Ann Irr Dagle, East Lyme, CT
President and Executive Director

Ann Irr Dagle is the co-founder and President of the Brian Dagle Foundation and Brian’s Healing Hearts Center for Hope and Healing in Niantic, Connecticut. She is a member of the Connecticut Chapter of The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and a Tri-Chair of the CT Suicide Advisory Board as well as a certification in Grief Studies from the Center for Loss in Colorado.

Through trainings on grief, loss, and suicide prevention, Ann has learned to weave her loss into her life and giving herself to feel whatever she needs to feel; to embrace the pain of sorrow but also to find joy and happiness.

Paul T. Dagle, East Lyme, CT
Vice President

Paul is retired from Electric Boat Corporation in Groton after 40 years of service. His community service activities have included youth baseball, football, and basketball; East Lyme Planning Commission and Board of Assessment Appeals (2 years Chairman) and was a member of the East Lyme Board of Selectman, East Lyme HS Football Coach and is the current Board Chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Connecticut Chapter.

Tracy M. Collins, East Lyme, CT
Secretary

Tracy has been an Attorney with Waller Smith & Palmer for more than 25 years. Her practice focuses on all aspects of civil litigation including personal injury; land use disputes, including conservation restriction enforcement; and probate disputes, including will contests and conservatorship actions.  Attorney Collins and her family live in East Lyme. She is proud of her commitment to local community service, including her past membership on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Connecticut AIDS Project, now known as the Alliance for Living, the Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities Board of Directors.

Matthew Dagle, East Lyme, CT

Matthew successfully completed a Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees in law at Quinnipiac University and Suffolk Law School, respectively. He has since worked in a series of roles at insurance and law firms. Matthew now holds the job title of Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. arm of a global business.

Matthew was instrumental in supporting his family in creating the Brian Dagle Foundation in honor of his brother Brian.

AJ Dagle, Groton, CT

AJ has been with Electric Boat in Groton CT since his graduation from the University of Vermont in 2009. In 2016, AJ also received his MBA from the University of New Haven.  He currently serves as a Senior Manager of Contracts. 

AJ was instrumental in supporting his family in creating the Brian Dagle Foundation in honor of his brother Brian.

Jesse DeLucca, Waterford, CT

Graduate of East Lyme High School Class of 2010. Currently a main machinery mechanical systems engineer at General Dynamics Electric Boat (since 2014). Holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Magna Cum Laude degree from Western New England University, Class of 2014. While in college, was a member of the WNE lacrosse program and served as a University Life Skills Mentor for younger collegiate athletes. Previous volunteer activities include an assistant coach for Montville High School Lacrosse.

Mark Ennis, East Lyme, CT

Mark Ennis is the owner of the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Service, located in Niantic and New London since 2000 and has been working in Southeastern Connecticut funeral service for over 30 years. He is a member of the Niantic Rotary where he received the Paul Harris Fellow in 2014, Niantic Lions Club, St. Matthias Knights of Columbus, a former member of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern CT.

Deb Fountain, East Lyme, CT

Deb Fountain has held her Real Estate license since 2001, in 2008 she co-founded  The Fountain~Timmons Team which is now part of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. She is active in the community believing it takes a village. She is a member of the Niantic Rotary Club where she is a Past President (2015-2016) and will be President for a second term (2023-2024). She is a founder of The Power of Together SECT. and volunteers for fundraising for The Miracle League of Southeast CT. 

John Kleinhaus, East Lyme, CT

John Kleinhans is a 2008 Graduate of East Lyme High School and has been an elected member of the East Lyme Board of Education since 2015. He is the Vice President of Strategy at ImageWorks LLC, a marketing agency based in the Greater Hartford area. John is the Advocacy Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Connecticut and Western Massachusetts chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. John holds a Master of Public Administration from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Vermont University-Lyndon.

Jeff McNamara, East Lyme, CT

Jeff has been an Attorney at McNamara & McNamara PC in Niantic, CT since 1993. He is a current Judge of Probate activities for the towns of East Lyme, Old Lyme, Montville and Salem and a Judge of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Disputes of Court. Jeff has been an active member of the East Lyme Community serving on the Board Selectman, Chairman of several subcommittees, including the East Lyme Police Subcommittee, Incorporator for Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and Chelsea Groton Savings Bank and a Member of the Board of Directors for East Lyme Main Street.

Ted Montgomery, East Lyme, CT

Ted has over 28 years of Coast Guard Finance, contracting, personnel and logistics experience.  His last assignment before retiring in 2005, was as Commanding Officer at the Support Center in Boston.  During his career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Commendation Medals, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.  Ted and his wife, Anna, of 40 years have 2 adult children, and three grandchildren.  They have lived in East Lyme for over 25 years and currently live on Gorton Pond in Niantic.

Chris Mountain, East Lyme, CT

Chris is a dedicated certified school psychologist with 30 years of service at East Lyme High School. In addition to his role as a school psychologist, Chris has also been actively involved in coaching high school baseball and football at East Lyme High School for many years. 

Outside of his professional work, Chris has been actively engaged in the community through his involvement with local nonprofits. He has also shared his knowledge and expertise by teaching college courses. He is passionate about coaching and supporting various youth sports in the town of East Lyme.

Chris and his wife Meg are proud parents of two East Lyme High School graduates.