fundraising $1,000,000 in seed money to eradicate ALS

Board Members

Diana G. Himelic – President

Diana has been President of the Jim Himelic Foundation since its inception in the fall of 2000. Please refer to the web page entitled “About Jim Himelic” for more background information regarding Diana.

Diana has been employed with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office since 1985 as a paralegal in the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Division. She has also been a certified fitness instructor since 1993 and is employed by the Hilton El Conquistador Country Club. In 1999, Diana began teaching yoga two nights per week at the Hilton and continues to this day. She also teaches aquacise and step classes on a rotation basis at the country club.

Diana is engaged to be married to Frank Dawley in April 2009. Frank was a colleague of Jim’s at the Pima County Juvenile Court. To contact Diana, please email her at dianahimelic@yahoo.com.

Ana E. Himelic, Esq. – Vice President

Ana is currently the vice president of the Jim Himelic Foundation. She is also one of the founding members of the Board of Directors. Ana graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2005. Ana is a member of both the Arizona and California Bar.

Ana watched her father, Jim Himelic, battle ALS for four years until his death in 2000. Ana hopes the stem cell research laboratory brings other ALS patients and caregivers hope that a treatment or cure is on the horizon. To contact Ana, please email her at ahimelic@hotmail.com.

Laine Pike – Treasurer

Laine attended University of Arizona from 1997 – 2001, where she met the Himelic Family. After receiving her degree in Accounting and Finance, Laine attended Loyola Marymount University and earned a Master's in Business Administration. She also holds California certifications in Consumer Finance License and Life & Health Insurance License. Laine currently resides in Redondo Beach, CA with her husband Trent. Together they run their own business, Oceanview Financial Group, a real estate lending company. To contact Laine, you can email her at laine.pike@gmail.com or visit her website, www.OceanviewFG.com.

Monica L. Derrick, Esq. – Secretary

Monica is one of the most recent officers to the Jim Himelic Foundation. Monica lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, Grant, and son, Owen. She has her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and is licensed to practice law in both Arizona and Colorado. A childhood friend of Ana’s, Monica is close with the entire Himelic family and was deeply saddened when Jim lost his long battle with ALS. Monica is inspired by the work Jim’s family has done in his memory and believes the JHF can become one of the most well-established charities in the Tucson community.

Anthony J. Abruzzo, Esq.

Tony Abruzzo has been a JHF board member since its inception. Jim Himelic was a very close friend of Tony’s through law school as well as his roommate before Jim married Diana. Tony greatly respected Jim and will never forget the impact Jim had on him. Tony deeply admired Jim’s ability to be a great family man, an excellent attorney and judge, and an overall gentleman.

Tony graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1973 and has practiced both civil and criminal law since that time. He is currently a sole practitioner in private practice in Tucson. Tony handles personal injury matters and criminal defense. He is a past member of the Pima County Commission on trial court appointments.

Before becoming a lawyer, Tony served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971 in the U.S. and in Vietnam. Before that, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1968. Tony has been married to Grace Abruzzo since 1975. The couple has two daughters, Gracie and Teresa. Tony and his wife are parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

Bruce M. Coull, M.D.

Professor of Neurology
Professor of Medicine
William M. Feinberg MD Endowed Chair in Stroke Research
Head, Department of Neurology

Please click on the following link to see Dr Coull’s Profile: http://www.neurology.arizona.edu/FacultyPages/coull.html

Jodi K. Dorsey

Jodi served as Jim's courtroom clerk in the Juvenile Court Division for approximately 3 years. Shortly after Jodi started in this position, Jim was diagnosed with ALS. With great sadness, Jodi admired his courage and strength, as well as that of his family, and was amazed at his perseverance. One year before Jim's passing, Jodi and her husband lost their first child at the age of 3 months. Jim was very supportive during this extremely difficult time despite the fact that he was going through his own very difficult circumstances. During this time, Jodi came to realize what a wonderful man Jim was and what a terrific family he had. Jodi has been involved with the Himelic Tournament since its inception in 2000 and looks forward to many more years with the organization.

Jodi and her husband have been married since 1997. In addition to their daughter in Heaven, they have two beautiful boys and two wonderful canines.

Jonathan D. Flax, M.D.

Research Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Arizona
Director, Jim Himelic Neuromuscular Research Laboratory

Dr. Flax did his Pathology residency training at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard University, followed by fellowship training at the Children’s Hospital of Boston/Harvard Medical School. His research training included postdoctoral fellowships exploring neural stem cell biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Children’s Hospital of Boston/Harvard Medical School.

In the Jim Himelic Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Dr. Flax is actively exploring approaches to allow neural stem cells to replace motor neurons lost in individuals with ALS. These stem cells are present throughout the adult brain and spinal cord, and if appropriately reprogrammed could serve as an important reservoir for the generation of new motor neurons. As a direct result of funding by the Jim Himelic Foundation, the laboratory has uncovered a number of key mechanisms that regulate how and when neural stem cells become motor neurons. While this process normally happens only during early brain and spinal cord formation, the ultimate goal is to take advantage of this knowledge and recapitulate new motor neuron formation in the brain and spinal cord of individuals afflicted by ALS.

Daniel J. Himelic

Dan is the eldest sibling of the Himelic family and is a medical student at the University of Arizona. One of Dan’s goals is to improve the status of ALS research for the general public as well as in the medical community. Deeply touched by the untimely passing of his father, Dan is proud of the work and the continued dedication of all those who have contributed to this Foundation.

James B. Himelic

James “Jim” is the youngest son of Jim Himelic. Jim graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona in May 2006. He is currently a graduate student in engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he researches renewable and efficient electric power systems. Jim also works in Denver part-time as an analyst for Xcel Energy, the primary electric utility company for the state. Jim’s hobbies include reading, snowboarding, and watching and playing sports.

Jim is enormously proud in what JHF has been able to achieve to date and is thankful for everyone who volunteers time and donates money for this great cause. Working closely with his sister, Ana, Jim would like to see the Jim Himelic Foundation become a recognized, established charity throughout the local community. Jim’s ultimate goal is to be able to witness the eradication of ALS. Jim can be reached at james.himelic@colorado.edu.

Lance Hoopes

Lance Hoopes has been on the JHF Board of Directors since 2005 when his wife, Maria, was diagnosed with ALS. Maria died in November of 2006.

Lance has been a musician in southern Arizona for 50 years and was the band director at CDO high school for almost 20 years. After leaving CDO, Lance was a middle school principal in several southern Arizona school districts until his retirement in 1995. Lance has also been on the board of directors for the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative and a board member and president of the Sonoita/Elgin Emergency Services Inc. (SEESI) volunteer fire department.

As Maria’s sole caregiver, Lance gained a lot of insight into ALS and is very interested in helping to find a cause, treatment and possible cure for this horrible disease. He believes that the work being done at the stem cell laboratory financed by the Jim Himelic Foundation will show great promise toward these goals.

Leo M. Jacques, Ph.D.

Leo has served on the Board of Directors from its beginning in 2000 to present. He has also been on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) from 1996 to present. Leo is a Criminal Intelligence Analyst Supervisor for the Arizona Department of Public Safety and has been an instructor at the University of Phoenix since 1976. Leo, who first met Jim Himelic and his family in 1978, attended all the Himelic family events and played against Jim and his teams for many years in softball.

Donna B. McArthur, PhD, APRN, BC, FAANP

Donna McArthur has 40 years experience within nursing, including 30 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner, NP educator, and administrator within ambulatory health care settings in the United States and Saudi Arabia. She graduated from Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing in 1967, receiving her BSN from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 1976, followed by her MSN and FNP from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 1977. In 1997 she received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Maryland; her dissertation, Intergenerational Health Promotion in African-Americans, embraced her practice with ethnically diverse and vulnerable populations across the life span.

Donna is currently a Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN and the Director of their DNP Program. Prior to this, Donna was also a clinical professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, and Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. In recent years Dr. McArthur’s practice has included older adults in community clinic settings. In 2006 she was awarded the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation/Endo Pharmaceuticals Grant for her research study, Pain Perception in Adults with ALS. At present, her community activities are focused on initiatives surrounding this disease, which includes being an ALSA Board Member.

Jeffrey Minker, Esq.

Jeffrey is a graduate of the University of Arizona-undergraduate and law school. He is an attorney and mediator. Jim Himelic was Jeffrey’s jogging partner for 14 years until his ALS forced him to stop running. Jeffrey is one of the founding members of the Board of Directors and can be contacted at jminker@dakotacom.net.

Scott Parfrey

Scott Parfrey was born in New York City and earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the City University of New York. He moved to Tucson, AZ in 1977 and left the field of education for business to own Cadden Parfrey Services, a homeowner association management company. Scott and his wife Kathy met and came to know the Himelic Family when the three Parfrey sons, Brad, Doug, and Tim, and the Himelic kids attended Harelson Elementary School and played youth sports together. Ana Himelic was in the same classes as Brad and Doug, and Mike Himelic was the same age as Tim. Through all the school and youth sporting events, the Parfreys and the Himelics forged an ongoing friendship for over twenty years.

Jim was a fabulous friend, mentor, attorney, and judge, and the Parfreys all remember him with great love and fondness for his truly remarkable spirit. Scott Parfrey has served on the Board of Directors of the Jim Himelic Foundation since its inception in 2000.

Katalin Scherer, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Arizona
Neuromuscular Program and Clinics
Director, MDA/ALS multidisciplinary clinic at UPH Hospital at Kino Campus (coming soon)

Dr. Scherer has been treating patients with ALS at the University of Arizona Neuromuscular Clinics since August 2005 when she joined Dr. Timothy Miller. Since Dr. Timothy Miller’s departure in the summer of 2007, Dr. Scherer has assumed the role of director of the UA Neuromuscular Program.

Dr. Scherer did her neurology residency training at Duke University in Durham, NC, followed by fellowship training in EMG (electromyography) and neuromuscular diseases at Duke University. Dr Scherer’s practice is dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases, including ALS and other motor neuron disorders. Dr. Scherer holds an academic appointment at the University of Arizona, and is active in teaching and research in the area of neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Scherer is board certified in Neurology and in Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and is an active member of the American Association of Neurology and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Dr. Scherer sees patients at the MDA supported neuromuscular clinic at University Medical Center, and at the UPH Neurology Clinic at UPH-K.

Dr. Scherer has been working on establishing a true multidisciplinary ALS clinic, which is scheduled to open on the UPH-Kino Campus in early 2008. Such a clinic is pivotal to provide quality healthcare to ALS patients and their families. This clinic will also allow JHF to start clinical research studies and become an ALS clinical and research center in Tucson.

Dr. Scherer will continue to work with JHF and plans to start clinical research studies involving ALS patients in the coming year of 2008.

Link to Dr. Scherer’s faculty website at the UA:
http://www.neurology.arizona.edu/FacultyPages/scherer.html

George R. Vetrano

George is a native of Long Island, New York. In 1974, he and his family moved to Tucson, AZ. George retired from IBM as a manager in 1995. During his tenure at IBM, George was also an instructor at Pima College for 7 years in the Machine Tool Technology Department. In 1995, George and his wife, Carol, began building fine custom homes in Oro Valley under the business name The Vetrano Group.

The Vetranos have known the Himelic Family since 1981. Carol and George are godparents to two of their children, James and Jamie. George has served on the Board of Directors since its inception in the fall of 2000.

Help us reach our goal of one million dollars in seed money for ALS research