Emeritus Members

Marlene is a retired registered nurse who spent her career at the Birthing Center at Newport Hospital. Aside from being a bedside nurse, she was the coordinator of Pre-Natal Education and a Childbirth Instructor for 35 years. As Newport Hospital’s representative to Newport Partnership for Families, Marlene served as the co-chair of the Child Well-Being Committee. Marlene later served as the Partnership’s Chair for two years, until her retirement from Newport Hospital

Candy has been involved in the NPFF since its inception, having served as Chair twice, and most recently as Secretary.  She is a retired maternal child health nurse.  She was manager of the Maternal Child Health Program at Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice for 20 years and then worked as the Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Nursing, Salve Regina University until her retirement.  She co-founded the Thrive By Five Committee in the mid-1990’s, which continues to meet today.

Susan is a life-long Aquidneck Island resident.  She retired from her position as Chief Operating Officer after a forty year career with East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP ) and New Visions for Newport County (NVNC).  She served as the agency representative from EBCAP and NVNC for over 20 years on the Newport Partnership for Families (NPFF) and held various NPFF officer positions including Chairperson and Steering Committee member. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, community partnerships, fundraising and public relations and program planning and management. She is presently employed by Church Community Housing Corporation/Washington Square Services Corporation.

A Mississippi native, Marilyn and her family have called Rhode Island home since 1982.  Before working in the non-profit field, Marilyn was an audiologist, teacher of the deaf, and interior designer.  Marilyn earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology from Mississippi State College for Women and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from the University of Southern Mississippi.  At the age of forty, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Mt. Ida College.  Marilyn began her non-profit work at Youth Pride in Providence and at Child & Family’s supportive housing program. In 2008, she was hired as the Executive Assistant at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and served as the Executive Director from January 2011 until December 2018.  Under her leadership, the food pantry became a client choice pantry, the Food 2 Friends program was launched, and the mobile food pantry was piloted.  She oversaw two major renovations, brought financial stability to the Center, and expanded collaborations with other local organizations.

Marilyn served on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank from 2012-2017, is currently the Treasurer of Newport String Project and is the former Chair of the NPFF steering committee.  She is excited to continue working with the vast network of organizations that make up the Newport Partnership for Families as an Emeritus member of the Board.