Our Mission
To enrich the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners—celebrating and inspiring innovative practices of care and sharing these practices with the wider dementia care community.
Who We Are
Richard Ferry
Chairman
Richard and Maude Ferry are one of many couples who have lived what is often called the “American Dream”. They have walked a blessed and rewarding journey together, from their beginnings in a small, Midwestern college town, to community leaders in Los Angeles and entrepreneurs in a global business.
Richard co-founded Korn Ferry International in 1969, and for more than three decades was instrumental in establishing the firm as the world’s premier provider of executive human capital solutions. Maude was Richard’s silent partner, goodwill ambassador, corporate wife, community volunteer and dedicated mother to their six children as well as twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Throughout the years, Richard and Maude were passionately engaged in their community and have supported numerous civic and charitable causes, with a focus on the Catholic Church, education and health care.
In 2013, Maude was diagnosed with dementia and Richard has continued their shared journey as a loving caregiver and tireless advocate. Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care carries their commitment forward, encouraging, celebrating and sharing innovations that will enrich the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers for generations to follow.
Marilyn Raichle, MPA
Executive Director
Marilyn Raichle grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer’s. Nearly everyone in her father’s family and many in her mother’s developed the disease. Her mother Jean told her, “When we get Alzheimer’s, walk away. There is nothing you can do, so live your life and don’t sacrifice it for us.” Instead, Raichle became transformed, embracing the value and joy of people who are living with, not suffering from, dementia.
Marilyn Raichle began her career in the performing arts. She founded the Seattle International Children’s Festival, introducing children to world culture through the performing arts. In 2007, she received a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Upon returning to Seattle, her career was upended when she became the family caregiver for her parents, both of whom were developing dementia.
It was a rocky journey, at first reluctant and ultimately joyous. In 2010, inspired by her mother’s newfound artistic ability, she founded The Art of Alzheimer’s, celebrating the creativity of people living with dementia and the power of the creative arts to enrich and empower their lives. She is now the author of Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey.
Advisory Board
Marigrace Becker, MSW
Marigrace Becker, MSW, is the Program Manager of Community Education and Impact at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC). She develops and facilitates education, support, and engagement programs that promote living well with dementia. She also produces resources like the MBWC’s patient and family handbook, Living with Memory Loss. She works closely with community partners to spearhead local initiatives that challenge stigma and build understanding. She is a member of the Momentia Seattle Stewardship Team, and leads the Dementia-Friendly Communities project team for the Dementia Action Collaborative implementing the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.
Lee Burnside MD MBA FACP
Dr. Lee D. Burnside is a geriatrician and palliative care physician in Seattle, Washington. He has been in practice for over twenty-five years and has worked with various medical groups in Seattle including UW Medicine-University of Washington Medical Centers Memory Brain and Wellness clinic. He has presented and published research on the impact of the arts in dementia and has collaborated with the Frye Art Museum, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater, and the University of British Colombia among others.
He remains passionate about leveraging the arts to enhance quality of life for persons with dementia and their care partners.
Carroll Haymon, MD
Carroll Haymon MD is a Family Physician and Geriatrician. Born and raised in Louisiana, she has an English degree from Yale and an MD from Tufts; and has been in Seattle since starting her Residency training in 2000. A Primary Care doctor serving older adults, Carroll has also worked as a teacher of young physicians (as University of WA clinical faculty and Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Director at Swedish Medical Center), and as a leader in clinical organizations (as Market Medical Director and VP of Clinical Services at Iora Health). She is also a healthcare entrepreneur and physician advisor to new companies. Away from work, Carroll enjoys hiking and biking around the great Northwest; growing vegetables in the garden; and laughing with friends.
Carin Mack
Carin Mack, MSW retired from Greenwood Senior Center in December 2023. She spent the last 12 years developing the Memory Loss Programs including THE GATHERING PLACE for those diagnosed with MCI and Early Stage Memory loss.
In 2024 she began volunteering on Mercer Island to develop more programming for Older Adults. She started 2 spouse support groups for those caring for a loved one with dementia. She has facilitated 2 Death Cafes and inaugurated a LIVING ALONE group for older adults.
She worked with an advisory group to start an Old Friends Club on Mercer Island. This program provides cognitive stimulation and social engagement for those with Mid Stage Memory Loss. This once a week, 4 hour program, allows the caregiver respite during this time. The program began in October 2024 with hopes to add another day in the coming year.
She is now working to start the SAIL(Seniors Active and Independent for Life) exercise program.
She has just been chosen to receive the 2025 Philanthropy Award from MIYFS (Mercer Island Youth and Family Services) to be given on February 12, 2025.
Brian Osborn MPA
Brian Osborn is the Executive Director of PACE Operations, Washington at Providence. With operational responsibility for Washington PACE centers, he is also the senior contributor to strategic leadership of Providence PACE services in Washington, Oregon & California. PACE is an innovative model of health care and support for people 65 and older. With an interdisciplinary team, PACE provides health care support that goes beyond Medicare and Medicaid to include housing, rent, transportation, and over the counter medication. Prior to coming to PACE, Brian worked with Full Life Care for five years. He Attended the Evans School of Public Affairs & Governance, University of Washington, and received his Master of Public Administration in 2013.
Allyson Schrier
Allyson’s 47-year-old husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2012. Allyson’s experiences as a family care partner led to the creation of her company, Thriving with Dementia, and a career dedicated to spreading dementia awareness and helping others gain skills to be knowledgeable, compassionate care partners. Allyson worked for three years as a Program Manager at the University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center. Her work there was focused on helping Primary Care Providers in rural and underserved populations improve their skills around dementia diagnosis and support. She also worked as a DSHS certified instructor teaching full-day classes in Dementia and in Mental Health to professional caregivers.
In 2019 Allyson joined forces with one of the designers of Apple’s ‘Memories’ product to create Zinnia Technologies. Version 1 of their product, Zinnia, resulted in Allyson being named Visionary Caregiver of the year by Caregiving.com in 2020. Since that time Zinnia has developed into an app for mobile devices and connected TVs that streams research-driven videos curated specifically to be digestible by, and engaging for people with dementia. Zinnia’s primary goal is to reduce stress for both people giving and receiving care.
Special thanks to Advisory Board Members Emeritus:
Jim Bennet, HSE, MHA
Nora Gibson, MSW
Nancy Isenberg