OUR TEAM
Sarah Mills Sands, Chair
A native Greenporter, Sarah brings 35 years of non-profit management experience to the position of chair including 14 years as an Executive Director. Sarah was one of three original Founders of East End Seaport Foundation in 1989 and was instrumental in raising the funds for the building of Bug Light in 1990. Coming full circle to lead the organization in 2025 is something she has imagined for many years. Sarah’s local roots include ancestors in the whaling, oyster and sailmaking businesses. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University and completed Graduate Studies in Public Policy at George Washington University. She resides in Orient with her husband, David.
Joan Ripley, Vice Chair
Joan has served as an Assistant Superintendent of the Farmingdale and Plainedge School Districts for 19 years prior to retirement. She brings many years of experience as a teacher and administrator in elementary and secondary education. In addition Joan serves as President of Friends of Floyd Memorial Library. She holds a Doctorate in Education from St. John’s University which will be put to good use as the Chair of the Museum’s Education Committee. Joan also leads the Land & Sea Gala Committee. She resides in Greenport with her husband, Chris.
Tim Leitch, Treasurer
Tim is a seasoned financial professional with a wealth of experience from prestigious institutions, including JPMorgan Chase and M&T Bank, where he currently serves as a Senior Relationship Banker. Outside of his business career, Tim is deeply involved in the local wine community, contributing to wine education at Suhru and Lieb Vineyards. Having recently joined the board of Museum, he is excited to bring his passion for community engagement to support the museum’s growth and initiatives.
Karen Sauvigné, Secretary
Karen has 50 years of nonprofit management experience. She has held faculty and management positions at Mount Sinai, Cornell, CUNY Law School, John Jay College, and Baruch College, and chaired the Board of Callen-Lorde Health Center. She served on the Boards of the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, the Public Interest Law Foundation, and the Institute for Women and Work, as well as NYC’s LGBT swim team. She volunteers at SPAT (Cornell’s oyster project) and serves on the Grants Committee of North Fork Women. Her bio is included in Feminists Who Changed America (University of Illinois Press, 2006) for her pioneering work on sexual harassment in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Since 1988 Karen has had a home on the North Fork where she spent summers as a child.
Dave Abatelli, Board Member
Dave has served the North Fork for over 35 years in a myriad of roles. He is most well-known for his work with the Village of Greenport with twelve years in the Community Development Office and 17 years as the Village Administrator. He also worked for CAST, the North Fork Housing Alliance and served on the Greenport BID Board for many years. A retired Naval Reservist and graduate of Long Island University, Southampton, Dave and his wife Lydia operate Lydia’s Antiques and Stained Glass in Greenport.
Ellen Jaffe, Board Member
Ellen heads our Social Fridays Committee. Her four decades-long career as photographer, art director and graphic designer has ranged from newspaper photojournalism to magazine editorial and corporate production. She is co-founder of Davis + Jaffe, LLC, developing and producing multi-location events, product introductions, annual reports and shareholder meetings. Projects have included Times Square jumbotron design and production for Delta Airlines and AT & T as well as corporate conference design for MetLife and American Express. In 2012 Ellen received her second MTA Arts for Transit Commission. This series of photographs would become the ‘Trainscapes’ installation at Grand Central Terminal. An avid cyclist, Ellen is past president and proud Life Member of New York Cycle Club.
Claire Lyons, Board Member
Claire came to the Museum with a long history of maritime related expertise. She was the US editor of UK based Seatrade Week and Seatrade Review for many years, relied on by the ship-owning and ship chartering community. She also worked as a paralegal and researcher in a marine engineering firm writing expert witness reports on various legal dilemmas and conducting research in shipping and shipbuilding. Many years before turning professional, Claire had a brief history in Montauk working as a commercial fisher. Claire resides in Greenport.
Dean Dimotsis, Board Member
Dean is a retired officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).He previously served as Deputy Director for Border Security at CBP’s New York Field Office and held senior roles at CBP Headquarters. Dean holds a BS in Biology from Adelphi University and an MS in Leadership and Management from the University of Maryland. A Southold resident since 2017, Dean is an active community member and volunteer with CAST, SPAT, and the East End Seaport Museum.
Nikos Kaplanov, Board Member
Nikos is an attorney for Siemens USA, a Germany-based technology company that focuses on healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation. In addition to his day job, Nikos serves as a volunteer attorney for the Pro Bono Partnerships of New York,fo cusing on Long Island non-profits. He also serves as a board member for the North Fork Polar Bears, which raises money for CAST and Back to the Bays through the Annual Polar Plunge. Nikos holds a BA in Political Science and International Studies from The Ohio State University and a JD from Temple University. A part-time Greenport resident since 2020 (and transitioning to full-time resident in Spring 2025), Nikos resides with his wife and their two sons.
Christopher Scott, Board Member
Christopher, founder of Nomadic Friend Productions, is a media specialist with over a decade of experience in content creation, social media strategy, and digital storytelling for global clients, including the U.S. Embassy and Viacom. A North Fork native, he is passionate about preserving local history and has worked closely with the East End Seaport Museum to enhance community engagement. Christopher brings expertise in modern media platforms to expand visibility, connect with younger audiences, and support funding efforts.
James Shuford, Board Member
James is a project manager for Sun River Health, New York’s largest network of community health centers since 2018. He has served as a board member of the Greenport BID, as well as serving as an advisory board member on the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health. James holds an MA in Anthropology from University at Albany, SUNY and since moving to Greenport in 2020 with his partner, Corinne, has discovered a passion for sailing and a love for the natural beauty and unique history of the North Fork.
Angela Spatorcio, Board Member
Angela is a seasoned executive assistant with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Currently, she serves as the Executive Assistant to the Global Head of Fundraising and Investor relations at Warburg Pincus, where she specializes in private equity transactions and stakeholder communication. Previously, Angela supported the CEO and Board Members at MUFG Securities Americas, co-chaired the Women’s Initiative Network, and played a key role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization. Her career began at Merrill Lynch, where she assisted high-level executives in fixed income and commodities.
Paul Kreiling, Volunteer Curator
Paul Kreiling, artist, sailor, teacher, local. Immersed in the beauty and culture of the North Fork, he has made a creative life here. Fascinated with the workings of the natural world, his work captures the ebb and flow of nature. As a visual artist he has always contributed to furthering the joy of people participating in what is unique to our area. To that end Paul has created many graphics for a variety of local activities and events. He is owner and operator of Easterly Sailing, a sailing charter business specializing in teaching the joy of sailing. Currently curator of the museum, Paul has been using his graphic skills to create evocative displays highlighting the rich history of the east end.
Beth Haskell, Volunteer Curator
Beth Haskell has a MA in American History from NYU as well as a Certificate in Museum Studies. She also has a Certificate in Computer Management from Columbia University. Her early career as a maritime historian included working at South Street Seaport Museum, Sailors Snug Harbor and with the art collection of the Seamens Bank for Savings. Second career included heading technology for the Trust for Public Land, Gay Men's Health Crisis, and 22 years at Central Park Conservancy.