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DES Action USA Board of Directors |
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Patti Negri - President
Patti is an L.A. native, DES Daughter, and lives in the Hollywood Hills with her drummer husband, movie star dog and two very adorable yet quirky cats. Patti owns Brain Brew Entertainment, a theatrical production company that specializes in interactive shows, custom-created sketch comedy, murder mysteries and team-building events. She produces shows for clients as diverse as the Mirage Casino is Las Vegas to the corporate worlds of Microsoft and Mattel.
Patti volunteers as polling place inspector at every local and national election, is president of her neighborhood association and still finds time to take her dachshund Dora to Film and TV auditions and the occasional wiener dog race… Patti is honored and thrilled to be working with the TRULY AMAZING Board Members and Staff of DES Action. |
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Litsa Marlos Varonis - Secretary
Bio coming soon |
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Jill Vanselous Murphy - Treasurer
Jill, a native of Princeton, NJ, has lived her entire life knowing about her DES exposure. She is the sixth of nine pregnacies and the only survivor, no thanks to DES, which her mother took for seven of her pregnancies. At the age of 12 she started a vigilant journey of regular screenings which she has maintained over the years. Three ectopic pregnancies and the dreaded t-shaped uterus lead to yet another journey called adoption. She and her husband are now the proud parents of a daughter adopted from Guatemala.
Jill has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit community specifically in membership/fundraising, communications and marketing. She has also helped start a nonprofit children's focused organization in the city of Alexandria, VA. A 10-year member of DES Action USA, she joined the board in the winter of 2009 and is excited to be working with a talented group of people who represent the DES-exposed community.
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Jennifer Bailer
Bio Coming Soon
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Joyce Bichler
Joyce was the first DES Daughter to sue a drug company, and win, for the vaginal cancer she suffered. Her book, DES Daughter, published in 1981, told the harrowing and touching story of her fight for recognition of drug company involvement in her disease. Joyce became an active and indispensible member of DES Action USA, and co-founded the DES Cancer Network in 1982. She has appeared in numerous radio and TV interviews to promote DES awareness, and one, in San Francisco, was even conducted during an earthquake! |
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Martha Cody
Martha grew up in Berkeley, CA, the eldest of four children. She learned at the age of 17 from her mother, Pat Cody, that she was DES-exposed. Later she experienced an ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, and finally a complete hysterectomy at the age of 34. Martha has two grown (adopted) sons and two beautiful granddaughters.
Martha grew up with a front row seat on the activism and social consciousness of Berkeley in the 60's, beginning with her own family. Following the example of her parents, she has been active in a variety of community organizations over the years, and is now the Director of Employment Equity at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. In this post, she uses her background as an employment attorney to investigate complaints of harassment and discrimination, and to resolve disability and other equity issues for the campus. She also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, for neglected and abused children who find themselves in the local foster care system. Martha lives with her husband Tony (along with their menagerie of pets) in beautiful San Luis Obispo, CA. |
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Chris Cosgrove
Bio Coming Soon |
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Ellice Matsil
Ellice, a native New Yorker and DES Daughter, has known about her DES exposure since the age of 12. That’s when her mom read about the various side effects of DES and took Ellice for her first gynecological appointment – quite a scary experience for a 12-year-old girl. Thanks to her mom, both she and her parents became members/supporters of DES Action USA, reading all they could about the dreaded side effects of DES exposure. “I have been so grateful to have an organization with an active board and staff to go to with questions and for support.”
Ellice is a marketing and business strategy executive with 25 years experience on both the client and agency sides. 10 years ago, she founded E Matsil Consulting, a growth solutions-oriented consultancy that assists clients in branding, marketing and business strategy.
She has volunteered as a mentor for Women Unlimited and continues to find ways to give back in her free time. She is a recent inductee into the DES Action Board of Directors and is honored to be in the company of such dedicated and amazing people.
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DES Action USA Staff |
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Fran Howell – Executive Director
Fran thanks her late Mom for giving her a membership in DES Action USA and keeping it current for many years. When Fran had trouble starting her family she began seriously paying attention to DES issues. After numerous infertility treatments failed, Fran eventually became the adoptive mom to her wonderful, now young-adult daughter, Shelby. Fran joined the DES Action USA Board, and when the opportunity arose she assisted with media relations - working with newspaper, TV and magazine reporters to successfully place dozens of media stories about DES. That parlayed into the job of DES Action USA Executive Director in January 2005. A highlight is meeting and working with an incredibly talented group of individuals from all around the country.
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Kari Christianson - Program Director
Born in Fargo, North Dakota, which proves conclusively that DES was given to pregnant women everywhere, Kari is a DES Daughter with one brother, who is also DES-exposed. Prior to assuming the job of Program Director in 2005, Kari was a volunteer for 25 years with DES Action USA, starting as a founding member of DES Action Minnesota in 1980. She served as President of DES Action USA from 1984 – 1989 and again from 1998 – 2001. Kari is the DES Action USA representative on the Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute DES Follow-up Study and on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Interest Partners. She and her husband Milo dote on their three nieces and one nephew, all young adults now and some with spouses. It always has been a privilege for her to be part of this consumer organization of dedicated and inspiring individuals. |
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Remembrances |
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Pat Cody – DES ActionVOICE Editor (9/14/1923 - 9/30/2010)
We will always remember Pat Cody, DES Mother and co-founder of DES Action USA. She worked as Program Director from 1978 - 2004. Her years there saw passage of Congressional funding for DES research, creation of our quarterly newsletter DES Action VOICE, and assistance in setting up DES groups in the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, France, England and Ireland. But Pat was so much more. She wasn't the loudest voice in the room but she usually was the wisest. Pat knew how to get things done and you could never say "no" to Pat. She kept DES Action USA on a steady course and her spirit guides us still. Thank you, Pat! |
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Michael Freilick - Former President (9/16/1953 - 7/6/2011)
Sadly, Michaell died of a heart attack - unrelated to DES.
MIchael was a health educator by choice. As a DES Son who had surgery for testicular cancer at age 29 he learned that men, and especially young men, need to pay more attention to their health. He wanted to alert them, and spoke out where ever and whenever he could. His message was simple. Start doing testicular exams as a teenager. Michael used his experiences to show how early detection prolonged his life for decades. Michael, and his wife Carol, are the adoptive parents of their daughter, Michelle. |
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