Barbara Wright

I spent thirty-three years working for the US Government at the SSA and FAA, managing and designing training programs. I also managed a new risk analysis program with teams of experts to help aviation inspectors make decisions. After retirement I did long term subs in Baltimore County. I am an active member of our UU church including interfaith projects. I was elected and served on the Wilde Lake Village Board. I volunteer here on the Residents’ Council Housekeeping Committee as a building representative. I support equal opportunities including the Multiracial Awareness program, the Scholars program, and LGBTQ+. I appreciate the availability of ELLIC programs, the Computer Users’ Group, Newcomers and Sales Ambassadors programs, music and arts programs, and our Treasure Sales. I appreciate the access that residents have to make decisions via the Residents’ Council, and I believe I can make more contributions here this year as a member of the Council.

Sal Dunn

I am a retired engineer who moved to Charlestown from Columbia after the death of my wife of sixty three years last year. I started working full time in electric network design after I completed my BSEE. I used my MSEE, MS Management and MBA education to support my increasing family (5 children) and professional responsibilities from design engineer to Project Manager, to Project Director successfully developing three deployed systems in naval aircraft. I completed my forty year work career in NASA satellite communications. Additionally, my thirty-two-year residence in a 264-townhouse development in Columbia required an HOA to maintain its common properties. I was elected its Board of Directors over twelve years and served as Treasurer and President for at least six years. My social life includes participating in a Marriage Encounter group for forty years and the Knights of Columbus for thirty+ years. I plan on using all these educational and work experiences to support my work on the Res Council if elected.

Russell Witzke

My wife and I moved to Charlestown in late October 2025 and in April 2026 we celebrated our 63rd wedding anniversary. I graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and have been in funeral service for over fifty-five years. I currently serve as a consultant to my son at his Candle Light Funeral Home in Catonsville. I am a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and have served on several professional organizations as well as civic clubs, including Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Homeowners Association, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Club, Rolling Road Golf Club, and others. It is my hope that my past experiences will enable me to assist other Council members as we maintain and improve the quality of life for all Charlestown residents. I would welcome the opportunity to bring my dedication, leadership and longstanding commitment to service to the Residents’ Council.

Thank you for considering my interest. I am available to discuss how I can contribute to the Council and look forward to the possibility of serving our vibrant community.

Joe Gagliardi

I moved to Charlestown from Columbia where I spent forty-one years practicing family and addiction medicine. My academic journey began at the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, I served as a U.S. Navy Line officer in Vietnam. I attended medical school in Buffalo, New York, and subsequently moved to Maryland. I was also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine for thirty-four years. In 2004, I founded and directed a free medical clinic in Howard County, providing care for the unhoused and uninsured for nineteen years. As a retired physician, I am dedicated to supporting programs that improve health and well-being. Over the past year, I have presented three medical lectures focused on healthy aging as a member of the Charlestown Residents’ Council Health Services committee. I am enthusiastic about continuing to serve the Charlestown community.

Lois Eldred

As a retired physician assistant, professor of medicine and international public health consultant, I bring a wealth of experience and commitment to our community well-being. My background includes serving as senior warden of our church and actively participating in numerous community boards. My husband, Earl Huch, and I moved to Charlestown with two golden retrievers in 2023. I joined the Residents’ Council in 2024 and with my two-year filler term concluding in 2026, I am now seeking a full three-year term. In my current role as Co-Chair of the Health Services committee, I am responsible for coordinating the quarterly Medication Disposal events, and I have co-founded the Substance Abuse Working Group. Furthermore, our Health Services committee successfully advocated for the installation of grab bars in every public restroom at Charlestown. I am involved in the newly formed Gun Safety committee and serve as liaison to the Dietary Focus Group, part of the Dining Committee. I volunteer for the Treasure Sales, the Dining Ambassadors, Friendly Visitors, and Winter Putterland. My primary goal is to ensure that the Residents’ Council truly represents the diverse interests of all residents and seeks ways to foster greater participation in the social fabric of our lives here at Charlestown.

Ben Grimes

My wife and I were born in Baltimore and grew up near here in Catonsville. I am a retired Critical Care Registered Nurse, having spent my entire career working at the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland in managerial positions. Even though I am new to Charlestown, I am not new to becoming involved and contributing to Mission statements and various committee goals and objectives in various organizations. For example, I was a chairperson on our HOA Board, a founding member and treasurer of the Living Water Worship community, a Council member and President of the Apostles’ Church Council and a founding member of the Baromedical Nurses Association. I look forward to learning from, listening to and advocating for the residents of the Charlestown community.

Kathy Eiswert

My husband, Len, and I are originally from Baltimore and then lived in the Deep Creek Lake area from 1977-2003. We moved to Charlestown to be close to family and our many grandchildren. I attended Seton High school and graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. We moved to the mountains and Garrett County. I worked at the Garrett Regional Medical Center and then was a Home Health Rural nurse for twenty years. I was a President of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and President of the Dancing Classrooms of the Alleghenies that introduced ballroom dance into the public-school classroom. At Charlestown, I have been involved in the Little Theater, the Cheers group, Sassy Seniors, League of Women Voters (LWV), and Treasure Sales. I hope to continue and create a warm, supportive, and joyful community lifestyle.

Robbi Sabin

I am a native Baltimorean, born and raised very near St. Agnes Hospital and a lifelong Marylander. We have a son and daughter and four “grands”. My professional life has been in education, teaching math and computing and retiring from Loyola University in 2013. I now teach math as a volunteer at the Caroline Center in Baltimore. We are adjusting to our new home, becoming involved in several activities. I have been involved in the Fireside Artists, several discussion groups, the scholars mentoring program, hosting floor get-togethers, and the Pet Group. Getting to know other residents has been crucial to me in helping me feel part of a community and at home. I hope to help build our community and I am eager to see more involvement with our larger southwest Baltimore community where there are many needs. Besides our material gifts, we have much energy, intelligence, wisdom and empathy to share.

David Elder

Since moving to Charlestown, I have joined many activities in the Charlestown User Group (CHUG), ELLIC (tech help), Gamers, Genealogy, Little Theater, chair of the Pet Group, and Photography group. In addition, I served as co-chair of the Residents’ Council Communications Committee for five years in previous terms, appointed and elected on the Council. My background includes life safety and communications systems with twenty-seven years as a Howard County Public System (HCPSS) employee. This included experiencing the complexities of project scheduling and workflow. I feel these experiences have prepared me to help the Residents’ Council in the areas of communications, maintenance and engineering and life safety/security should I be selected to serve again.

Ann Densler

A native Rhode Islander, I moved to Maryland with my husband in 1963 and started my family. I earned degrees from Catonsville Community College and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and then spent over thirty years at Northrop Grumman including assignments as a lead estimator on the F16 radar program and as a Software Configuration Manager. I supported high level sensitive department initiatives requiring total focus and 100% on-site security compliance. After retirement and time in Arizona, I happily returned to Maryland and moved to Charlestown. At our Arizona senior resort community, I led a committee who successfully led and managed the resort developer to refund residents fifty percent of the cost to replace new roofs. Originally, the developer denied the request saying that out homes were out of warranty even though the roofs were faulty and missed many tiles when the homes were built. I am now volunteering at the Treasure Chest and serve as a Sales Ambassador. If elected to Council, I will listen to residents’ concerns and work collaboratively to ensure that every voice is heard and foster an environment where all feel valued and respected.

Will Sundheim

After living in New Jersey for fifty-three years, I returned to my native Baltimore and into Charlestown. One of my priorities was to replace the volunteer activities I enjoyed in NJ. Among those, I coached a Little League-like baseball program for youth, and young adults, with physical and other disabilities for twenty-six years. Also, I served on my Township’s Parks and Recreation committee and on the Board of Trustees of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. And I served on the Board of the Crossroads4Hope, a support group for cancer patients and their families. Since moving to Charlestown, I have joined three Residents’ Council committees, mentored a Scholar Program candidate, and joined several recreational groups. I am now ready to expand my involvement by running for a Council position.

Through my previous volunteer experiences and my career in marketing with two Fortune 500 companies I have gained the experience to assume a leadership role here.

Kurt Dortzbach

Receiving my Master of Divinity and a PhD, I have spent my life seeking to help foster communities of peace. I have been a pastor in the US and Africa and have trained pastors from many nations in non-denominational seminaries in Africa and Asia. For over twenty-five years my wife, Debbie, and three children lived in Kenya, travelling and working in high conflict areas throughout Africa. While there, I collaborated with others to establish an international graduate level program in peace studies which continues to graduate men and women from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US. At Charlestown, I continue to advise and teach doctoral students. Additionally, I do mediation and conflict coaching. Based on all these life experiences, I do bring a major interest in international affairs to Charlestown. For two years, we have enjoyed the diverse and often global touches that the Charlestown community offers. We love the flourishing center of people, art, culture, cuisine, music and communities of faith gathered together at our new home.