, Grace, and Desmond. Steve and his family enjoy swimming, boating, and sharing the beauty of the Lake with family and friends. He looks forward to preserving the quality of the Lake for future generations.

Jon LeTendre
Legal Committee

Jon, an attorney by profession, has been practicing law for over 20 years and is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey and Florida. His law practice primarily concentrates in the area of criminal defense.

Jon has been spending his summers at Yankee Lake for the past 21 years, and his wife’s family have been fixtures at Yankee Lake since 1938. Jon is an avid, but not accomplished, golfer and fisherman and enjoys his Saturday evenings in the summer trying to catch that elusive “Big Daddy” bass with a nice cigar.

Jon and his wife have three children who love to sail, fish and explore Yankee Lake, and the LeTendre’s currently reside on Staten Island, New York.

Doris Mutascio
Boat Tag Distribution,
Membership Committee

Doris was first introduced to Yankee Lake in 1984 when her husband, Joe, took her to visit his Aunt Teresa, Uncle Ray, and Fusco cousins for a day of fishing on The Lake. In 1985, they became homeowners and members of the Yankee Lake Association (predecessor to the YLPA).

Doris earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from Trenton State College, then worked for Hewlett Packard for 17 years as a Sales Rep.

She left that career in 2001 to be at home for a few years with her 2 sons, Tony and Nick, in Madison, New Jersey. In 2004, Doris became a Teacher’s Assistant in the Madison, New Jersey public schools, and retired from that position after 17 years in 2021.

She and her family enjoy sharing their “piece of paradise” at Yankee Lake with family and friends.

Pete Pensec
Fish Stocking,
Legal Committee

“I live in New Jersey, but I grew up at Yankee Lake.”

Our family began coming to the lake in 1930’s. My grandfather purchased “the big house” down the hill from the clubhouse in the late 40’s. My parents bought the Cavallo home known as Camp Lofalot on Cider Press Road in 1955, with lake access at Sandy Landing.

I learned to swim, fish, hunt, play pool, skate, make Popsicle jewelry boxes, and tile ashtrays here at the lake. All skills that would stay with me for my entire life. Great friendships were forged here that continue to this day.

My Yankee Lake vision is to continue to promote the values that were forged here and that I carry with me to this day. I am committed to trying to keep the lake as the wonderful oasis that we have come to appreciate and love.

Married to Karen in 1978, we have two children, Noelle and Pete, Jr. who share my love for this wonderful place we have here. We live in Sparta, New Jersey and spend every weekend from May to October at the lake.

Jerry Squillante
Fish Stocking

I started coming to Yankee Lake in 1979. A friend of mine had an Uncle who had a house here. After coming here for years, I remember saying one day, “I will own my own home here.”

Well it has been 8 years now, and my wife, Karen, and I love it. It has been an honor to be on the Board here for 4 years now.

My wife and I, along with our daughter, reside in Tenafly, New Jersey when we are not at the lake. During the day, I am an Electronics Specialist at a Veterans hospital in New Jersey.

I am also a Professional musician, playing as much as I can. Both my Jazz band and “Rock” band play at the lake every year now — something I once dreamed about. I love performing, especially here at the lake. It is special every time. We also play a few times in the village of Wurtsboro.

We keep our house open year round, and come up as often as possible. We love watching this community grow, and look forward to many years of serving Yankee Lake and its Members.

Edward Van Buren
Membership Committee,
Legal Committee,
and Deed Research

I grew up in Middletown, New York. My father bought his first house on Jersey Road in 1947, which allowed me to spend my summers at Yankee Lake.

I am in my 73rd year at the lake. I moved to Yankee Lake full time in 1985 on North Shore Drive. In 1980, my parents bought their house on Yankee Lake Road so my father didn’t have to walk to the lake due to health reasons. My brother now lives in my parents first house.

I am a retired Automotive Warranty  Administrator. I Joined the YLPA board in 2014.

Ray Volpe
Engineering Committee,
Dam Committee

I am proud to say that the Volpe Family has owned a house on Yankee Lake since the early 50's, and I spent every happy summer here growing up. I am the youngest of three, sister Ramona and brother David. My best memories are right here; including movie night at the Club House, the Regatta, Fourth of July fireworks, and how clear the stars are at night. We always had big family dinners, and all of the Moms helped raise each of us as if their own.

I still have many friends here that mean more to me than the people I have lost contact with from my “other” home in New Jersey. In fact, many of my Yankee Lake friends still call my mother “Mom.” It’s the only way they ever referred to her. I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, but Yankee Lake shaped my personality.

I graduated from Northeastern University in 1980 with a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, and married my beautiful wife, Kathleen (Kat), in 1988, the same year three of our other dear friends from here at the lake were married.

Kat and I initially bought my childhood home in Bergenfield, but then moved to Washingtonville, New York in 1994, to raise our family, only 45 minutes from the lake. We have three great children (adults now): Jesse, Taylor, Amanda, and one grandson. All love it here, and we are very happy to have been able to purchase a summer house of our own on the lake in 2011. Our cabin is on the “quiet side,” and we now live at the lake full-time. We all enjoy swimming, fishing, sail boating, snowmobiling, and paddle boarding.

I am a licensed professional engineer and have had my own business since 2006. My expertise is in Geotechnical Engineering, and most of my work is in New York City, Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island, with other projects closer to home.

It has been an honor, and my pleasure, to be a part of the Dam Committee (Dream Team), tasked with maintaining, improving and rehabilitating the outlet spillway so we can all enjoy this great lake while preserving the natural beauty.

We love to watch the Bald Eagles, Blue Herron, Otters, and even the snapping turtles, from our dock. We love the bears — from a distance. And who does not love Blueberry Island and the Whale’s Tail? I still think one of the best things about this lake is that there are no power boats! I could go on and on, but the last thing I would say is that Yankee Lake is more of a feeling that stays with you forever, and I am very fortunate that my grandfather, Michael Volpe, had the good sense to buy a place here even before I was born.