At its 54th annual meeting, the New Hope Historical Society elected Dee Dee Bowman president.
Ms. Bowman and her husband, Ernie, have resided in their 1817 residence in New Hope for 30 years where they have raised their two daughters.
She is a longtime member of the Historical Society having served several terms on its board of directors, and has been secretary to the board during the past two years.
Ms. Bowman, a licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has been employed with Coldwell Banker Hearthside for the past 13 years. She serves on the New Hope Borough Revitalization Committee, which she had chaired for several years; and is a member of the Historical and Architectural Review Board.
Ms. Bowman also is a founding member of New Hope for Our Canal. She has served for many years on the Bowman’s Hill Wildlife Preserve’s Spring Gala. Ms. Bowman is a freelance writer who has written or co-authored a dozen books and numerous magazine and newspaper articles.
Outgoing president, Benjamin Meadows presented the key to the Parry Mansion to Ms. Bowman.
”I ask just two things from our members as I become your president,” said Ms. Bowman. “First, I ask that each one of your bring in one new member to the Historical Society over the next year; and second, that you become active as a volunteer. We have such a great variety of activities, that I am sure you can find something that you would enjoy doing to help the society move forward,” she added.
Edwin Hild, Bryce Sanders and Claire Shaw were elected to serve as vice presidents. Terry McNealy was named secretary. Barry Ziff was re-elected to the treasurer position.
The Historical Society also elected seven new members to its board of directors.
John Augenblick, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the submarine warfare community; he is founder of Rockwood Wealth Management.
Joe Cummins is a graduate of The Restaurant School in Philadelphia and is the owner of Helping Hand Concierge of Bucks County providing a variety of personal care services, dinner parties and dinners for clients.
Claire Donohue completed a career with Rohm & Haas, and then served as director of volunteers for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She now heads Grant-ed, a company that assists nonprofit organizations to obtain funding.
Gayle Goodman, a certified public accountant, is an international entrepreneurship consultant advising start-up businesses on strategy, planning, management and communication skills and financial control. She has recently served as president of the board of directors of the Bucks County Women’s Fund.
Cecily Laidman is a professional entertainer, and operates her own arts consulting firm. She is currently executive director of Cadbury at Home, a home program for seniors.
Tom Martin is an independent antiques dealer and past president of the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce for which he is a member of the board of directors. He is also estates director for Rago Arts and Auction.
Pearl Mintzer was a principal for 27 years in L & M Marketing in New York City, a specialty design corporation that provided innovative products and packaging expertise for the cosmetics industry. She has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, and designs and produces custom jewelry for various fundraising efforts.

